I absolutely did. The Deputy just made that up.

Can I point out that we are about 40 minutes over time?

I do not mind. I am not giving out. This could be over by now.

This could and should be over by now if the Deputies were following all the rules all the time.

They are trying to dictate to all of us.

I thank the Deputies. I kind of responded to Deputy Ó Cearúil. I agree with what Deputy Daly said. We need to strengthen our defences and capability. What Deputy Daly said about a small business in his constituency is interesting. Some people in the House are oblivious about the level of cybersecurity attacks on the private sector in Ireland. Many companies are spending a lot of money on their cybersecurity defences because it is very disruptive. Universities have been hit. The HSE was paralysed during Covid by the…

On the European Union meetings-----

The Deputies had their chance and did not even mention Russia. It is a one-way ticket as far as the Deputies are concerned. The fact is that the Baltic countries, Finland, Sweden and others feel there is a genuine existential threat to Europe. Europe feels exposed, and that it does not have the necessary capabilities yet. It needs to enhance its capabilities. That is why there is a build-up and investment in security capacities across all the member states, particularly because Europe may not be able to rely on oth…

-----and its member states. The geopolitical world is changing. The US is clear in saying that it will remain a member of NATO, but it seems to many in Europe that Europe will have to develop its own independent capacities and capabilities-----

-----as will member states. On Deputy Ó Fearghaíl's point, Europe will have to stand up and be the bastion of a multilateral, rules-based order. It will have to maintain its focus on the United Nations in a world where that is being threatened and undermined. There is no doubt of that. Ireland as a small country needs an international, global rules system. It is what we always stood for. Deputy Tóibín mentioned that we are exposed. We are. We should not forget that it is not about goods alone. If one factors in ser…

The European Union will take a strategic view on how it responds to whatever tariffs are imposed. We do not quite know yet what tariffs, at which level or in which sectors, will happen. We will know on 2 April and then Europe will take some time, though not too long, to see how it responds. Europe does not want any tariffs. Europe believes that tariffs are damaging to the economy, to jobs and to consumers because inflation will rise as a result of them.

In response to Deputy Bacik, in the past, I have defended LGBT rights at the European Council meeting in the face of decisions taken by Prime Minister Orbán to curtail such rights, and will continue to do so. Hungary's behaviour on the Council on a number of fronts has been a matter of grave concern in recent times. In respect of the Middle East, I have condemned the Israeli attack. I have said it is in breach of humanitarian law, as is the refusal to allow aid into Gaza. Ireland has been very supportive of Palesti…

I will indeed. All the focus of Deputy Boyd Barrett's remarks was on the European Union, without a mention of Russia.

I have said consistently that the conduct of modern warfare is appalling, no matter where is waged. It leads to the killing of civilians in huge numbers. In Ukraine, it has been absolutely appalling. Russia illegally invaded Ukraine, with devastating impacts for ordinary people. There has been massive displacement of 12 million people. The population of Ukraine is estimated to have gone from 40 million to 28 million, which is devastating. In response to Deputy Brennan, we have consistently called for acceleration, …

I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 to 30, inclusive, together. On Monday, 27 January, I joined other world leaders at a ceremony to mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau and to commemorate international Holocaust remembrance day. It was a day where we remembered the unique horrors of the Holocaust, in which 6 million Jews from across Europe were murdered in Nazi death camps. The commemoration was probably the last significant one at which survivors of Auschwitz were able to recount firs…

I appreciate the comments by Deputy Daly. We can never forget the exceptionalism of the Holocaust. It is important that we mark it and that is why I was determined, as Taoiseach, to visit Auschwitz for the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. In particular, it may be the last occasion when we hear the voices of actual survivors. With regard to retaining the right to criticise Israel, that will be retained. There is nothing in the actual guidelines. There was a clause explaining-----

Will the Deputy stop? I have never interrupt him but he keeps on interrupting. Will he even allow me to finish a sentence? It is not in the guidelines themselves, although there were explanatory clauses. We made it very clear that we retain the right to criticise Israel. The fact of the matter is that fellow, like-minded EU member states signed the IHRA guidelines a long time ago, including Spain, Slovenia and others. Did that impair their capacity to criticise Israel? They joined with us in terms of the recognitio…

Let me finish my point. I am answering the question. It is an important point to state in the House. Many in our Jewish community do not feel comfortable with the atmosphere out there at the moment in going about their daily lives and, more worryingly, do not feel comfortable with outward manifestations of the fact that they are Jewish. We have to be alert to that. We have to deal with that in our schools to make sure that is not a factor. Many people within our Jewish community have different views, as the Deputy …

-----was a member of the Labour Party and had a very distinguished career here in terms of equality legislation in particular so there is an honourable and very positive Jewish tradition in Ireland and I think this is something we must protect. It is a small community. That is the context. In response to Deputy Bacik on hate speech legislation, that Act was amended last year. We just went ahead with the penalty side of it. There was a lot of opposition and resistance in light of what is happening on social media. T…

Deputy Boyd Barrett attacked Germany. He has never attacked Hamas. He has never condemned Hamas for 7 October.