The fishing question is about access, quota share and fleet displacement. We are trying to ensure our fishing interests are protected in all these areas. The danger is that the conversation moves to compensation as opposed to protection of fishing interests and access to quota share. I have tried to resist that throughout this process. First and foremost, the Government and I are interested in protecting fishing interests to ensure we have a fishing industry in future. The issue of the Brexit adjustment fund and wh…

I propose to take Questions Nos. 7, 9, 47 and 54 together. I thank the Deputy and I share his concerns. I outlined in my earlier reply the state of play on efforts to reach agreement on the MFF and the next generation EU recovery package. I am confident that the German Presidency will ensure that clear rule-of-law conditionality is retained. A prolonged delay in releasing funds to vital EU programmes due to continued objections from Poland and Hungary would have a negative impact on the EU’s efforts to deliver reco…

I could not agree more with the Deputy. We just spoke about the potential disruption of Brexit in the context of a deal or no deal, particularly in areas such as fishing and agriculture. We have a €5 billion Brexit adjustment reserve waiting to be allocated and Ireland is certainly going to be first in line for that funding because of the levels of disruption with which we may have to deal. We have, however, potential delays now in sanctioning and progressing EU expenditure because of a separate, but linked, issue …

The European Union is much more than a Single Market and an economic opportunity for its member states. It is a political union, where there is agreed pooled sovereignty in certain areas, a value system and a vein running through all member states ensuring certain standards are maintained and protected that are core to democracy. It is a value system which allows the European Union to be a credible example of a multilateral system and project that secures peace and protection of its own citizens, but also to be an …

I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 53 together. This is somewhat linked to one of the questions I answered earlier. I will happily focus on the UN element of it. As the Deputy will appreciate, it would not be appropriate for the European Council to consider this matter at such an early stage in the process. The appropriate Council working group is engaged on the matter. Ireland participated in a range of discussions, both in Brussels and Geneva, relating to the EU's approach to the sixth session of the open-en…

As I stated previously, the EU made a statement on behalf of its member states at the sixth session of the working group, and raised a number of specific concerns on the draft text. While individual national statements can be important, in this context an EU statement on behalf of the 27 member states carries much more influence. Ireland, alongside fellow member states, helped to shape a coherent EU approach. I am aware that France made a statement, which included reference to some national initiatives while also h…

There are two issues here. One is that we have to get our house in order domestically in respect of business and human rights. I answered questions earlier on what we are doing on that score. We have committed in the programme for Government to review what we had been doing for the past number of years so we can be a credible international contributor to the debate on this issue. Second, at UN level and as an EU member state we must try to do everything we can to shape an approach within the European Union that is …

I propose to take Questions Nos. 11, 24 and 27 together. I thank the Deputies for raising this issue. Protecting and promoting human rights is a cornerstone of Ireland’s foreign policy, as I have said in my answers to most questions. Ireland has consistently supported women human rights defenders and continually advocates for the freedom of all civil society actors to operate in a safe and enabling environment. The detention of human rights defenders in Saudi Arabia is deeply concerning and Ireland has raised our c…

I appreciate the concerns of colleagues about this case and others that have been mentioned. As I said earlier, officials from my Department spoke to the Saudi ambassador to Ireland on 9 November to set out our concerns about the ongoing detention of Ms al-Hathloul and the conditions under which she is being held, including the restrictions on visits from her family and other concerns, some of which have been outlined. Ireland also raises concerns about women human rights defenders in Saudi Arabia, including Ms al-…

I have heard what people have said. I am familiar with the letter and our response to it. I will certainly take on board the Deputies' concerns. I will talk to my team and try to do something as impactful as possible to ensure we impact on the decisions taken regarding the case in Saudi Arabia that has been raised today.

I would also like to welcome John Finucane, MP, and his family, in particular his mother, who I know are watching remotely. I welcome this opportunity on behalf of the Government to speak in support of this motion. As Minister for Foreign Affairs, I have had the opportunity to meet with Geraldine and the Finucane family to discuss their campaign to secure justice for Pat. Most recently, I spoke with them at the beginning of this month. On each occasion I have seen the Finucane family's strength, determination and d…

I move the following resolutions: THAT section 58 of the Value-Added Tax Consolidation Act 2010 (No. 31 of 2010), which relates to the retail export scheme, be amended in the manner and to the extent specified in the Act giving effect to this Resolution. THAT the Finance Act 1999 (No. 2 of 1999), the Finance Act 2001 (No. 7 of 2001), the Finance Act 2003 (No. 3 of 2003) and the Finance Act 2005 (No. 5 of 2005), be amended in the manner and to the extent specified in the Act giving effect to this Resolution.

I move: "That Committee Stage be taken now."

I move amendment No. 1: In page 10, lines 26 and 27, to delete “Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation” and substitute “Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment”. This is very unusual legislation. It has 22 parts and has 11 different Government Ministers dealing with the legislation as a whole. I thank Opposition parties, in particular spokespeople, and the Ceann Comhairle for facilitating what is a very unusual approach to legislation albeit the most appropriate approach, given the complexity of the…

I move amendment No. 3: In page 11, line 14, to delete "Minister for Justice and Equality" and substitute "Minister for Justice".

Section 12 is on the Companies Act.

I thank Deputy Brady for the question. The issue of awarding military medals for gallantry, MMG, and the distinguished service medal, DSM, to personnel who served in Jadotville in September 1961 has been considered on a number of occasions over the years. The siege of Jadotville was a prominent event that occurred during Ireland's peacekeeping mission in the Congo in September 1961 where A Company, 35th Infantry Battalion, came under attack. From the 13 to 17 September the men of A Company endured almost continuous…

It is important not to draw conclusions here as to what the motivations were back in the 1960s with regard to these medals. It is important that we put in place a review body that is genuinely independent and that has military and academic expertise on it so it is considered in the full context of the questions being asked today. We had a very good discussion on this during the Seanad debate last week. Every political party accepts that decisions on medals should not be made by politicians. Those decisions should b…

The way the process works is that people get recommended for either a DSM or an MMG. Those names then go to a medals board for assessment. Often, even though they have been recommended for medals, people are not awarded them because, for whatever reason, the medals board decides that the threshold has not been reached for the medal to be awarded. That is very much a military process, the integrity of which we must try to protect. I assure the Deputy there is absolutely no political resistance to trying to do what i…

The Deputy's question referred to the proposed commission on the Defence Forces but I am very happy to answer that question and any supplementary questions he may have. The establishment of a commission on the Defence Forces was an important commitment made in the recently agreed programme for Government.  The programme for Government states that the commission will be tasked with undertaking a comprehensive review, which will include the following matters: arrangements for the effective defence of the country at l…