There is a whole question of whether the injury is done by the fact or by the fact being stated. That all has to be argued out in the courts. Truth is available as a defence but that is far down the line and some of these cases have been hanging around for years. The Minister talked about the vexatious piece and he might elaborate on how exactly he sees that playing out in way at an earlier point because I am very concerned it would not be found to be vexatious because, according to the legislation, it is an uttera…

I move amendment No. 7: In page 7, line 31, to delete “, or is likely to cause,”.

I thank the Minister of State for coming in to deal with this very important question. I put it originally on the day before the decision was to be made. Now I am merely asking what decision has been made and for further details in relation to it. In October 2024, the Court of Justice of the European Union, CJEU, annulled the application of the EU-Morocco trade deal in relation to Western Sahara because the Sahrawi people had not given their consent. The court gave the EU a one-year deadline to try to bring its act…

The issue is that what remained was the vote. The content had been determined at the time I was speaking, so I was asking specifically what position Ireland would be taking. I am disappointed to hear that Ireland did not take a stronger position. This goes absolutely against the position that the Attorney General and the International Court of Justice have taken on the occupied territories in the West Bank. The view is that occupation should not be entrenched. I would like concerns in relation to that to be address…

They did not get negotiated with at all.

I am returning to an issue I tabled as a Commencement matter yesterday regarding the important decisions being made today at the European Council in respect of a new proposed trading agreement between the EU and Morocco. Sadly, the information I received in answer to the Commencement matter yesterday was actually inaccurate in that I was told the issue was still being negotiated. I asked what position Ireland would be taking and was told it was still being negotiated when in fact, negotiations had concluded. This r…

The inaccurate information was in the response to my reply. I did not have the opportunity to come back at that time. That is why I am following it up now. I would like to have a debate in the House. I hoped to deal with it through a Commencement matter but now I believe it requires a debate in the House because the decisions being made on this trade agreement are directly relevant to the positions Ireland has taken on international law. This goes to the substantial issue. The reason for a renegotiation was that th…

No. It said that negotiations are ongoing.

Yes. I know they were not. The vote is today.

No. I was simply asking-----

Certainly. That is a minor point, to be honest. I will send it on because accuracy is important, of course, but the key point is for the substantial issue to be discussed. It is very relevant to the position Ireland has taken on international law and its application.

It was inaccurate. I really just wanted to know what Ireland would be doing when the vote took place rather than what will be in the agreement, which had already been finalised.

I ask the Minister of State to update the House on the position that Ireland will be, and has been, taking to date in relation to the proposed renewed EU-Morocco trade agreement, which is due for decision at the European Council tomorrow. This relates to an amendment of protocols 1 and 4 to the previous EU-Moroccan agreement. The need for the change to the protocols comes from a Court of Justice of the EU, CJEU, ruling in October 2024 whereby the court annulled the application of the previous 2019 EU-Morocco trade …

I do not believe Ireland is being very supportive. First of all, we pulled out of the MINURSO mission and do not have anybody there anymore. Also, if we are so keen to see the long-awaited referendum, why have we not taken any advantage of this opportunity? This is a point at which Morocco's trade with the European Union and much of its relationship with it depended on, potentially, the requirement for consent to be sought. Why did we not push for explicit consent? Why was that not sought? If one looks for explicit…

With respect, the Minister of State did not answer my question and I am hoping that this means he will be voting against it tomorrow.

I thank those who tabled the motion. I will be happy to support it. It sets out some important recognitions in terms of the horror of the war, the imposed famine and, indeed, the fact that the UN commission has been very explicit that this is genocide. This is something we have all seen and that most experts have told us about for a very long time. The motion also sets out the idea that international law should be applied equally to all. Those are important key points but maybe something more needs to be added, in …

It is important to step back from framing of migration as a crisis, a problem or even something new. Migration is one of the great facts of humanity and it has happened always. In Ireland, we have been reminded in very stark terms recently, looking at Gaza, of exactly how colonialism operates. We have also been reminded of exactly how famine impacts. The piece we should not forget and should have to mind is migration, how it was at the time, when we look back to the Famine, when two million Irish people went to the…

The urgent issue I am raising concerns 40 students who have secured places in Irish universities but are trapped in Gaza. These students have previously been told by the Irish Embassy in Tel Aviv that their visa applications would be approved as they met all the necessary criteria and that they would be on the next evacuation flight. They have been waiting for over three months in the most severe and dangerous conditions without any updates or indications as to what the next steps are, what actions are being taken …

I am appalled. I realise the Minister of State has given us the text that people have been receiving in letters, which is that the Department is so busy it is limited in what it can provide to non-Irish citizens even if they have placements in Irish universities. I do not accept that. The idea that consular staff will deal only with Irish citizens, effectively, or those on a direct Irish scholarship is disgraceful in the current context. I ask the Minister of State not to bother talking about the position the Gover…

I indicate my support for the motion put forward by colleagues, to which they have already spoken on today's Order of Business. That motion and every action we can conceivably take are more important than ever right now. I refer to the motion in respect of Gaza and the egregious breaches of human rights we are seeing on a regular basis. It is more important than ever because, along with many people right across the world, I am utterly appalled, ashamed and disgusted at the outcome of yesterday's EU Council meeting.…