It is important to reiterate that Ireland and the European Union have been consistent in their support for Ukraine in the face of Russia's illegal and unjustified war of aggression. The response by the Union to Russia's invasion of Ukraine has been unprecedented in its unity, firmness and determination. It has encompassed political, financial, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support for Ukraine. Member states have agreed approximately €5.6 billion in military assistance to Ukraine under the European Peace Fac…

There is a lot of bilateral aid which member states themselves provide jointly. Many EU member states, not us, see the Russian invasion as existential, particularly the Baltic states and Poland. Initially, even German people felt the war posed an existential threat to the security of Germany. This is the context. It is arguable that the support given by many member states has stymied Russia's ambition to take over Ukraine. It was touch and go. When we speak to people in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Moldova they f…

So do I.

No.

You are.

Ireland is a force for peace in the world. In our motion today we condemned the continued Israeli bombardment of Gaza. I condemned the Hamas attack on 7 October. We are seeking peace and we have called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Ireland is consistent in its approach to these matters. We voted for the Arab resolution at the United Nations seeking an immediate cessation of all violence in Gaza. We have been very consistent. We were one of the first EU member states to come out on our own to state we want a c…

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. There is a long-standing policy of allowing third-party access to Defence Forces facilities and properties in order to support the local communities and to raise the profile of the Defence Forces. This policy extends to a wide number of groups and activities, including GAA clubs, soccer clubs and numerous community groups throughout the country. As the Deputy correctly said, there is a long-standing association with the Bere Island Projects Group, stretching back to 2013. …

I thank Deputy O'Sullivan. West Cork people are very self-reliant, innovative and enterprising, particularly the people of the Beara Peninsula and Bere Island itself. The Department of Defence administers 91.05 ha of land on Bere Island on behalf of the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform in whom the land is vested. The Department of Defence administers 11-month land lettings on 129 acres on Ardagh Mountain and 12.5 acres at Camp Rerrin for the grazing of sheep, cattle and…

On the latter point, I am not sure whether the Brexit adjustment reserve funding applied. There was significant ramping up of investment in piers. I will speak to the Minister for agriculture in respect of this specific issue. My Department is open to seeing what we can do long term to facilitate certainty. Spike Island happened and I was involved in it at the time. The county manager asked me whether we could persuade the Department of Justice and the then Minister, Senator McDowell, to release Spike Island to the…

I propose to take Questions Nos. 62 and 71 together. I thank the Deputy for raising this question. As he will be aware, Ireland, like many other countries in Europe, has witnessed a fundamental change in our security environment in the past year, with an increased focus on maritime security and the protection of subsea cables. The security of Ireland’s subsea infrastructure is a matter of utmost importance to the Government. As I informed the House on 22 November during a debate on the consultative forum on interna…

A civil-military working group has been established to progress a project for the enhancement of subsea awareness capabilities, as recommended by the Commission on the Defence Forces and referenced in the detailed implementation plan, which was published last November. That project is under way. One of the projects under NATO’s Partnership for Peace is on maritime security and relates specifically to subsea cables. We have to collaborate with other countries and share information and expertise. It is a complex and …

There is a bit more work to be done on engagement with the private sector on the subsea cable issue. Internationally, there is engagement at EU level. The resilience and protection of critical infrastructure has become a higher priority issue for the EU since the pandemic and Russia’s war of aggression on Ukraine. Regarding the new individual tailored programme between NATO and Ireland, that is, the Partnership for Peace, it has been agreed that the Department of Defence will lead cross-government work on managing …

I propose to take Questions Nos. 64, 74, 76, 78, 85 and 93 together. I believe we addressed this matter in an earlier question.

The draft terms of reference were prepared. There was a significant number of meetings between Women of Honour, me and the Attorney General. In the earlier question, I listed the amendments that we had taken on board as a result of those meetings with Women of Honour. I would make the point that we agreed on a range of issues. If the Deputy wishes, I will list them again. That the statutory inquiry would be by way of public inquiry was Women of Honour’s first big request. We discussed the pros and cons and agreed t…

No, they will be.

People who did not make a complaint during their lives in the military for fear of suffering reprisal-----

-----or were deterred by intimation will be allowed to go before the tribunal and make their case because it is important that they will be able to go before the tribunal so that-----

No, it does not depend on that. This is in the terms of reference.

It is in the terms of reference.

This was made clear to the members of the Women of Honour group as well. It is in the terms of reference.