People have been struck by the pace of Ukrainian reforms. In particular, the Commission has been very struck by the speed and degree to which Ukraine has gotten its act together in respect of many of the areas that had been identified by the Commission as requiring reform. Overall, I have a geopolitical view - I have been one of the strongest advocates earlier on at European Council meetings and as Taoiseach - that we should make sure we push strongly for Ukrainian accession to the European Union. The geopolitical …

In respect of Deputy Bruton's question, at the December European Council meeting it was decided to open accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova and to grant candidate status to Georgia. There was a clear signal to open negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina. Ukraine is proceeding rapidly and various timelines have been given. As for 2027 that would be very fast and that is the Ukrainian perspective. However, it is moving at pace and we will see steady progress with respect to Ukraine. On Georgia, yes gran…

Premier Li Qiang visited Ireland on 16 and 17 January, at the request of the Chinese authorities. The premier paid a courtesy call on President Higgins before being welcomed by the Taoiseach at Farmleigh House for a bilateral meeting and a lunch, which was also attended by a number of Ministers, including myself. Meetings covered a range of topics including bilateral relations, human rights, European Union-China relations, multilateral engagement and regional and international issues. Premier Li expressed interest …

No, that is not the truth. I was in China in November. I met Mr. Wang Yi. We had an extended conversation on Xinjiang. Ireland is very concerned about the situation in Xinjiang and about reports of the treatment of ethnic and religious groups in the region. We welcomed the publication in 2022 of the assessment by the then High Commissioner for Human Rights regarding human rights concerns in Xinjiang and called on China to implement its recommendations and the subsequent special procedure’s recommendations. I raised…

Contrary to what the Deputy says, Europe has taken a strong position on this. It has also reframed its relationship with China in terms of the derisking approach, ensuring economic resilience at home within Europe and ensuring there are no vulnerable dependencies. In a speech to the Royal Irish Academy last year, I outlined Ireland’s position on the derisking situation and that we had to be clear-eyed in our relationship with China. There is a strong economic relationship between Europe and China. The world is now …

I thank the Deputy for raising this important question. We are deeply concerned by the ongoing erosion of human rights in Russia – it is shocking – and the persecution of individuals for exercising their personal freedoms, including the rights to freedom of opinion, expression and peaceful assembly. The arbitrary arrest, prosecution and sentencing of Mr. Alexei Navalny and the subsequent instrumentalisation of the court system against him raise obvious and serious questions about the rule of law and the protection …

I agree 100%. The Deputy is correct about the European Court of Human Rights granting interim measures in February 2021 on behalf of Mr. Navalny. In January and February of 2021, there were mass detentions and scenes of police violence across Russia during peaceful protests that were linked to Mr. Navalny’s arrest and imprisonment. Other domestic opposition leaders have been arrested and prosecuted on politically motivated charges. Legislation has been introduced to essentially shut down civil society in Russia. I …

I commend the Deputy on raising it because the level of repression in Russia is extraordinary yet it does not excite the public anger in this country that it should. Civil society is shut down, media is suppressed and no one can speak out against the leadership. Politicians are arrested and lawyers defending people are arrested and just put into jail. That is why there was an exodus from Russia of many people of a liberal disposition. They simply got out of Russia, which is doubly depressing in that it copper-faste…

We are very concerned. What is going on in Sudan is shocking. It is a further illustration of how proxy wars are taking place across the world and malign influences are resulting in wars of this kind, which cause immense suffering for people. The people of Sudan are suffering hugely. The situation in Sudan has not received the attention it should because of everything else happening in the world, in Ukraine and the Middle East, for example. We have provided aid and support. At the meeting on Monday of the EU Foreig…

We continually review our sanctions at EU level. I foresee further sanctions and we will continue support and aid. It is deteriorating rapidly. There are two opposing forces and it is becoming increasingly bitter. We will work with the African Union and other powers to try to bring stability and get a resolution. The European Union will do everything it can to bring stability with the neighbouring states of Sudan. That covers all three areas of sanctions, support aid and political resolution.

The conflict puts millions in peril due to starvation and famine. Ireland has supported various UN funds to ensure immediate aid gets in but also to ensure humanitarian corridors are created to facilitate aid to Sudan. These are also resource wars with people waging war with a view to getting their hands on resources. The link between this and migration is very strong. The neighbouring countries are feeling the pressure hugely. We just passed the Egyptian-European Union stabilisation agreement again, which will inv…

I thought we were over time.

The Deputy also attacked me when I went to Israel to seek to get Irish citizens out of Gaza. His fellow travellers did likewise, as well as trolling and misinformation online. We got 56 people out.

Yet the Deputy comes in here and says he is handing me letters to get people out.

You are just a hypocrite.

Come off it.

Regarding the specific people, I will do everything I can to get people out of Gaza and that means engaging with the Israeli authorities. Our ambassador in Israel has engaged repeatedly with Israeli authorities and that resulted in very substantial numbers of Irish citizens and their dependants getting out of Gaza. If you had your way, nobody would get out of Gaza.

You are just behaving hypocritically. I went out there to get people out and you attacked me. Then you come in the following day and say "Please get them out". Come off it. What credibility have you?

You are a disgrace. You are unbelievable.

Ní aontaím leis an Teachta. Admhaím ar dtús go bhfuil na hospidéil agus na hionaid éigeandála faoi bhrú faoi láthair ach tá plean ann. Ní plean gearrthéarmach atá ann anois, ach plean don bhliain ar fad. Tá infheistíocht faoi leith curtha isteach in ospidéil na tíre seo ó tháinig an Rialtas seo ar an bhfód. Ní raibh a leithéid d’infheistíocht ann le blianta fada. Is í sin fírinne an scéil. The investment in health has been unprecedented in theplast four years, with €7.1 billion extra since 2019. The Deputy should n…