We are well able to protect ourselves because we do not support the change to qualified majority voting.

It will need every country to support it, which means it is not likely to happen. Regarding the veto, we are fully aligned in this country with EU foreign policy. There are countries that have unnecessarily held up some important foreign policy statements by way of the veto. We have seen it used in regard to the accession of North Macedonia in a way that is not good for anybody, including the country that is using it. We accept the veto is important but when we see it being used, we see it is not really effective, …

Reopening the embassy in Ukraine is something we want to do. It was only officially opened less than a year ago and it was a very important step for Ireland to do so. Its reopening is being actively planned at the moment but it requires a significant number of security considerations and consideration for the welfare of staff, how it operates and so on. It is something the Department is keen to do. The ambassador, who has done a tremendous job in difficult circumstances, is keen to go back. We will be fully represe…

All I can say is there is a huge amount of work going on between the UN Secretary General and Turkey on this issue. That is key. The foundation of the problem is Russia doing what it is doing, including destroying ports. We need to keep reminding people of that. It requires a united response, which we have seen, by and large, in this House as to who is the real cause of all of this, including the price of butter and bread going up to extraordinary levels. We know the cause is the Russian invasion of Ukraine and its…

The current situation is a timely reminder of the Common Agricultural Policy and its purpose. It is there to maintain food security as best we can. It was developed in the aftermath of the Second World War when there was food insecurity of a worse scale than there is now across the Continent. What is happening at the moment is potentially very dangerous. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine has been engaging with farmers and farm organisations on what planning needs to happen to ensure we are doing our…

I am confident the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, is doing everything in his power in this regard. I know he would be more than happy to answer that question because he is the one doing the work in this area.

I thank Deputies for their statements and questions. I will address the issues the Taoiseach indicated I would address, namely, the economic issues and the Conference on the Future of Europe. As is usual at this time of year, the June European Council generally endorsed the country-specific recommendations for this year's semester process. We are broadly happy with the four country-specific recommendations agreed for Ireland this year. They are consistent with national policy orientations that we have firmly establ…

Well said Deputy Foley.

Stop objecting.

Hear, hear.

Hear, hear.

Hear, hear.

Hear, hear. Their heads are down.

I would like to thank Deputy McGrath for raising the issue. It is an issue that I would have raised myself as an Opposition Deputy. I am grateful that he has raised it today. It gives us a chance to outline exactly what the Government is doing and where we are raising the issue at international forums. Religious persecution is on the rise in many different parts of the world. I welcome this opportunity to outline the important work that Ireland is doing to protect and defend faith-based minorities from attack and t…

I thank the Deputy again for raising the issue. I previously outlined that we engage considerably on the issue at a multilateral level. I will refer to some of our most recent work in this area. At the 50th session of the UN Human Rights Council, which concludes later this week in Geneva, Ireland took important steps to highlight our concerns around religious freedom. Along with 46 other countries, Ireland signed up to a joint statement on human rights in China. The statement noted with particular concern reports o…

Tá áthas orm bheith sa Seanad anocht. Russia's shocking, illegal invasion of Ukraine - a further invasion of Ukraine, of course - which started on 24 February, is a profound event with numerous implications for the entire world. I thank Senator Dooley for all his work, particularly on the political front with political parties in Ukraine who have been advancing the cause of democracy there in recent years. I am glad he is organising for a number of them to be in Ireland this weekend at the ALDE Party Congress Dubli…

The text of this motion has a strong focus on holding Russia accountable for its behaviour in Ukraine. The most important facet of the resolution is its call that those responsible for crimes in Ukraine be held to account. This focus should remain to the fore in international consideration of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Everybody responsible within and without Russia should be held accountable. The Seanad provides a platform for this important principle tonight. That is important. The further invasion of Ukraine,…

I thank Senator Murphy for raising this matter and for his ongoing strong representation and lobbying for St. Teresa's Special School. I will outline to the Seanad the current position on this major building project. It is included in the Department's construction programme, which is being delivered under the national development plan as part of the Project Ireland 2040 framework. Under Project Ireland 2040, the education sector will receive approximately €4.4 billion capital investment up to 2025. This will allow …

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Leas-Chathaoirleach. Tá a fhios againn go léir gur ceart bunreachtúil ceart an bhunoideachais sa tír seo agus is ceart an-tábhachtach é sin. Tagann sé díreach ón mBunreacht agus caithfear an ceart sin a chur i bhfeidhm do gach páiste sa tír seo. Ní féidir le haon pháiste a bheith fágtha ar lár maidir leis. I thank Senator Murphy for his commitment to this and I also thank the Department of Education. This is happening and it is going through the normal stages. There is money behind it. It c…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir as an ábhar tábhachtach seo a ardú. I thank the Senator for raising this issue and providing me with the opportunity to address it, on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Unfortunately, he cannot be here to address the issue. Local authorities, as planning authorities, lead the taking in charge process of housing estates. The taking in charge of housing estates by local authorities is provided for by the Planning and Development Act. A small subset o…