I did not interrupt the Deputy. He has asked questions.

The Deputy does not allow me to answer the question he has put. I do not interrupt him. Europe has taken steps in respect of trying to identify goods that come from the settlements and the possibility that we would be in a position to boycott them. The most effective decision we have taken as a country within the European Union - it will be difficult, by the way, to get unanimity on this - is through questioning on the trade association agreement. There are human rights clauses in the agreement in terms of obligati…

I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 54 together. I thank the Deputy for raising this question. The Government has been consistent in the pursuit of accountability for Russia's illegal and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine. This includes accountability of the Russian leadership responsible for the crime of aggression. Ireland is one of 40 states, plus the European Union, in the core group for the establishment of a special tribunal to prosecute the crime of aggression in Ukraine. Ireland participates…

I thank Deputy Lawless for his insights, which are valuable and important. Ultimately, this is also about accountability of those who perpetrate crimes of this kind against a civilian population and against a country. There must be accountability under international humanitarian law in the case of what is happening in the Middle East and, likewise, in Ukraine. Part of the challenges here have been that the ICC does not have jurisdiction at the moment over the crime of aggression. While Ukraine signed the Rome Statu…

The establishment of the International Centre for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression under the aegis of Eurojust gives the opportunity to do just that, to co-ordinate domestic investigations by EU member states and non-EU countries into the crime of aggression against Ukraine and to act as a central repository for evidence of that crime. Ukraine, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Romania and the US are participating in this initial phase. The Deputy is correct. Already, a significant body of evidence has …

I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 61 together. Along with our European Union partners, Ireland continues to engage internationally to build broad support for a just and sustainable peace in Ukraine based on the Ukraine peace plan. It is up to Ukraine to determine the terms and conditions under which it should engage in peace negotiations. Russia has stepped up its large-scale assaults on civilians in recent weeks and has intensified its offensive along the front line. President Putin's recent rhetoric threate…

The Deputy's points are well made. There is a real fear in eastern European countries, in the Baltics in particular, not just among elected political representatives but among the people in these countries about Russia's positioning. If Russia gains further ground in Ukraine, these countries genuinely feel they are next. It is sinister and threatening that the Russian President has laid charges against political leaders in all of those countries, saying they will be arrested and detained. It is wrong. Its influence…

As a representative of the Irish Government, we do not interfere in the political deliberations within the United States. There is a general election. It is democracy. People will make their choice. We have appreciated President Biden's transatlantic reach and the transformation in that relationship over the last number of years, the commitment to climate change and also the general working in partnership with Europe, which is important in terms of overall security but also for economic relationships, prosperity an…

I also take the opportunity to offer my deepest condolences to the family of Saoírse Ruane, her parents, Ollie and Roseanna, her sisters and all who knew and loved her. I was fortunate enough to meet Saoírse at Croke Park some years ago. I was very much struck by her radiant smile, her warm personality and her love of sports, including Gaelic games. Saoírse inspired so many people with her positivity and courage. She has left an extraordinary legacy through the RTÉ toy show appeal. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam díli…

I do not accept that. At the outset, the Deputy said that there was no new money this year; there was. Some €30 million has been made available. He said nothing had changed since the Government came in.

In fact, €98 million of new money has been provided since this Government came in for new medicines. I refer to 148 new medicines in the past three years, as well as 39 new drugs or new uses of existing drugs with an orphan designation. By orphan, we mean drugs for rare diseases and they are termed orphan drugs because of that. We spend €3 billion a year on medicines. That is not inconsiderable and we are not the laggard across Europe. I do not accept that at all. In fact, we would be a laggard in the use of generi…

In the last three years there have been about 61 new drugs or new uses of existing drugs for use in oncology alone for cancer patients. It is a very rapidly moving area, particularly in terms of immunotherapy drugs and so on. The funding has gone up exponentially over time. We need a system to evaluate this and make sure we get best value for money. In principle, I am disposed to getting drugs to the people who need them as fast as possible.

The most important point is that Ireland has not lost its moral compass on this issue. I think we should agree on that in this House. The situation in Gaza is absolutely catastrophic. I agree with Josep Borrell, the EU vice president and head of European foreign policy, when he said people should stop sending arms if they want an end to the conflict. Other countries should stop sending arms in order to bring an end to this conflict. I know that many countries are trying to bring an end to the conflict. I have no do…

My words are not empty, Deputy. I believe in substance on this issue and not words. I have heard many words in this House and across its foor about substance and impact. I believe Ireland can have impact, small and all as we are, and we are having impact. We are one of the few countries which have already made a robust legal submission to the International Court of Justice in respect of the UN seeking an advisory opinion on the legality or illegality of Israel's occupation. The Attorney General gave a very robust a…

I am telling the Deputy that I believe the best and optimal time is following the publication of the Arab peace initiative and in the developing of a political track whereby a number of European countries together could, on the back of that and in tandem with that act-----

-----which is far more effective. This idea of the Deputy trying to score points or suggesting that she is more virtuous than everybody else in the House on this question is an approach we need to dispense with. We all want this to end but I genuinely believe Ireland can and is having an impact and we are using every possible forum - diplomatic, legal and political - to end this.

Firstly, I agree with much of what Deputy Berry has said. By way of quick reply, we are actively exploring the possibility of Ireland contributing to this multinational effort and Jordan, in particular, has been leading this in organising air-drops. I spoke to Foreign Minister Safadi on this a week or two ago and I specifically asked questions on this. We speak a great deal on other issues. We are now actively engaged with Jordan. It is not an issue of our technical capacity or anything like that. Jordan obviously …

I will come back to the Deputies generally when that progresses somewhere, but it is being actively pursued by the Irish Government with the Jordanian Government. I met with the King when I was in Jordan recently. He and the Jordanian Government are very appreciative of the role Ireland has taken internationally at the various forums, particularly within the European Union. In response to earlier questions, the mood within Europe has changed. Last week, 26 countries were prepared to have sanctions against violent a…

I thank the Deputy for raising these issues. More generally, food production is essential. In the context of climate change, the resilience of our food production system and food security are absolutely essential. Rather than undermining our food production system, we will increase it. Tá géarghá ann an córas a threisiú agus a dhéanamh níos láidre. In that context, as the Deputy knows, we, including the Minister for agriculture, work with the farming community. The Deputy knows about the €1.5 billion in the flagshi…

The fishing industry is not gone at all.