The Deputy is correct that under Article 29 of the Constitution, Ireland's international relations are founded upon international justice and morality. Our Constitution affirms our "devotion to the ideal of peace and friendly co-operation amongst nations". That is not changing. That is in our Constitution. That is the entire basis on which the Government exercises its foreign policy. The removal of the triple lock in current circumstances has no impact whatsoever on Ireland's policy of military neutrality. All it m…

All deployments of Irish troops abroad under this legislation have to be consistent with the principles of the UN Charter and international law. I have already said that I agree with the Deputy in relation to the Constitution. However, I suggest that nobody in this House agrees with the decision of the UN Security Council to end peacekeeping duties in Lebanon.

The General Assembly has not put forward any proposal in relation to that and it is not practical for us to-----

There have been no proposals in the General Assembly to continue a mission in Lebanon. At the end of the day the Security Council is the authoritative body on international security. That is just the reality of the situation. We have an incredibly proud track record of peacekeeping under our Constitution and consistent with UN principles. We would like that to continue. In the current environment it literally cannot continue in Lebanon because of the decision of the UN Security Council. That mandate is coming to an…

Is mór an onóir dom labhairt sa Dáil inniu ar ócáid Lá na hEorpa. As Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs, I am proud to speak today to mark Europe Day. In less than eight weeks' time, on 1 July 2026, Ireland will take on the Presidency of the Council of the EU for the eighth time. The European project was not built for easy times. It was built precisely for moments like this, and it is delivering for Europe and for the people of Europe. Ba mhaith liom trí rud a dhéanamh inniu. First, I want t…

I do so because these are scare stories the Deputy is putting out there. They are totally false.

It is misinformation and it scares people.

It is total misinformation.

I have to stop this misinformation about the militarisation of the EU from Sinn Féin and the Social Democrats.

It is wrong to be frightening the people of Ireland in that way.

It is wrong.

Tá áthas orm teacht isteach anseo agus an Dara Chéim den Bhille Eadrána (Leasú), 2025 os comhair an tSeanaid agus faoi bhráid na Seanadóirí. The purpose of this Bill is to amend the Arbitration Act 2010 in order to enable effect to be given in the State to the provisions of certain international agreements relating to the protection of investment. The programme for Government agreed following the 2024 general election commits to the ratification of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, CETA, between the E…

The Senator said we were selling Ireland down the Swanee. I did roll my eyes, yes.

Gabhaim buíochas leis na Seanadóirí as na dtuairimí a chur siad roimh an tSeanaid anocht. I again remind people that the ultimate reason we are doing this is to put Ireland in a position where we can ratify various trade agreements. That is a separate process. Free and open trade has been at the heart of the Irish economy for decades. Multilateral agreements have been at the heart of Irish society and Irish life for decades, and the compromises that result from multilateral agreements have been at the heart of our …

We could, we may. There was no instruction.

I never suggested there was an instruction. It was a decision of the Oireachtas.

It is one we put in the programme for Government that we wanted to do. The Government has very carefully considered the decision of the Supreme Court in the Costello case. Unlike the Opposition, we have not picked and chosen certain paragraphs of the decision we like or do not like. Mr. Justice Hogan's recommendations and suggestion were endorsed by the Supreme Court. Let us not start this American system of four, three, six, one; six of the judges endorsed that. One did not and that judge was highlighted by Senato…

The court did not decide on the right to regulate, in fact-----

-----Ms Justice Dunne completely expressed the issue-----

Ms Justice Dunne said straight away there was no issue of regulatory chill. Other judges said it was not a matter for the court.