Tony McCormack
Ceist:1. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on the economy, trade and competitiveness will next meet. [9931/26]
Ceisteanna - Questions
Cabinet Committees
Albert Dolan
Ceist:2. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on the economy, trade and competitiveness will next meet. [9932/26]
Peter 'Chap' Cleere
Ceist:3. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on the economy, trade and competitiveness will next meet. [9933/26]
James O'Connor
Ceist:4. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on the economy, trade and competitiveness will next meet. [9934/26]
Darren O'Rourke
Ceist:5. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on the economy, trade and competitiveness will next meet. [29769/26]
Liam Quaide
Ceist:6. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on the economy, trade and competitiveness will next meet. [29771/26]
Cian O'Callaghan
Ceist:7. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on the economy, trade and competitiveness will next meet. [29775/26]
Ruth Coppinger
Ceist:8. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on the economy, trade and competitiveness will next meet. [29777/26]
Ruairí Ó Murchú
Ceist:9. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on the economy, trade and competitiveness will next meet. [30022/26]
James Geoghegan
Ceist:10. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on the economy, trade and competitiveness will next meet. [28756/26]
Rose Conway-Walsh
Ceist:11. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on the economy, trade and competitiveness will next meet. [30497/26]
John Connolly
Ceist:12. Deputy John Connolly asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on the economy, trade and competitiveness will next meet. [30661/26]
Barry Heneghan
Ceist:13. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on the economy, trade and competitiveness will next meet. [31985/26]
David Cullinane
Ceist:14. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on the economy, trade and competitiveness will next meet. [31989/26]
Jennifer Whitmore
Ceist:15. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on the economy, trade and competitiveness will next meet. [32447/26]
Richard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:16. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on the economy, trade and competitiveness will next meet. [32454/26]
Paul Murphy
Ceist:17. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on the economy, trade and competitiveness will next meet. [32457/26]
Conor D McGuinness
Ceist:18. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on the economy, trade and competitiveness will next meet. [32616/26]
Ged Nash
Ceist:19. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on the economy, trade and competitiveness will next meet. [32619/26]
Roderic O'Gorman
Ceist:20. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on the economy, trade and competitiveness will next meet. [32858/26]
Rory Hearne
Ceist:21. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on the economy, trade and competitiveness will next meet. [34358/26]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 21, inclusive, together.
The Cabinet committee on the economy, trade and competitiveness last met on 2 March and is scheduled to meet on 25 May. Membership of the committee comprises the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, and the Ministers for public expenditure, foreign affairs, climate, enterprise, culture and further and higher education and research. Other Ministers or Ministers of State are invited to participate as required.
The committee oversees the implementation of programme for Government commitments relating to sustainable economic and employment growth, trade competitiveness and productivity, innovation, the national digital strategy and pensions. As with all policy areas, issues relating to the economy are regularly discussed at full Cabinet meetings, where all formal decisions are made. Ireland continues to demonstrate its economic resilience and its ability to adapt to changing global circumstances. The economy is performing well, despite times of enormous economic uncertainty, with record numbers of people in work, low unemployment and real wage growth. We will continue to advance an economic model founded on a pro-enterprise policy framework, a stable and sustainable regulatory and tax environment with sound management of the public finances and investment in the infrastructure, energy and skills required to ensure our future competitiveness and productivity.
The updated national development plan represents one of the largest and most significant capital injections in our economy in the history of the State. It sets out total public capital investment of €275 billion to 2035. Investment in this critical infrastructure will enable 300,000 additional houses by 2030 and expansion of our onshore and offshore electricity transmission and distribution network infrastructure through a €3.5 billion equity investment in EirGrid and the ESB. This will future-proof Ireland's electricity system and ensure it can meet the growing demands of our economy, our homes and our climate targets. The upgrading of our water and wastewater infrastructure will enable social inclusion, environmental sustainability and housing delivery. This funding of €12.2 billion to 2030 represents the largest ever capital investment plan in the history of water services and water quality.
Enhanced road and public transport infrastructure will connect our island and reduce travel times. Transport funding of €24.3 billion for the next five years will deliver a diverse range of transport options including public transport, active travel, roads, maritime and aviation. Approximately €10 billion of this will be used for public transport projects with a further €2 billion from the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund specifically to start construction on MetroLink.
There will be greater opportunities to attract foreign direct investment and support our international competitiveness. There will be delivery of more childcare facilities and school places, investment in children’s disability services and better healthcare for all.
Additional information not given on the floor of the House
We will continue to invest in the future of Ireland while preserving the jobs, stability and prosperity of today. We will also continue to put resources into reserve funds, conscious of the risks of using windfall corporation tax revenues for ongoing current expenditure commitments.
However, the situation in the Middle East remains volatile and highly uncertain. The economic fallout will depend on the depth and duration of the conflict. The Department of Finance has assessed the economic impact of three scenarios, and this was published as part of the annual progress report on 21 April. The first relatively benign scenario is based on the futures market in mid-March, where energy prices were assumed to moderate over the second half of this year.
The second scenario assumes a sustained but contained disruption to energy markets, with oil prices remaining at approximately $100 per barrel over the coming months. The third scenario is based on a more pronounced and persistent disruption to energy supply with oil prices reaching $150 per barrel and staying elevated for an extended time. Under all scenarios, there is a shock to inflation, squeezing purchasing power and lowering the growth rate. While the near-term outlook is clouded in considerable uncertainty, what is clear is that economic fallout is likely to persist given the lasting damage to energy infrastructure in the gulf.
The Government is taking action to help households and businesses with the cost of fuel and energy. We are conscious of the increased financial pressure on households and businesses as a result. To date, over €750 million has been committed to measures to support households and business with increased fuel costs. This response has been possible because we have adopted a prudent approach in recent budgets. We will navigate this period of volatility, but we must remain flexible in our response. We cannot mitigate every increase in costs, and we must retain resources to ensure we can deal with any further deterioration in the global economy. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and respond as appropriate.
There are many questions, so it will be 30 seconds each.
Ireland is uniquely positioned to become a global leader in helping multinational companies achieve their carbon neutral targets. Nowhere is that opportunity greater than in County Offaly with Bord na Móna's landbank and the renewable energy capacity and scale to become one of the most strategically important locations in the country for sustainable industrial and enterprise growth. The Taoiseach recently described Offaly as a powerhouse in renewable energy and I believe that presents a major opportunity for the county and the wider midlands. International companies are actively seeking secure renewable and cost-effective energy to support them in the long term.
I speak regularly to sole traders, farmers, tradespeople and small business owners who are under immense pressure from rising costs, irregular income patterns and administrative burden. Many also remain concerned about the level of protection available to them if illness strikes or if business slows. Will the Taoiseach look seriously at strengthening supports for the self-employed, including areas such as simplified tax compliance, improved income protections and measures that recognise the reality of the risks they are taking to provide employment across the country?
Across rural Ireland family-run pubs are under severe pressure from rising energy bills, insurance costs, staffing shortages and reduced footfall. In many villages and small towns, the local pub is more than a business, it is a social hub, a meeting place and an important part of community life. The Vintners' Federation of Ireland is calling for the Government to introduce a new targeted tax credit, which would be linked to draught products and capped at €20,000 per premises. I strongly support this request, and I ask the Taoiseach to outline what specific measures the Government is considering supporting small rural pubs, including action on energy costs-----
I call Deputy O'Rourke.
Will the Government support the VFI proposal to-----
Eurostat has again confirmed that Ireland has the highest electricity prices in Europe, meaning that on average, consumers are paying in the region of 40% more than their European counterparts. What measures is the Taoiseach taking to reduce the cost of electricity to households and businesses, and to address the root causes of the high cost of electricity here?
The recent report by the ISME noted that there was a decline in SME credit balances from €62 billion in 2011 to €17.8 billion in 2023, despite headline economic growth in Ireland during that period. That is a stunning drop of 70% in capital to indigenous companies since the Taoiseach was last in government. He says he is a pro-enterprise Taoiseach but the evidence points to the contrary. What will he do to improve the conditions for indigenous enterprises in Ireland?
It is 18 years since CIÉ pensioners received an increase in their pensions. There was agreement between CIÉ and the unions in May of last year. A year later the Government has still not signed off on this increase. When I asked the Taoiseach about this in February, he said that the sign-off was imminent. We are now in May, and it has still has not been signed off. When will the CIÉ pensioners get the increase for which they have been waiting for 18 years?
It is absolutely necessary that we look at the fact that Irish people are paying 40% more for electricity. We need to find the solution to this. It is not okay.
Recently, a number of us met the House of Commons business and trade committee. A particular issue that I brought up, which I raised with the Taoiseach previously, is cross-Border taxation, particularly for those who are remote working or who cannot remote work, or companies which cannot facilitate cross-Border remote working. It requires a bilateral agreement with the British Government. It should be on the agenda of Government. I also said we should actually deal with the biggest issue, which is the Border, but the Taoiseach has a bit of work to do on that himself.
The prospect of 720 job losses at Covalen has caused enormous anxiety for workers and their families and our existing legislation on statutory redundancy is no longer adequate. After losing their jobs, Covalen workers are worried about whether they will have meaningful access to retraining and reskilling pathways and alternative employment. They are concerned about cooling-off periods and non-compete arrangements preventing redundant workers from potentially taking up employment with rivals. Will the Taoiseach ask the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to meet the Communications Workers Union and ensure that the consultation process delivers meaningful change and fair outcomes for Covalen workers?
The Taoiseach recently alluded to the historic success of the social partnership model in the country and the impact and role it had in maintaining living standards, social cohesion and limiting industrial action. In alluding to that, I was hoping that we might be in a position to say that we are to commence a new period of social partnership between the employers, employees, and the Government as well. I ask the Taoiseach to update the House on whether such efforts can be made real.
I welcome the recent discussion about nuclear power but, economically, would it not be more viable for us to decentralise our grid with the private wires Bill and bring in long-duration energy storage and alternative energy storage abilities, be it gravity, green hydrogen or any of the newest things that are coming to the market? We saw how much the UK project went over its budget and I would love to see the cost-benefit analysis of nuclear compared with renewables.
It is economically illiterate for this country to sit on €500 million that has been set aside for climate action and not spend it while at the same time looking at funding renewable energy projects in other countries to make up for the fact that we have not done enough on climate in this country. It is crazy. Will the Taoiseach please explain his rationale on that?
It is an absolute disgrace that Jack Chambers and this Government are threatening essentially a return to austerity and cutbacks across Departments and trying to imply that because extra money had to be found for special needs, this has to be done. That is a cynical divide-and-conquer tactic when there are alternatives. The Government had underfunded special needs and was forced to acknowledge that. It could find extra money rather than cutting other Departments by taxing wealth and profits in this country. That is the elephant in the room that is never discussed.
We need retrofitting as quickly and as much as possible. It is part of the answer to the cost-of-living crisis and the climate crisis. The problem is that the way the Government has gone about it with its privatised model is now beginning to result in significant problems. I will give a few examples from my constituency. Philomena Doran, a 92-year-old widow in Oldbawn, got a 100% grant to get wraparound external wall insulation, but the external wall insulation was put on during Storm Chandra, when the building advice states clearly that it cannot be put on when it is raining. She went to the SEAI and got nowhere.
I call Deputy McGuinness.
Another woman, Clare Hayes, got in touch, where the provider did not provide the necessary declaration for her to get the grant.
Everybody is being treated the same. I call Deputy McGuinness.
She did not get anywhere with the SEAI. Where are people meant to go?
The scenes in Tycor in Waterford over the weekend have been devastating for residents, businesses and workers. I commend the firefighters, emergency services and front-line workers who responded. On Sunday morning, my colleague, Deputy David Cullinane, and I visited the area to meet those residents, the workers and the businesses affected. While the immediate danger has passed in many respects, enormous concerns remain around livelihoods, the clean-up operation, asbestos, air quality and long-term safety. I welcome the response under way by Waterford City and County Council and the local enterprise office, but once the national attention moves on, Government support cannot move on too. Will the Taoiseach commit to ensuring sustained Government support for affected residents?
The current public sector pay deal is due to expire over the next few weeks. Trade unions looked at the Government response to the fuel protests in recent weeks and understood that the package that was developed for those who were protesting did nothing whatsoever for PAYE workers, despite the Taoiseach's protestations to the contrary. He is opening the Fórsa conference this week. What will he say to the public sector workers represented by Fórsa and other trade unions, both in regard to their expectations about a new public sector pay deal and what he plans to do for PAYE workers in October's budget?
We are losing nurses, teachers and tradespeople because they cannot afford housing in this city and across the country. Our businesses and public services cannot get workers because of the rents. We are seeing the main supply is vulture fund apartments at €3,500 a month. Who can afford that? Not one affordable house for sale was built by the State in Dublin city last year. What is the Taoiseach doing to ensure workers can afford to live in our city and can afford the rents and house prices? It is a crisis that is threatening our economy and destroying our society.
I agree entirely with Deputy McCormack about the potential for the midlands for renewable energy. There have been some very good developments and announcements there over the last year, with various Ministers attending. I attended one recently with the Deputy. The Bord na Móna land resource has very significant potential for both energy renewables and industry to go along with that. We will do everything we possibly can to capitalise on that for the benefit of the midlands. A transition and transformation is happening there, which is very positive.
Regarding sole traders, small farmers and the self-employed more generally, Deputy Dolan is looking for a more streamlined Government approach and simplified tax compliance mechanisms. A cost of business forum has been established which has worked with the small business sector with a view to endeavouring to identify cost pressures on SMEs in particular. That is one strategy that has been deployed. A capacity is being developed within the Department of enterprise around simplification of regulation nationally. Across the European Union, significant work is also under way relating to the simplification of regulation for small businesses in particular. One of the initiatives coming on is a 28th regime, whereby SMEs can establish online and, within a number of days, would be European SMEs, without having to negotiate all the various national borders and so on. That is a focus of Government and of the European Commission.
Regarding Clare family-owned pubs, we will examine what the VFI has put forward. There is no question that family-owned pubs, particularly in rural Ireland, provide a social network and enhance socialisation, which is an important dimension of human health and the development of community ethos and spirit. I am not sure about the specific proposal. I will have to examine that, but we can see what can be done.
On the issue of our electricity prices being the highest in Europe, we are also the fifth highest in terms of purchasing power parity, but, nonetheless, they are too high. One of the key issues is grid dispersal. We are a peripheral island nation and we rely too much on imported fossil fuels. Those are the fundamental drivers of the high cost of fuel, as well as the volatility that arises when war starts. When there is conflict like in the Middle East and in Ukraine, and going back over the past number of decades, wars and conflict in oil-producing areas have created the greatest degree of volatility, so we have to move to renewables. That is the medium-term strategy. About 50% of electricity generation last February was through renewables. We achieved a lot in onshore renewable wind and solar is moving fast. The key challenge for us over the next number of years is offshore renewables, and then to work with the European Union on whether there are ways to deal with the regulatory framework governing the setting of energy prices. The link to gas is a particular factor in how energy prices and electricity prices are determined.
Regarding capital, the support for enterprise is very strong. From Enterprise Ireland, for example, it is growing and continues to do so in respect of most indigenous enterprises for export.
The Deputy did not distinguish whether it was indigenous enterprise for export or domestic service companies, but in terms of indigenous enterprise for export, the feedback has been very positive regarding Government supports, not just financial supports but also soft supports, market access supports, market intelligence, R and D grants and so on. Through the budget, we reduced VAT on hospitality. That measure, which was attacked by the Deputy and his party, is supporting SMEs.
They cannot get access to-----
We have provided various mechanisms for access-----
Deputies, please.
-----to credit as well.
It is not working.
Very often, the take-up is not huge in terms of the various loan schemes going back to Covid-19 right through. They had not been taken up to the same extent, but the Deputy attacked it. The VAT reduction was a very simple, straightforward way to try to help the hospitality industry, likewise on the construction side to try to reduce costs but the Opposition attacked it. They cannot have it both ways, but we will continue to work on the financing of enterprise and improving the venture capital area as well.
Regarding the CIE pensioners, again I will talk to both Ministers. My understanding was that it was coming to a conclusion and hopefully it will be resolved very quickly.
In response to Deputy Ó Murchú, cross-Border taxation is on the agendas of the Department of Finance, the UK Treasury and the Northern Ireland Executive. In terms of resolving the issue, it is easier said than done, but there is no question that it is one that the Minister and Tánaiste is focused on. We discussed it at North-South meetings, ministerial meetings and also in the context of the cross-Border bodies whose workers are directly impacted by the taxation situation vis-à-vis North and South.
In terms of the job losses at Covalen, retraining and reskilling supports will be provided. We do have the National Training Fund, so the agencies should engage with the workers there in terms of whatever supports they need in perhaps finding alternative employment or helping some establish their own businesses if that is what some might want to do.
In response to Deputy Connolly, social partnership is important. The most recent manifestation of it this year has been the Labour Employer Economic Forum that the Irish Congress of Trade Union, the chambers and IBEC attend. I have asked the Secretary General of my Department to draw up a paper and I have consulted with the unions and IBEC, as well as the chambers and others, to see how we can solidify or develop a pathway to a stronger social dialogue and engagement. It will take all involved to participate but people would generally be supportive of some enhanced social dialogue. Whether the various parties want to go back to full-blown social partnership as we knew it is another question.
In response to Deputy Heneghan, I agree with him in the sense that all of what he outlined in terms of private wires - and the Minister is driving that forward - will be pursued and, as I said last week, the cost benefit analysis is part of what we need to examine. Examining a proposal means doing the cost benefit and the leg work to sort of identify what it would entail on the nuclear question. However, all of the others do not fall by the wayside as we develop that.
In terms of the half a billion euro, I have spoken to the Minister and that will be spent. We have spent up to €4 billion from carbon tax revenues on a whole range of measures, including farming, in terms of agri-environmental schemes, fuel poverty and the retrofitting scheme. Since the Minister brought in reforms, the applications have doubled in the first month or two since he announced them.
In response to Deputy Boyd Barrett, someone has to keep an eye on public expenditure and if the Minister for public expenditure is not doing it, then there is something really wrong. The Minister has to alert all Government Departments to stay within their budgetary frameworks.
I did not quite get the import of what Deputy Paul Murphy was saying, in terms of one person not being able to get the grant because it was wrongly-----
That was one of them.
And the other person did-----
The Deputy will have to engage further.
The work was during the storm and they-----
It should not have been but-----
Sorry.
-----that is a specific case. They should get it back and the one-stop shop should be approached-----
The Taoiseach and Deputy can engage further.
-----to engage with the company involved.
In response to Deputy McGuinness's question regarding that fire in Waterford, the Ministers of State, Deputies Butler and Cummins, have been there and met with the key people. The Minister, Deputy Browne, visited yesterday. The Minister, Deputy Burke, visited today and also received Cabinet approval today for a humanitarian scheme for those impacted. We are working to see if we can relocate the social enterprises and in particular the facilities for adults with disabilities which have been wiped out as a result of the fire. We are also working to make sure that full public health protocols are applied in terms of the asbestos. Teams are already down there trying to protect public health.
In response to Deputy Nash's question on the public service pay bill, the Minister will obviously engage with the trade unions on a new public service pay agreement, which will have a bill attached to it. I want to make the point that the package did result in a reduction of 32 cent in diesel and 27 cent in petrol which benefits workers. That cannot be ignored. It happened.
It was accidental.
I am looking forward to opening the Fórsa conference as well, and we might allow them to hear my speech first. Perhaps it would be the best thing to do.
In response to Deputy Hearne, we built about 36,000 houses last year. We need to do much more, and we need to go higher again. We are going to do everything we can to provide social and affordable houses to both buy and rent.
Cabinet Committees
Shay Brennan
Ceist:22. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs will next meet. [9935/26]
Malcolm Byrne
Ceist:23. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs will next meet. [9936/26]
Naoise Ó Cearúil
Ceist:24. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs will next meet. [9937/26]
Martin Daly
Ceist:25. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs will next meet. [9938/26]
Ruth Coppinger
Ceist:26. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs will next meet. [29778/26]
Ruairí Ó Murchú
Ceist:27. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs will next meet. [30023/26]
Peter 'Chap' Cleere
Ceist:28. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs will next meet. [30352/26]
Darren O'Rourke
Ceist:29. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs will next meet. [31755/26]
Liam Quaide
Ceist:30. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs will next meet. [31757/26]
Mark Ward
Ceist:31. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs will next meet. [31950/26]
Barry Heneghan
Ceist:32. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs will next meet. [31986/26]
Jennifer Whitmore
Ceist:33. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs will next meet. [32448/26]
Richard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:34. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs will next meet. [32455/26]
Paul Murphy
Ceist:35. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs will next meet. [32458/26]
Conor D McGuinness
Ceist:36. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs will next meet. [32617/26]
Roderic O'Gorman
Ceist:37. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs will next meet. [32859/26]
Duncan Smith
Ceist:38. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs will next meet. [32860/26]
Cian O'Callaghan
Ceist:39. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs will next meet. [32864/26]
Rose Conway-Walsh
Ceist:40. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs will next meet. [34827/26]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 22 to 40, inclusive, together.
The Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs was established by the Government in 2025. It meets quarterly in advance of regular European Council meetings, and as required. Its role is to oversee implementation of programme for Government commitments in relation to the European Union, including preparation for Ireland’s Presidency in the second half of this year, and international
issues. The Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs last met on 26 February 2026 in advance of the meeting of the European Council on 19 March. At the March meeting of the European Council, leaders dealt with a very full and important agenda against the backdrop of a very challenging and volatile international environment. Substantial items discussed included the situation in the Middle East, including the impact on energy prices, Ukraine and economic competitiveness.
On the last of these, leaders agreed a programme of work to be completed in the period ahead that will be central to Ireland’s Presidency of the Council in the second half of the year. Other items on the European Council agenda included European security and defence, migration, the democracy shield, multilateralism and the protection of children online. There was also a euro summit which
assessed the state of the EU’s economy.
European leaders met again in Cyprus for an informal meeting of the European Council on 23 and 24 April 2026, where our discussions included geopolitical developments, the impacts of the war in Iran on energy prices and supply, and the EU’s next long-term budget, the MFF.
I also attended a European Political Community, EPC, summit on 4 May in Yerevan, Armenia. The EPC is an informal forum which brings together around 50 leaders from across the Continent of Europe twice a year to discuss co-operation on issues affecting the entire Continent, such as geopolitical uncertainty, economic security, trade, energy and connectivity. At the meeting President Zelenskyy gave a sobering update on the challenges he and the Ukrainian people face in confronting the continuing Russian aggression. I participated in a round table discussion with other leaders on how to improve European connectivity and economic security, as well as the pressures being faced by people as a result of the conflicts in Iran. I joined the Moldova core group meeting which focused on supporting Moldova on its pathway to accession to the European Union.
I also participated in the second meeting of the European Coalition against Drugs, co-hosted by President Macron of France and Prime Minister Meloni of Italy. I strongly support our focus on the collective fight against drug trafficking and drug-related threats. I also met with a number of leaders, including Prime Minister Starmer of the UK, President Guy Parmelin of Switzerland and Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada. This was the first time a non-European leader has attended.
The Cabinet committee will continue to oversee preparations for and delivery of the rotating Presidency of the EU Council which we will assume in July.
It will be our eighth time doing so and we look forward to advancing the common European interest and improving the lives of citizens across the Union.
Additional information not given on the floor of the House
Irish Ministers will chair many dozens of formal meetings of the Council in Brussels and Luxembourg, and they will lead work to advance a positive policy agenda for all member states. We will host an informal meeting of the European Council and a meeting of the European political community in Dublin next November. In addition, up to 22 informal meetings of EU Ministers will be held in Ireland, with around a quarter of these meetings outside Dublin.
The next meeting of the Cabinet committee is scheduled for 18 May.
There have been some significant developments in recent days around the conflict in Ukraine, including a temporary ceasefire and comments from the Russian President about a willingness to enter into dialogue. We have also recently seen an EU member state hold an election, the outcome of which might signify an easing of its stance towards the bloc's enlargement. Will the Taoiseach provide an update on where we stand with Ukraine’s membership application?
This morning at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence, we heard from witnesses from the University of Limerick’s Centre for Robotics and Intelligent Systems about the concerns regarding AI-enabled drones and how drone warfare is impacting the battlefields in Ukraine after Russia’s illegal invasion. Given that the Taoiseach will have seen drone attacks at the European Council meeting in Copenhagen last year, and we have seen them here in Ireland as well, will he assure the House that the technology will be in place to repel any potential drone attack during our Presidency of EU Council meetings?
The EU is reviewing its relationship with Israel due to the ongoing humanitarian conditions in Gaza, the settlement expansion and the International Court of Justice, ICJ, provisional measures. The Commission is reported to be considering targeted sanctions on violent settlers as well as a suspension of trade preferences under the association agreement. Has the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs considered these measures on Israel as part of the wider European context?
We are leading out on the European Presidency from July. Can we bring a focus on the cost-of-living issues throughout Europe and use European institutions, such as European competitiveness and competition law, in relation to the price of groceries? Up to 35% of families are spending a third of their disposable income on groceries each week.
I do not know how the Taoiseach can look the leaders of some EU member states in the eye given their complete and utter disregard for what Israel is doing to the people of Palestine. I also want to mention Lebanon and the brutal methods being used there. One in five of the population has been displaced and a total of 2,846 people have been killed, 552 of whom were killed after the ceasefire. Villages are being razed with the methods learned in Gaza, such as the use of bulldozers. There is an illegal occupation of southern Lebanon. What is our Government doing? It is normalising the Israeli State. For example, it is urging players to take part in the disgraceful games coming up in September and October. That is what it is. There is also no occupied territories Bill. The Government will not do something as simple as telling players they do not have to play this game and demanding that Israel should be kicked out of UEFA, like they should be kicked out of Eurovision. Instead, it is pushing the players.
Is it 30 seconds or three minutes?
Shush. People are going take the law into their own hands and organise a campaign. Stop the Game was launched last week. Many high-profile sports people, personalities and politicians are now gearing up to organise to stop that game, and I think it will be stopped.
Would Deputy Ó Cearúil ever whisht, for goodness sake?
You whisht.
It was a ridiculous comment.
There are rules in the House and you are going on way longer than anyone else.
There is no respect for the rules of the House.
When are we going to see the occupied territories Bill in relation to services and goods? When will we ever see any action by the European Union with regard to the EU-Israel association agreement given the breach of the ceasefire, plans for further settlements in the West Bank and attempts by Israelis, through ethnic cleansing and every other means open to them, to create a security buffer zone in Lebanon?
I cannot mention Lebanon without mentioning our UNIFIL mission there, as well as Seán Rooney. In the parliamentary questions I submitted, I did not receive any update on the ongoing appeal process in Lebanon. The report of the independent inquiry led by Michael Delaney is now with the Attorney General. When will it be published, or at least delivered to the family of Seán Rooney?
Irish unity is now moving from an aspiration to a live constitutional question. The responsibility on the Government is to ensure we are not just commenting on that reality but actively preparing for it in a serious and structured way. If unity is to be achieved, it will not emerge from sentiment alone. It will require detailed constitutional, economic, health, educational and governance planning. This is not about accelerating a process. Rather, it is about ensuring readiness for one of the most significant constitutional developments in the history of this State. What concrete work is the Government undertaking to prepare for Irish unity? Rather than just discussing it, we must plan for it in a comprehensive and credible way, should the people of this island choose that path.
It is becoming almost impossible to find words to describe the dehumanisation of Palestinians by the Israeli State. In recent days, a Palestinian family in the West Bank buried their 80-year-old father. Israeli settlers then arrived and claimed the cemetery land as part of a settlement. The family was forced to exhume his body and rebury him elsewhere under the watch of Israeli soldiers. This is all part of an escalating campaign of terror, displacement and annexation in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Yet, the occupied territories Bill, which would cut trade links with these illegal settlements, remains in cold storage. That Bill was voted through by a majority of TDs in January 2019, introduced by current Minister of State, Deputy Niall Collins. We all know it has been obstructed because of diplomat pressure dressed up as legal complexities. History will not look kindly on the cowardice and dishonesty of the Government in respect of this Bill when such destruction and evil are being visited upon the Palestinian people. When will the Taoiseach finally intervene to progress this Bill?
I echo the urgency for the occupied territories Bill to be passed. I welcome the Minister, Deputy McEntee’s confirmation in the Dáil last week that it is to be introduced soon. It is not quick enough, however.
Regarding the Taoiseach’s statement on EU engagement he had in March, what other engagement has happened between Ireland and the German Government on how its plug-in solar scheme was adapted? It is a quick investment. The savings would be seen in customers' bills. I did my own calculations. Some €150 million to €250 million - if we are being optimistic – would be saved by apartment dwellers immediately from a modest investment of €250 million.
Ireland is one of the lowest rank countries when it comes to protecting nature. A total of 90% of protected sites are in unfavourable condition. It is going to cost hundreds of millions of euro to restore nature across this island. Where will that funding come from? Is the Taoiseach having any conversations at a European level about funding nature restoration?
On Thursday, People Before Profit will bring the Sanctions against the State of Israel Bill before the Dáil. It asks the Government to act on its obligation under the Genocide Convention to prevent the commission of genocide by the State of Israel. It is an obligation we have. It calls for comprehensive economic, financial and trade sanctions against a state that is guilty of genocidal actions. Is the Government intending to support that Bill given it is a signatory of the Genocide Convention? The Bill also refers to our commitments under the Rome Statute as well as to other international legal obligations.
The Taoiseach rightly says that Israel has committed genocide in Palestine. I do not know whether he accepts that Israel is still committing genocide in Palestine but surely that has to mean something in terms of what he does. Surely it is a contradiction for him to say that Israel is committing genocide and then spend his time trying to ensure we do nothing to punish, impact or prevent the continuation of that genocide. Does the convention on genocide mean anything to the Taoiseach? If it does, he will vote to support our Bill for comprehensive sanctions on Israel. The idea that a state can continue in this way without comprehensive sanctions by any state that claims to stand up for human rights makes no sense whatsoever.
Has the Taoiseach spoken to the incoming First Minister of Wales and leader of Plaid Cymru, Rhun ap Iorwerth, or with the current and likely future First Minister of Scotland, John Swinney, following last week’s seismic election results? In the context of the growing constitutional change taking place across these islands, does he intend to meet them alongside the First Minister and deputy First Minister in the North to discuss future relationships and co-operation?
We await with bated breath the occupied territories Bill being progressed. Will the Taoiseach make it a primary objective of our Presidency of the EU for this country to advocate on behalf of the Palestinian state? Will he place that front and centre with our EU partners?
Does the Taoiseach think our underinvestment in Garda resources is going to come back to bite the Government during the course our Presidency? I have a letter from Garda HQ which states that the development of new Garda stations in the Swords and Donabate, which have populations of 60,000 to 20,000, respectively, are not going ahead.
Ireland is the largest exporter of alumina, the key component of aluminium, to Russia. We are exporting almost 1 million tonnes of it a year. This is being used by Russia to make the drones and missiles that are being used to kill Ukrainian men, women and children. Ukrainian civilians are being murdered with weapons and missiles made using materials supplied by Ireland. Why is Ireland supplying this key war component to Russia? Was the Taoiseach aware that the Irish State has lobbied for these exports to be shielded from sanctions? What action will he take about this matter?
The Israeli Knesset has approved, by a substantial majority, legislation that will permit the execution of Palestinian prisoners. This comes amid continuing international concern regarding the humanitarian catastrophe and genocide in Gaza, the treatment of Palestinian detainees and repeated warnings from human rights organisations regarding violations of international law. Most people in Ireland are deeply alarmed by measures of this nature, which risk further undermining the prospects for peace and accountability. What is the EU's response to this? How can the Taoiseach make sure that this is central to our EU Presidency?
I thank Members for their comments. I will begin with Deputy Shay Brennan, who referred to developments relating to the war in Ukraine. One of the more significant developments has been the unblocking of the €90 billion loan to Ukraine in the aftermath of the Hungarian election. That sends a real signal to Russia that Europe is in there for the long haul and that Ukraine will have the capacity, in budgetary terms, to invest in defending itself. That is significant. European Union leaders are looking at the idea of Europe opening up its own channel of negotiations with Russia at some stage. That is being tentatively explored and discussed, because we do need to bring an end to the war. The US-brokered dialogue has not yielded an outcome. We are very conscious of the need to protect the territorial integrity of Ukraine.
Enlargement will feature as a key topic during the Irish Presidency. In our view, Ukrainian membership of the European Union in and of itself would afford some form of security and protection to Ukraine. Fundamentally, it is to say that to the Ukrainian people, who desire the freedoms that are attached to European Union membership, as opposed to what the situation might be if their country was to be taken over by Russia. We have to respond to the desires of the Ukrainian people, who do aspire to a European way of life in terms of democracy, freedom of speech and all of that. We will be progressing enlargement in the context of Ukraine. The precise form that will take has to be discussed by the various member states. Enlargement has been on the slow burner for the past decade. It has come into life more recently because of Russia's imperialist approach to many countries, including those in the western Balkans and Moldova. The latter have come under enormous pressure from Russia in the context of attempts to interfere in their elections. They have proved resilient enough. I met with President Maia Sandu recently. The whole Moldova and Ukraine piece around enlargement will be a key agenda item for us to see if we can progress it.
On technology, An Garda Síochána has substantially enhanced its technology capability with drones, as have our military and Defence Forces. It is interesting. Reference was made to the University of Limerick, UL. I visited the university's underwater drone capacity research centre. It was a very insightful visit, and the research is ground-breaking. Ireland will be playing a role in protecting subsea cables, for example, and the gas connectors with the United Kingdom.
On Deputy Ó Cearúil's question on sanctions, there has been big progress with the European Union. Many member states are coming around to the Irish and Spanish position. Despite what is said, Ireland and Spain were the first to call for a review of the EU-Israel association agreement, and a lot more countries are coming around to our view. A breakthrough has happened in terms of sanctioning settlers, and a number have been identified. That was blocked by Hungary for quite some time but has now been lifted. There has also been progress with regard to sanctions on Hamas leaders. That is some bit of progress. There is more work to be done about the association agreement. The Minister updated the Cabinet on that this morning.
The behaviour of Israel is reprehensible. I will deal with that again later in respect of other questions. Active work is being done by the Irish Government with others at European Union level, at the Foreign Affairs Council and at the European Council.
With regard to Deputy Martin Daly's question, the cost of living will be a theme in the context of the energy crisis. Interestingly, and rightly, Deputy Daly has focused on groceries and food prices for hard-pressed families. In the context of the budget, we will be looking at how we can reduce the pressure on families in that regard, and particularly for those on the lowest incomes who inflation hits the most. I take on board what Deputy Daly has said.
On Deputy Coppinger's question, we are not urging anyone to play anything. I wish we could have a decent debate about this, but I get the feeling that the Deputy is more interested-----
You said it should go ahead.
-----in attacking the Irish Government as opposed to the Israeli Government at times. That is what it feels like in this House. In the context of all the protests and all the agitation, it is the Irish Government that the Deputy is attacking-----
And vice versa.
We were the first to intervene in the context of the genocide when South Africa took a case before the ICJ. We were the first European State to intervene in that legally and make a strong submission in that respect. We gave additional funding to the ICC in respect of what was happening in Gaza and in the Middle East to support it and give it the resources and capacity. We were one of the earliest to go in and defend UNRWA and fund it substantially when others were not. Likewise, there have been other measures such as supporting human rights organisations, such as those referred to by Deputy Heneghan. We have been doing that even when they came under a lot of pressure. The Irish Government has done a lot. If you ever meet the Palestinian or Lebanese Governments-----
I meet them every day.
-----they thank the Irish Government, and they thank the Irish people for their support.
They do not.
I met with the President of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun, recently when he attended after the informal EU Council meeting. He cited the Irish experience in terms of the peace process and conflict resolution as a basis for how the Lebanon-Israel situation and the Palestinian question could be resolved. That is the other side of the coin. We want to be part of solutions and we want to use our experience in conflict resolution to help in that regard.
On Deputy Ó Murchú's question about the occupied territories Bill, the Minister, Deputy McEntee, has engaged with the Attorney General on that. I have made it very clear that I do not believe services should be included in the Bill. That would damage Ireland more than anything. It is largely a symbolic Bill. It will not have any practical significant impact on the ground, but nonetheless it will come before the House. We all need to honest and clear about that. When the detailed analysis was done-----
If it is symbolic, why would it damage Ireland?
-----I think it emerged that about €190,000 worth of goods has come in. Others go through Antwerp and do not come directly into the country. A lot of work has been done on that and the Minister will come back to the House on it. At European Union level there is a real push to see can we suspend the trade association agreement.
The UNIFIL mission is on all of our minds. I keep in regular contact with the Chief of Staff, as does the Minister for Defence. I raised the Seán Rooney case and the appeal with the Lebanese authorities when I was in Lebanon. Hopefully, we will see some progress on that.
And the report?
On Deputy Cleere's question, more work has been done on understanding the differences between North and South in the last four years than was done in the previous 100 years. We have invested hugely in research on all aspects of education and health and the differences between the health systems in the North vis-à-vis the Republic, and school completion rates in the North vis-à-vis school completion rates here. The ESRI has done a lot of good studies around primary care in the North versus primary care in the Republic.
We have funded research projects between universities. We are now looking at the first potential all-island university, involving Queen's University and Dundalk. This is being funded through the shared island initiative. This has probably been one of the more radical and impactful initiatives the Government has ever undertaken in the context of North-South relations. It has been broadly welcomed and well received across all communities. The research piece is working well. The Narrow Water bridge project will hopefully be completed in late 2027. We are going to go the whole way and complete the Ulster Canal project . It is about enhancing connectivity. We have an all-island musical archive for music from different traditions.
On biodiversity, we have an all-island network and another on climate and so on. Am I out of time?
I have shown the Taoiseach some latitude.
What about the Michael Delaney report?
I will come back to the Deputy on that.
On the other matters, I think I have dealt with the Palestine issue for Deputy McQuaide.
Deputy Heneghan inquired about plug-in solar. There are some issues which the Minister spoke to me about. If you have plug-in solar, some houses have to have the capacity to absorb. However, I think the Minister is in favour and is trying to develop it.
On nature restoration, I am working with the Minister of State, Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan, and the Minister, Deputy Chambers, to ensure a good funding profile for nature restoration in the medium term, as per the report that was published recently by the independent advisory committee chaired by Dr. Aoibhinn Ní Shuilleabháin. That is on my radar and my agenda.
I dealt with Deputy Murphy's question about the ICJ and the ICC.
What about our Bill on Thursday?
On Deputy O'Callaghan's question about Ireland being the largest exporter of alumina to Russia, again, that has not formed part of the sanctions. This is because the product from the factory is also important to wider industry in Europe. When imposing sanctions, we have always endeavoured not to harm ourselves more than anybody else when it comes to Russia. I will get the information for the Deputy, but there is an importance ere to European-wide industry as well in the context of what is produced in Limerick.
What about our Bill on Thursday?
We now will move on to statements on International Nurses Day.
The Deputy will get the answer on Thursday.
What about the Michael Delaney report?