I thank the Minister. There is indeed continued mass rape, summary execution of youths and men and deliberate destruction of economic, social and religious infrastructure. All of this is continuing at an accelerated pace. We must move beyond the words of condemnation and must now use our influence. We are probably one of the countries that hold the most influence in the region, given our long-standing ties, and we must put that pressure on the Ethiopian Government. I would like to hear what the Minister has to say …

Will the Minister outline the Government's response to the recent passing of laws that repress LGBTQ rights in Hungary? What efforts does the Government propose to take through the EU as a consequence of these measures?

The swing towards the right in eastern Europe is worrying and we can all agree on this. We are moving towards the unfortunate re-imposition of repressive regimes of the past. Recently, Amnesty International described the new laws as an attempt by the Hungarian Government to spread hatred and we can also agree on this. The organisation has also claimed the Orbán Government is putting the lives of innocent people at risk of cruel political campaigns. The Orbán regime, which has ruled Hungary since 2010, has enacted a…

I welcome the Minister's strong comments in calling out UEFA and stating that it was cowardice on its behalf to fudge this issue and declare it as an issue of politics when, fundamentally, this is an issue of equality and human rights. I share the commentary with the Minister. It was cowardice. UEFA has missed an opportunity and has abdicated responsibility on this issue. To get back to the issue in terms of Hungary and where we started with this conversation, there needs to be consequences for the draconian powers…

Undoubtedly, the primary issue facing the EU at this moment continues to be the Covid-19 pandemic followed by how we, both as an independent nation state and as a contributing member of the institution, are to chart the course of economic recovery from the unprecedented events that have occurred since March 2020. The impact the pandemic has wrought on our economy has been compounded by the added impact of Brexit. The geographic position we occupy of having Britain as our nearest neighbour, the political complexitie…

I thank the Minister of State. I acknowledge that this Bill is being presented as an opportunity to tidy up existing legislation under a single enactment. I welcome the consolidation of existing legislation in one place. I further acknowledge that the Bill sets out Ireland’s maritime rights under international law and the law of the sea. I must question, however, the willingness and capacity of the Government to assert Ireland’s rights under international law. I and my party have concerns that the responsibilities …

I add my support and the support of my party, Sinn Féin, to the motion. I can only condemn in the strongest terms the act of international piracy committed by Alexander Lukashenko in Belarus. The hijacking of a civilian aircraft to facilitate the arrest of a journalist is an absolute disgrace. I am glad that the international community is prepared to act to ensure that this act will not go unpunished. It may be argued that when the Belarusian President, Alexander Lukashenko, gave the order to hijack this plane he w…

I move: That Dáil Éireann: — notes that recent weeks have seen the most serious escalation of violence in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory (i.e. the West Bank, including East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip) since 2014, with a tragic impact on innocent civilians and loss of life, including the deaths of at least 65 children; — condemns the targeting of civilian infrastructure, and the loss of civilian life, and recalls the obligations on all parties under international humanitarian law and international h…

We have heard the arguments and we have heard the amendments. I again call on Members to remain focused on the magnitude of what we are on the cusp of achieving. We will become the first European country to formally acknowledge that the crime of annexation has taken place. The architecture of the Israeli Government strategy on the development of settlements signals the intention of making this a permanent fixture. The EU has talked about the need for Israel to avoid the red line of annexation but we have the potent…

For approaching two weeks now, day after day, night after night, we have been forced to bear witness to a sustained, brutal, and unforgiving assault on the Palestinian people by the apartheid Government of Israel. It has been torturous, shocking and heartbreaking. Some 230 civilians, including 64 children, have been slaughtered as of today in the open-air prison that is the Gaza Strip. Homes, media offices, libraries, police stations, a university, nine primary healthcare centres, six hospitals, the main Covid-19 l…

What reviews have taken place to date of the 1994 Defence Forces service contracts, which have led to huge difficulties with retention in the Defence Forces?

I thank the Minister for the response. I disagree with his assessment that the 1994 contracts are not causing a huge difficulty or having a bearing on the retention crisis in the Defence Forces. Retention and recruitment are the biggest issues facing the Defence Forces. This is plain for anyone to see because the level of turnover of personnel in the Defence Forces is leading to dysfunctionality. We see this in the Naval Service, where a number of our naval vessels are tied up due to personnel shortages. If these t…

What are the issues that have been identified?

A further claim was submitted in 2004.

Will the Minister detail what that claim was and what the resolution was?

I thank the Minister. Again, I disagree with him. We have modern-day fitness and nutrition programmes. The fact that people live longer is one the Government has used to try to increase the State pension age to 67 and 68. The same concept should and could be applied to the Defence Forces. Simple fitness tests for members of the Defence Forces would allow them to meet the criteria over which the Minister has expressed concerns. There are huge issues. Retention will not be resolved unless we look at the 1994 contract…

-----and that the findings will be implemented, unlike what was contained in the White Paper.

What discussions have taken place at EU level on the further militarisation of the EU, leading to the creation of an EU army?

There is an attempt to further militarise the EU. We saw that quite recently when Ireland was named as one of 14 countries that support further militarisation through the rapid reaction force, which the Minister referenced previously. Not only can that venture be classified as being in contravention to Ireland’s long-standing and declared policy of neutrality, it also contradicts the Minister's intentions of presenting himself at the UN as an honest broker and a neutral voice in world affairs. It also represents a …

By all accounts, the EU High Representative, Vice-President Josep Borrell, has intentions and plans to send EU forces into Mozambique by the end of the year. I believe the Minister made reference to Mozambique already. It appears to me that the sole intent of this is to protect a French mining company. I want the Minister to answer that claim. Why would the EU be sending forces to Mozambique in a situation like that? I absolutely fully support Ireland’s role in peacekeeping and active neutrality. That is something …