I raise another legacy issue, which is the issue of the Omagh bombing in 1998. Last month, in response to the finding of a High Court judge, Lord Justice Horner, the British Government announced that it intends to establish an independent statutory inquiry into the 1998 Omagh bombing. This bomb, which was planted by the Real IRA, killed 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins, and injured hundreds of others. It is suggested that there were security failings in the lead-up to the attack. Has the Irish Gover…

In recent weeks I have been contacted by a number of parents who have been driven demented trying to find primary school places for their children who are due to commence their formal education this coming September. The majority of these parents live in the Donaghmede-Howth-Dublin 13 school planning area. Parents living in the Belmayne, Clongriffin and Parkside estates are experiencing serious problems finding school places and they are sick with worry about it. There are two schools in this area that are central …

I thank the Minister for that comprehensive response. Will the Department specifically contact Belmayne Educate Together National School and St. Francis of Assisi Primary School to ask school authorities about their position on this matter and what they would like the Department to do in respect of their schools? There is a particular local demand in the three estates I mentioned. I will also ask about the role of Tusla's education support service in securing school places for children under six years of age, with …

It is great that the Taoiseach was able to meet with President Zelenskyy and express to him our solidarity with the people of Ukraine. As we know, the EU has agreed the tenth round of sanctions, which include new enforcement measures and additional reporting requirements. However, in response, the hard-hitting Belgian MEP, Guy Verhofstadt, tweeted last week that: ...the 10th sanction package is weak...as one country protects its Russian friends, another wants to go after Russian rubber, several like to keep hiding …

Every nation-state has an obligation to protect and maintain its borders; so too do the 27 member states of the European Union. In this context, I wish to ask the Taoiseach about his attendance at the special European Council meeting last week, where the issue of migration was addressed. It seems this issue has risen to the top of the EU agenda, as it has in Ireland. I understand a substantial package of new measures to deal with illegal migration was agreed by EU leaders, including the provision of EU funding to i…

I am glad the Taoiseach had an opportunity to discuss several important issues with the new British Prime Minister, including the full implementation and effective operation of all the institutions established under the Good Friday Agreement, the implementation of the Northern Ireland protocol and the British Government's legacy Bill. The war in Ukraine was among other issues the Taoiseach discussed. The appointment of Rishi Sunak has set the relationship between Britain and Ireland and it is clear these relations …

On that last point, does the Taoiseach intend to visit Ukraine? Perhaps he could let us know his views on that, having regard to the invitation. As we know, 24 February marks the first anniversary of Russia's illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine. Since then, the support and solidarity given by Ireland and the EU to Ukraine has been rock solid, and rightly so. In his phone conversation with President Zelenskyy on 10 January, the Taoiseach discussed Ukraine's initiative for a just peace. It is up to Ukraine to dec…

As everybody knows, 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of our membership of the EU. It is generally accepted that our membership has been transformative for us. It is entirely appropriate that we now take time to reflect on the past 50 years and to discuss how the EU should develop in the future. The Joint Committee on European Affairs has decided to have a series of engagements with key stakeholders in respect of our EU membership, finishing up on Europe Day in May. This will be a useful and worthwhile exercise. Othe…

Does the Tánaiste believe the Russian Federation should be designated as a terrorist state? The European Parliament has passed a resolution along these lines. I would be interested to hear the Tánaiste's views on that matter.

I have a question coming up later regarding Russian accountability. Hopefully it will be reached. I asked this question following the recent passing of a resolution by the European Parliament declaring Russia to be a state sponsor of terrorism. The catalyst for this resolution was, of course, the brutal invasion of Ukraine by Russia. There are particular concerns about the targeting and killing of Ukrainian civilians. There is also the destruction of civilian infrastructure and general breaches of international and…

The actions of the Russian Federation in recent years are quite shocking. There is the case of opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Democracies are being subjected to hybrid threats. Critics of Putin are poisoned as they go about their business on city streets. Of course, there is the ongoing matter of espionage capabilities in the Russian Embassy in Dublin. On a related point, where stands the implementation of the ninth round of sanctions? Are further sanctions being considered at an EU level on Russian individuals …

Does the Tánaiste support calls for a special tribunal to prosecute Russian war crimes in Ukraine? We touched on this topic in an earlier question. How does the Minister think Ireland should proceed on this question?

I believe there is general agreement that there must be full accountability for the individuals responsible for international war crimes in Ukraine. We have all observed Russia's deliberate targeting and killing of civilians, attacks on civilian infrastructure and threat to use nuclear weapons. The question is how we achieve this accountability. Some EU states favour the establishment of a special international tribunal. The European Parliament has passed another resolution along those lines. I do not think we shou…

I thank the Tánaiste. How will the Russian Federation be made to pay compensation for the damage it has done? Can Russian frozen assets be used for this purpose? This is a complex issue to resolve, but we should, at an EU level, look into it to see how the Russian Federation can be made to pay compensation for the tremendous damage it is doing and that it will no doubt continue to do in the coming months.

I support the measures outlined in the Climate Action Plan 2023, which was published last month. The plan lists more than 180 actions and many sub-actions that must be taken if we are to meet our climate change targets. We have already seen this year stark evidence of climate change throughout the world. California has experienced devastating storms and floods, while northern Europe has experienced some of the highest January temperatures on record. Who knows what El Niño and climate change will bring for the rest …

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, addressed both Houses last week to mark our 50 years as members of the EU. I suggest, therefore, this is a good time to assess how the EU has performed over the past two and a half years since this Government came to office. During this time, the EU faced unprecedented challenges. In February 2020, Covid-19 arrived. This year, we had Russian's illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine and all the associated problems that gave rise to. Of course, of impor…

It is clear the EU and the US agree on many foreign policy issues since the election of Joe Biden as US President, particularly as regards Ukraine. As far as Ireland is concerned, we enjoy close ties and historical bonds with the US. Irish people follow US politics closely, including the recent mid-term elections. In this context, I pay tribute to the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, on her upcoming retirement from politics. She was a great friend and ally of Ireland. The US has an important role to play as rega…

I am not scheduled to speak on this grouping.

The strategy statement of the Department of the Taoiseach refers to the need to offer objective and evidence-informed advice to the Government. It refers to a deep-rooted public service ethos of independence, integrity and impartiality. In that context I ask the Taoiseach about the Romanes lecture he gave to the University of Oxford earlier this month under the heading The Centre Will Hold: Liberal Democracy and the Populist Threat. It is clear the Taoiseach is concerned about populist offerings and simplistic solu…

As we have heard, climate change is a stark reality for much of the world's population and it is happening much faster than scientists had predicted. This is evidenced by the many incidences of extreme weather events such as droughts, flooding and forest fires across the globe this year, which caused substantial loss of life and destruction on a massive scale. Many societies face an existential threat, as well as threats to global food supplies and security. That is why COP27 was so important. The agreement reached…