Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

It is very possible that future threats to our national security will potentially arise in a hybrid way. It is not inconceivable that we could have a kinetic or physical element to something, such as what we had with drones recently, as well as a co-ordinated cyberattack on Defence Forces' equipment, personnel and installations to hinder the ability of the Defence Forces to deal with the kinetic e…

I support what Deputy O'Hara is asking for. I happened to be present at the presentation of a medal in 2019 to the family of Joe Murphy. It was presented to his nephew Henry Delaney and is a source of great pride to that family. If the evidence is there, these medals are very important to families and the local community. A issue that was raised with me by Jim Hegarty, a nephew of John Joe Hegart…

This is the arbitration Bill and that is what we are dealing with. We are dealing with legislation that in my view takes decisions that would be rightly made by Irish courts in relation to Irish business decisions and seconds them to an international court of a kind over which we have no oversight and no power. That is the fundamental issue. I agree that we are in a challenging trade environment.…

The housing plan the Government has outlined doubles down on policies that are not working and is ultimately not going to address the affordability issue. We have policies that are adding fuel to the fire and encouraging inflation in the cost of housing. One of the most frustrating conversations I have in constituency offices is with people who are on an income - a person or a household - between…

1. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for an update on her Department’s recent engagements with the government of Ukraine in relation to the ongoing conflict and efforts made to reach a ceasefire. [66753/25]

First, I want to take the opportunity to wish the Minister, Deputy McEntee, the best of luck in her new role. I look forward to working with her on issues of concern to Ireland and our interests. The question relates to our engagement with the Government of Ukraine and to the ongoing conflict and the efforts made to reach a ceasefire. Unfortunately, some of the discussions in recent weeks and som…

I think it was last week that we had statements on Ukraine. They are now an annual occurrence. Every time they occur, many contributors reflect that they hope the next time such statements happen, there will be a ceasefire. Unfortunately, the war and assault on Ukraine continue unabated. In recent weeks, we have seen some appalling attacks, including on Ternopil, with civilians and civilian infras…

Arbitrary deadlines are challenging at the best of times, but arbitrary deadlines when the goalposts keep shifting are even more challenging. It is important that time be taken to properly calibrate realistic proposals. This is about justice, but it is also about sustainability and ensuring a sustainable peace. A peace that is unjust and does not reflect the rights of the people of Ukraine will ul…

4. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the current progress of the drafting of the Israeli settlements (prohibition of importation of goods) Bill. [66755/25]

The occupied territories Bill still matters. It has always mattered. It mattered long before the last two and half - almost three - years of slaughter in Gaza. It was all the more important during that period. It is important that every state that wants to stand against a genocide uses whatever leverage it can. It mattered before that and it still matters because my position and that of the Irish …

Following on from that, I think communication with any politicians in America or anywhere else must make clear exactly what this legislation does. It is squarely within the footprint of international law. It is targeting the occupied territories and nothing else. I will make a couple of points on the legal side of things. I find this debate rather frustrating. We have been told there is legal unc…

We should be clear about what it is.

3. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade her views on the situation in Sudan; her position on same and in particular the need to ensure access to appropriate aid; and her further position on the concerning flow of weapons into the country. [66754/25]

The scenes we are seeing in the media on our phones and televisions from Sudan are horrific. They are redolent of the kinds of scenes we saw in Rwanda 30 years ago. People are being cut down in the street and being slaughtered indiscriminately and unfortunately it seems to be escalating. Tens of thousands of people in Darfur are unaccounted for. We do not know where they are or whether they have g…

I welcome the statement. It is perhaps more robust than the statements made previously, in the latter part. The people of Sudan have suffered for a considerable period and unfortunately the hope they had a few years ago that a democratic settlement would emerge has not materialised. This appalling conflict is now happening. It is important that all parties to the conflict, the government forces an…

I appreciate that it is denied. Whether those denials are credible is another question. I welcome that the Minister of State will meet the ambassador later. It is important that this issue is on the agenda. Unfortunately, it seems that the people of Sudan are to some extent pawns in a struggle for regional influence and they are paying a very high price for it. The other humanitarian element of it…

Tá mé ag roinnt ama le mo chomhghleacaithe. I thank the Business Committee and the Minister for agreeing to these statements. Some other parties and I have been looking for it for some weeks. The Minister made reference to it not getting the attention it deserves. That is undoubtedly true. It is probably true in this country too. The situation the people of Sudan are facing does not bear thinking …

Some 250 people have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire. As of 11 November, there have been 282 breaches of the ceasefire. That is some ceasefire. That equates to about 10% of the number of people killed in the entire Irish War of Independence. The number of people being killed in Gaza every day is still enormous. There has been a lot of discussion about this ceasefire, this deal and so on. I…

I want to take the opportunity to condemn the Russian attack on Ukraine last night. The latest reports are that at least 20 people have been killed, including two children, in a Russian drone and missile attack on the western city of Ternopil that hit two blocks of flats. Another 66 people were injured, 16 of them were children, in one of the deadliest Russian attacks on western Ukraine since the …

Some other Deputies and I referred to the situation in Sudan. While the EU is not a party to that conflict, there are concerns regarding a significant flow of weapons from the United Arab Emirates to Sudan. It has denied that but there are credible reports that suggest this. Some of the commentary in recent days indicates there may be a change in the United Arab Emirates’ position, at least outwar…

I welcome all that but the point still remains that Ireland and the EU have no direct influence over the RSF. The United Arab Emirates does. Has Ireland raised directly, or at EU level, the need for the UAE Government to reduce its impact on the area? Who have we influenced in this conflict? It is not the RSF. We have limited influence on the Sudanese Government. Are we raising this directly, eith…

Referencing briefly my first question, we have gone past the time for speaking generally. We need to be more direct. My next question is separate and relates to the area of overseas development. Obviously, a significant crisis is being caused by the huge cut in USAID. Whether anyone can fill the gap is a question. One of the proposals being explored by development organisations is the issue of deb…

That is not disputed.

That is not new.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Leas-Cheann Comhairle. Geall le ceithre bliana ó shin, rinne Vladimir Putin agus an Rúis ionsaí uafásach ar an Úcráin, agus is é "uafásach" an focal ceart agus cuí le n-úsáid. Ina dhiaidh sin, lean an choimhlint agus cogadh is mó san Eoraip le 80 bliain anuas, agus go leor teifigh ag teacht as sin. Deirim arís gur ionsaí ar chearta agus ar saoirse muintir na hÚcráine, agus…