I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The international security environment has changed significantly over the past year. We have seen Russia's blatant disregard for international law and for Europe's collective security architecture, bringing war to the Continent. Ireland's commitment to a rules-based international order and our traditional policy of military neutrality do not inure us from the need to respond to this new reality. Against this backdrop, I hope that the upcoming consultative forum on internat…

That was a disgraceful presentation. The Deputy mentioned Andrew Cottey. He is the holder of the Jean Monnet chair at UCC. The Deputy should not name people and try to undermine them in the way he has just done. That is shocking intolerance of the whole idea of debate. Why is the Deputy so opposed to people with different perspectives coming together in a framework to have discussions?

In this House, there are different perspectives on all sorts of issues. It seems as if the Deputy is saying that if someone holds a particular position, he or she should not even be in the House. Deputy Berry might have a particular view on a range of issues which differs from that of Deputy Barry, but Deputy Barry seems to have an approach of complete intolerance when it comes to Deputy Berry's right to speak. I am sorry for dragging Deputy Berry into it, but that is my point. Deputy Barry did not mention Roger Co…

The Deputy has the names.There are quite a number of them. He picked five or six. He has been unfair to those individuals too. His intolerance of debate and his attempt to try to undermine people by attacking them as opposed to the commenting on issues is reprehensible. I have no time for this; it is outrageous carry-on.

Alternative to what?

Our position on military neutrality is very clear. It is not changing, even in the context of this conference. There is no predetermined outcome. Is the Deputy saying that Professor Gary Murphy is problematic? I can go through the full list. It is not fair to single out any individual. These are people who have achieved academic positions in various institutions. I find the thought process behind the Deputy's approach most troubling. To a certain extent, it is more than just intolerant of the right to free speech a…

The Deputy's perspective is one where if a person even has a hint of a view that is different to his, that person should not be given a platform.

The Deputy mentioned Dan O'Brien. Ireland is about free media, free speech and free rights to ideas and opinions. The Deputy seems to want to extinguish certain ideas before they even have a chance to get a platform. He does not even want to give platforms to people who might have an alternative view to his. That is extraordinary.

There is a very broad range of views. I challenge Deputy Barry on this. He is not going to get away with snuffing out debate by attacking people as opposed to dealing with the issue.

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I am extremely concerned by the incursion by Israeli forces into Ramallah last week, which was significant in scale and resulted in civilian casualties, several resulting from the use of live ammunition. This action forms part of a deeply worrying trend that we have witnessed over recent months, including the raids by Israeli forces on the city of Nablus and Jenin refugee camp, which have been previously raised in this House. It is telling that, against this backdrop, the …

I share the Deputy's revulsion at what has happened. Thirty-five people were wounded, including 20 by live bullets. Two people reportedly suffered serious abdominal wounds, while another was hit in the head by a rubber-coated metal bullet. The family apartment was on the first floor of a four-storey building. Its destruction has displaced the parents and four sisters of the accused. This may amount to collective punishment. It is collective punishment, which is a war crime under international law. Ireland has taken…

The most effective approach will have to be a collective one within the European Union. There is no consensus across Europe in respect of this issue. There is consensus regarding the violation of international law and the expansion of settlements, but how one puts flesh on the bones of newer policy initiatives is more challenging and difficult. As I said, Ireland, along with other like-minded states, wants to strengthen its relationship and that of the EU with the Palestinian National Authority, and put it on a lev…

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. First-time applications are the most complex due to the necessary checks involved to verify the identity and citizenship status of the applicant. All passport applications are subject to the requirements of the Passports Act 2008, as amended. I am pleased that the turnaround time to fully complete first-time online applications remains at 20 working days. The passport service continually works to enhance the service to provide further efficiencies for customers. A number …

I cannot comment on specific cases but I am being told it does not go to the back of the queue. We constantly recruit staff. We have had 18 competitions since 2021 to address staffing needs in the passport service and 200 temporary clerical officers have been assigned to that service since January 2023, in the context of further measures. I will look at that case to see if it illustrates a wider problem. These are basic things involving stamping of forms. We should be practical on all sides in processing these issu…

I met with officials yesterday in relation to the passport service. No one identified that issue with the tracker but I will revert and communicate what the Deputy said. Our Department would welcome the digitisation of the records maintained by An Garda Síochána when witnessing applications. Significant improvements have been made. The birth certificate has seen a huge improvement and a significant innovation. That is now up to 16,000. We are constantly looking at ways to reduce the number of original documents tha…

I meet with British Government representatives on a regular basis bilaterally, in multilateral fora and at the British-Irish Council, BIC, and British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference, BIIGC. I attended the last BIC in Blackpool while Taoiseach and will join the current Taoiseach in Jersey for the 39th BIC summit today and tomorrow. I will meet at the summit with representatives of the British Government and the other BIC member administrations, where the focus of discussions will be on Building for the Future: G…

The United Kingdom Government published an extensive list of amendments to the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill last week. We have opposed the Bill from the outset. It is a unilateral action and I have been consistent in this House in calling out unilateral actions by the British Government in respect of issues under the Good Friday Agreement. I believe the most effective way forward is a collective approach between the two Governments and, in the context of legacy, the political parties a…

I do, and we have consistently raised the Dublin and Monaghan bombings and the need for full disclosure and release of documents pertaining to that atrocity. I too was at the remembrance ceremony and commemoration. I pay tribute to Justice for the Forgotten for the consistent manner in which it has commemorated those who lost their lives. Its representatives remember those people but also raise the issue of justice. I have met many victims' groups since I became Minister for Foreign Affairs. As Taoiseach, I also me…

I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 63 together. The passport service's recent achievements, which I have outlined in response to earlier questions, are thanks to the operational and staffing plans my Department has put in place for 2023, as well as the efficiencies allowed for through passport online. There are currently 834 staff in the passport service. The Department has run 18 recruitment competitions since 2021 to address staffing needs in the passport service, and another is currently under way. The passp…

I appreciate the Deputy's comments. A number of Deputies have commented on the helpfulness of the staff of the Department of Foreign Affairs and in the Passport Office in particular. I take the Deputy's point that not everybody can go online but people should seek assistance to do so, where possible, because it is a very effective and much faster service. I will take away the Deputy's viewpoint. I will talk again to the team in the Passport Office about the situation in respect of paper-based applications. Some sen…