The EU commitment to this project serves the purpose of essentially entrenching the EU in the complicity of Israel's campaign of annexation of Palestinian territories. The Minister will be aware that the Palestinian Authority recently deposited its exclusive economic zone, EEZ, with the UN, overlapping with major gas fields Israel is currently exploiting. He will also be well aware that the Dáil has previously set out its position on the matter of Israel's illegal annexation policy. It is illegal. Israel has also s…

It is all well and good to ensure that a member state has energy supply and is not isolated but this project has sufficiently been compromised to force the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, UNICEF, to distance itself from it. The Minister did not touch on the fact that the Palestinian Authority has recently deposited its EEZ with the UN and he might touch on that in this response. The Palestinians clearly stated that this is within their EEZ. It is one matter coming in here, standing up and ma…

What is the position on foreign birth registrations? Thankfully, the process reopened on Monday last. There are more than 31,000 applications in the system. How does the Minister plan to deal with the massive backlog that has built up over the past two years?

I welcome again that FBR has reopened. Along with others, I have repeatedly asked for the process to reopen given the frustration experienced by many people who want to become Irish citizens. It is their right to do that given they meet the correct criteria. There is massive frustration. Prior to the lockdown the waiting time was approximately 18 months. The Minister has not outlined how exactly he is going to deal with that. We are now being told it could take up to two years to process those applications. There a…

I thank the Minister for that. I too acknowledge the work of the Passport Office and thank the staff who process the foreign birth registrations but there is significant frustration. Over the past number of months I have repeatedly asked him when the process was going to recommence.

Yes, but he has not given the rationale for why it has taken that long to reopen when the rest of society has reopened over the past number of months. Why has it taken it that long to reopen that essential service? It was reported on Monday from the Minister's office that it was going to take two years to process these applications. I welcome the commitment to increase staffing in the Passport Office to 920. That must be welcomed. However, he has not outlined how many of them are going to work on the FBR process sp…

What efforts are being taken at EU and Security Council levels to bring an end to the conflict in Ethiopia, especially in the Tigray region? What measures are being taken to ensure that humanitarian access is being delivered, unimpeded, to the estimated 400,000 people in the region who are facing crisis and famine conditions?

I share the serious concerns about what is facing people in Ethiopia, especially Tigray. A litany of abuse is being inflicted on the people there, not just by Ethiopian forces but foreign forces, namely, Eritrean. It has resulted in the displacement of millions of Ethiopians and famine conditions directly impacting more than 400,000 people. We have seen the mass arrests of Tigrayan people, including the arrest this week of 16 UN employees. These detainees are being left without food or bedding and have been subject…

Given our strong involvement in the Tigray region and Ethiopia over many decades, we have a key role in trying to bring about a lasting and peaceful solution in the region. What relationship does Ireland currently have with the Ethiopian authorities? In March, there was an issue regarding the Ethiopian ambassador to Ireland being recalled. It was reported in September that Ethiopia was going to close its embassy in Ireland. Has that happened? What relationship is there currently with the Ethiopian Government and it…

Recently, the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence paid a visit to the Naval Service base in Haulbowline. There are many issues of concern with regard to our Naval Service, primarily around personnel, the patrol duty allowance and difficulties in retaining naval personnel. Other issues have also been identified, one being the lack of ability for subsurface surveillance and how that is impeding our Naval Service. What plans are in place to increase our capacity for subsurface surveillance?

I agree with the Minister about needing to prioritise. The number one priority must be the retention of members of the Defence Forces, which is a major issue. We have 1,000 fewer members than where we need to be and the inability to put ships at sea must be tackled first and foremost. Members of the Naval Service are highly committed and passionate about the work they do but they are also realistic about the challenges they face and the ability to put ships at sea in the first instance. The Minister will be well aw…

I, too, eagerly await the publication of the commission's report but the critical thing is the actions that will stem from it. Unfortunately, the Minister has previously failed to deliver on the White Paper, which has ultimately landed us in a situation where we are unable to put ships at sea, and unable to ensure that not just our national security but that of Europe is protected. Stephen Malphrus stated, "When the [submarine] communication [cable] networks go down, the financial sector does not grind to a halt, i…

The 700 members of the Defence Forces on post-1994 contracts and their families need clarity in terms of the report that has been carried out but they also need the right decision to be made. The Minister has previously stated and given a commitment that he would make a decision before the year end. I note the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is also part of those discussions. Having listened to some of the Minister's commentary, there seems to be a rowback in terms of that commitment to make a decision …

I thank the Minister. Again, the language there is not reassuring. The Minister would like to bring clarity. It is essential that clarity is brought to this issue before the year end for the 700 members of the Defence Forces but, more broadly than that, there is a crisis within our Defence Forces which we have mentioned many times and the Minister is acutely aware of it. We are 1,000 personnel below the levels we should be at. To force up to 700 members out of the Defence Forces next year, on top of the 600 who lea…

A good outcome would be the right decision being taken, not just clarity being provided on whether there is a future in the Defence Forces for these members. The Minister said he is meeting PDFORRA next week and I welcome that continued engagement. Hopefully, he will take this opportunity to update Members on his views on PDFORRA and other representative bodies being given the right to affiliate with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, ICTU. He has previously said he is not totally opposed to that and that he is op…

Given the Minister's stated position that he feels it is okay for Israel to plunder Palestinian natural resources, what is the Irish involvement with the Israel military given that it is now part of a war crimes investigation by the International Criminal Court? Will he outline our involvement with the Israeli military? What kind of trade is being done in purchasing or exporting goods?

The Minister essentially did.

Okay, but it is okay to plunder Palestinian natural resources.

We will see where the Irish position is then with regard to involvement with the Israeli military.

That is a very cheap political charge.