In the context of the contract, concerns have been expressed about the viability of the Air Corps not just by politicians but by Air Corps officers. We have established that the technical detail of the contract is still being worked out. In a previous response to a question the Minister said that when he was on these benches he asked questions about a lack of investment in the Air Corps and he said he got reasonable explanations as to why that should not or could not happen. He might share some of them now because …

I am sharing time with two colleagues. I thank the Minister for outlining the approach to the Brexit omnibus Bill. I will take a moment to offer my condolences on the death yesterday morning of the Secretary General of the Palestine Liberation Organisation, PLO, Dr. Saeb Erekat, to his friends, family and colleagues. His loss to the cause of the Palestinian people is immeasurable. As we come close to the culminating point of the drawn-out drama that is Brexit, we are still forced to contend with the ongoing obtusen…

We are aware that the spectre of Brexit casts its shadow over all aspects of EU activity at the moment. Regardless of whether or not an agreement is reached, the implications for Ireland are immense. The potential immensity of the impact of Brexit is compounded by the fact that we may well be in the midst of the Donald Rumsfeld arena of unknown unknowns. The scenario is exacerbated by Tory intent of deregulation across the marketplace. Just last week, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland warned of a disruption to t…

The European Council has completely failed to address the issue of the Israeli annexation of the West Bank. It is quite poignant that the Minister of State answered every question that was put to him but did not address the issues raised by his Government colleague, Deputy Costello.

It was interesting to see the statement from the Minister for Foreign Affairs last Friday, in which he stated that a de facto annexation is occurring in the West Bank, which is illegal under international law. Does the Minister of State agree with the Minister's assessment? What pressure is being put on the EU to impose sanctions? It is rightfully very quick to impose sanctions on other countries and leaders but no action is forthcoming coming against the illegal actions of the Israelis and the continued annexation…

Fianna Fáil bottled it when it came to the occupied territories Bill, however.

What we have witnessed in the budget is an attempt to pay lip service to the effort that is required to address the single biggest issue affecting the Defence Forces, that is, the retention of personnel, many of whom have been subjected to intensive and expensive training programmes to high levels of skill. The loss of even one of these skilled personnel can have a significant effect. Witness the recent inability of the LÉ Eithne to conduct a patrol due to the illness of one single communications officer. Amid the …

I raise the Government's refusal to allow members of the Defence Forces to associate with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, ICTU. This has been a long-standing request, particularly from PDFORRA, since 1994. Will the Minister outline the rationale for this continued refusal?

The Minister will be well aware of how bad things are in the Defence Forces, something which several Members have mentioned earlier. The numbers of members of the Defence Forces who have to rely on the working family payment is a stark illustration of this and for public sector talks to go ahead with no input from members of the Defence Forces is not right. Unfortunately, legal proceedings had to be initiated because of the Government's heel dragging on the issue. It is not a route that anyone would like to go down…

I find it absurd that the Minister would pit low-paid workers against each other, as though it is some badge of honour that staff in his Department rely on the working family payment. That is shameful and really low. The stark reality is this sector has no input into national pay agreements and must take the agreement or leave it, unlike other workers who are allowed have representatives around the table. An argument put forward is that it would be completely wrong if members of the Defence Forces, having associate…

Yesterday the Garda rolled out an operation which saw the establishment of 132 static checkpoints across the State to try to stop non-essential travel between counties. While I fully support An Garda Síochána and appreciate the job it must do, the way in which it was rolled out caused complete chaos throughout the State, including in my own county of Wicklow. I have received numerous texts and phone calls from people caught in traffic jams for four hours and more. One lady coming from Crumlin hospital with her son …

I know the Garda has made changes to several traffic layouts such as the N7 and the M2.

Will the Tánaiste ask the Garda Commissioner to examine these operations and their impact on genuine people right across the State?

The meeting of the European Council next week comes quite quickly after the special meeting of the Council on 1 and 2 October. The Council afforded the Taoiseach the opportunity to address the floor on the issue of the impact and implications of Brexit on this country. Brexit represents the critical issue on the European stage for Ireland at this juncture. In the midst of the deteriorating situation across the country, with the growing number of cases of Covid-19 and the reaction to the Tánaiste's crass commentary …

It is very apparent that several major obstacles remain as the EU negotiating team attempts to bring the British to an agreement on Brexit. It appears that Tory attitudes and outlooks have retreated into an echo chamber where Boris Johnson and his cronies feast on their own toxicity. While I understand that many of the EU negotiators have been shocked by the perfidious actions of the British, no depth of British mendacity comes as a surprise to us here in Ireland. It is apparent to all that the British position is …

Will the Minister outline in detail the nature and full extent of Ireland's response to the fire at the Moria refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesbos that happened in early September?

I thank the Minister for his response and share his sentiments with regard to being saddened by what we have seen in Lesbos. I am saddened also by the Irish Government's response, which has been wholly inadequate. We have had ministerial commitments to what can only be described as a piecemeal response in committing to accept four minors. Back in September 2019, the head of the Children's Rights Alliance said there was a moral duty on this Government to live up to its obligations to accept 36 minors which had been …

I acknowledge the commitment that we will take in 50 people made up of a number of families. I acknowledge also the commitments that we signed up to between 2015 and 2019 that we would take in 36 minors, something we have failed to live up to. We need to learn from this fire. There is deep concern that we will see the rebuilding of the refugee camp in Lesbos. That cannot be allowed to happen, and that will only happen due to the failure of the EU to put in place a humane migration plan. We need to ensure that an in…

Brexit is not good for Ireland, deal or no deal. A big issue coming at us, however, is that of hauliers who rely on the landbridge through Britain. What measures is the Government taking to assist Irish hauliers to deal with the anticipated delays at ports in Britain such as at Dover?

A report in recent days showed that our tax returns have declined substantially, which is no surprise, but our exports have held up and are keeping us afloat. Some 150,000 Irish lorries use the land bridge through Britain annually. About 40% of Irish exports and 13% of imports cross the trade thoroughfare ever year. The value of trade crossing the land bridge was €18 billion in exports and €3 billion in imports in 2016, according to a report on the route by the Irish Maritime Development Office. It is no surprise. …