Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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1. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs will next meet. [23995/24]

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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2. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs will next meet. [23998/24]

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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3. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs will next meet. [24000/24]

Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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4. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs will next meet. [25588/24]

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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5. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs will next meet. [25960/24]

Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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6. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs will next meet. [26038/24]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 6, inclusive, together.

The Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs oversees the implementation of programme for Government commitments and considers policy matters relating to the European Union and international issues. The committee generally meets in advance of meetings of the European Council to discuss the agenda for these meetings. In addition, it considers current EU and international matters, including the ongoing situation in the Middle East and the conflict in Ukraine. The committee most recently met on 10 June when it looked ahead to the informal European Council meeting, which I attended yesterday, and the meeting of the European Council scheduled for 27 and 28 June. Both meetings take place in Brussels.

At the informal meeting, leaders reflected on the outcome of the European Parliament elections and focused on the new EU institutional cycle. At the meeting of the European Council proper on 27 and 28 June, leaders will hope to sign off on a new strategic agenda for the period ahead. They will discuss issues including Ukraine, the horrific humanitarian catastrophe in the Middle East, security and defence and the EU's competitiveness agenda.

Ahead of yesterday's informal meeting of the European Council, I attended the conference on peace in Ukraine hosted by Switzerland. This conference comes at a time Ukraine continues to be under relentless attack from Russia, including the targeting of civilian infrastructure. Some 20,000 children have been abducted in Ukraine - snatched by Russia, taken from their parents and from their towns and villages. If Ukraine managed to get one child a day back, it would take 55 years to return all of the children. We must be relentless and challenge ourselves to do much more in this regard. Certainly, from the Government's perspective, we are very eager to see what more practical assistance we can provide to help with that humanitarian issue. The aim of the conference was to rally world leaders around a peace initiative that is based on the principles of the UN Charter and in support of Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence. During my intervention, I expressed Ireland's strong support for President Zelenskyy's peace plan.

It is expected that the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs will next meet again in the coming months as necessary and ahead of the meeting of the European Council in October.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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I note that at the summit there was a lot of talk about adherence to international law, which is right. There is no doubt the atrocities that Putin has carried out are horrendous and that it was a bloody and indefensible invasion, occupation and war. However, it is difficult to credit the claims of adherence to international law or the desire for peace when, at the same time that all of this is going on, many of the countries in attendance at the conference continue to support and arm the state of Israel while it is guilty of committing genocide in front of our eyes. While we were counting the votes in the European and local elections, Israel slaughtered just under 300 people in Al-Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza in what an Al Jazeera journalist described as “descending into hell”. After the opprobrium at that, last night, Israel was attacking the same refugee camp again. It was also killing people in Rafah as they waited for aid trucks. However, nothing is done. Some of those in attendance at that conference, like the United States and others, continue to arm the state that is doing this. In fact, they may well have been complicit in the attack on the refugee camp as it looks like their troops on the so-called humanitarian pier were involved in supporting the Israeli massacre in that refugee camp. When are the shocking double standards and failure to act against Israel's genocidal attack by the western governments that arm and support it, including in the European Union, going to stop? When are we going to see sanctions?

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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I want to raise the issue of Palestinian third level students who are going to be here as a consequence of the genocide that their families are experiencing in Gaza. Perhaps they are able to flee, have already fled or are going to be fleeing here over the next period. I was in touch with the Taoiseach and his office previously when he was Minister for higher education regarding a particular case that is still ongoing and is illustrative of the issue. Amir is a 19-year-old Gaza man who is studying at TU Dublin. He arrived as a regular international student and regular international student fees were paid. Then, in October, his family home and family business in Gaza were destroyed and he had to apply for international protection. However, TU Dublin is continuing to pursue him for the fees it says he owes based on assessing him as an international student, so he is facing thousands of euro in fees. It previously said his exam results would be withheld, although it has since progressed that and has released the exam results and said he can put a payment plan in place for paying these fees. He has no mechanism to pay the fees. TU Dublin has said that the Government has not provided any scheme or funding for students from Palestine but that if a scheme is put in place, as was put in place for Ukrainian students, it would be able to implement it. It is one way or the other. TU Dublin is saying it needs the money to be able to do this. Either TU Dublin or the Department needs to step in here.

Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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An Associated Press investigation has identified at least 60 Palestinian families where 25 family members or more were killed by Israeli bombing between October and December. In some cases, four generations of one family were wiped out. Israeli bombing has destroyed homes, buildings and infrastructure to the point that there is now 37 million tonnes of rubble in Gaza. It is estimated that it would take ten years to clear it. Last year, while the assault was well under way, a European politician compared Israel's role to Ukraine's defence against Russian aggression. She said: “All these conflicts have one thing in common: they are about the struggle between those who seek peace, balance, freedom and co-operation - and those who do not want any of this.” That politician was Ursula von der Leyen. Why is the Taoiseach supporting this woman for the Presidency of the new European Commission?

Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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A meeting of EU leaders in Brussels yesterday evening failed to endorse Ursula von der Leyen for a second term as the European Commission President. This should be welcomed by all right-thinking people. Through her offer of unconditional support for Israel, she provided political cover for the genocide that continues to unfold in Gaza. By continuing to block a review of Israel's human rights obligations under the EU-Israel association agreement, she is providing economic cover for Israel's genocide and failing to hold it to account, unless there is further information in that regard. She has acted outside of her competency, impugned her office and damaged the credibility of the European Union to act as an agent of peace and a champion of human rights across the world. We spoke earlier about the possibility of a debate in the House. Can the Taoiseach assure the House that the Government will oppose the reappointment of the Commission President?

Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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As expected, there was a shift to the right across Europe in the recent European Parliament elections, with migration and the response to climate change emerging as key issues during the campaign. However, it seems the centrist coalition has held, by and large. The coalition is made up of the European People's Party, the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats and Renew Europe, and it remains to be seen if the Greens or the European conservatives and reformists will also join any new coalition in the Parliament. All of this will determine the future policy direction of the EU and, of course, how the top positions will be filled. It seems to me, despite what we just heard from other Deputies, and despite her initial response to the Israeli-Hamas war, that Ursula von der Leyen is set to become Commission President again. The Taoiseach discussed these matters at a special European Council meeting yesterday. Various names are being mentioned in the media for the posts of Council President and foreign policy chief, as well as the President of the European Parliament. What is the Taoiseach's approach to these issues? When will Ireland's next EU Commissioner be announced? It is generally accepted that the earlier the name is known, the better for securing a significant Commission post. If the Taoiseach would like to name the Irish Commissioner now, I am sure the House would welcome any information he can give in that regard.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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Who is being elevated?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I am not sure the Tánaiste would. Under our coalition agreement, the Tánaiste will bring a name to Cabinet for consideration. What Deputy Haughey said about the importance of timeliness is a statement of fact in this regard, and I and the Tánaiste share that view. I should say that the process is as the Deputy said. The European Council last night took stock of the European elections at an informal meeting.

With respect to Deputy Ó Murchú, it was never a meeting that had a legal basis to make a decision. That will be the European Council meeting next Thursday and Friday. Obviously, once a President of the Commission is in place, it is then member states formally submit the names of their Commissioners or Commissioners-designate. I share the view that clarity around the name in the coming weeks, which is the plan of the Government, would be good in our national interest because that then allows us to engage with the Commission President on portfolios and trying to ensure the portfolio is a good fit for the person Ireland sends and a good fit for Ireland in terms of policy interests and national interests we may have.

The approach I took last night was, I think, the approach that was taken by all members of the European Council, which is that there needs to be a balanced approach. There are four positions, as the Deputy rightly said: President of the Parliament, which is dealt with by the Parliament, and President of the Council, President of the Commission and the High Representative for foreign affairs. It is important that there is a balanced approach to that package of roles that reflects the democratic outcome of the European election results and also tries to take into consideration other things in terms of the size of member states and geography, where possible. Last night was an initial take stock discussion. I do share the Deputy's view that the centre has held. One hears lots of different views in this Parliament, as is entirely appropriate but people cannot forget the fact that the European People's Party gained seats in the European election, and that it looks like it will be possible to put a centrist coalition together in the coming weeks as well.

I do not accept that President von der Leyen is blocking any review of the association agreement because this is a matter for member states. There are 27 member states. Ireland and Spain have signed a letter saying we want it reviewed. The Belgian Presidency has made some progress on this, which I welcome. However, I call on all European leaders to join us on this because I fundamentally believe that the association agreement needs to be reviewed because there are human rights clauses in it.

In response to Deputy Barry, there has to be a correlation between the outcome of the European elections and the President of the Commission, and that has been established. Indeed, the Deputy respectfully campaigned on that basis in the European elections when he asked people to vote for candidates who would definitely not vote for President von der Leyen. I heard the Deputy say that. That is his position and I respect that but the reality is the European People's Party chose at a congress President von der Leyen to be the lead candidate. Other political groupings chose other people to be the lead candidates and we had an election across the European Union. That has to count for something in ensuring there is not a democratic deficit or disconnect between the citizens of the Union and those who are appointed to roles.

With regard to President von der Leyen, people have made comments in our Government in the past about the early days of the Middle East situation. However, looking at President von der Leyen's actions in respect of the support for UNRWA when others were not supporting UNRWA - that is the humanitarian aid, for people watching in - and her calling for an immediate ceasefire and her belief in a two-state solution, sometimes she is wrongly positioned on this issue in terms of-----

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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She is blocking sanctions.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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-----how she is being wrongly presented by people on this. President von der Leyen is committed to peace and wants to see an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East. She is also someone who has been a good friend to Ireland on Brexit, and someone who is responsible for saving many lives through the roll-out of the Covid vaccine programme.

In response to Deputy Murphy, I am happy to immediately engage with him on the specific case he raised. I should not get too much involved in a back-and-forth with the universities as I respect their autonomy, independence and all that sort of stuff but international fees are set by them and therefore, that answer they gave the Deputy makes me bristle a little bit. There is absolutely nothing to stop any university today deciding not to levy those fees on a student. They do not need a Government initiative to do so. We have universities of sanctuary, for example, as well. I do understand that in general, our universities have been taking a case-by-case approach to this but I am disappointed to hear of the situation that Amir finds himself in. We are doing work - I will not waste time going through it all now - on scholarship programmes and fellowship programmes for funding schools in the Middle East so maybe I could send the Deputy a note regarding our position on all of this.

In response to Deputy Boyd Barrett, this country, small as it is, is doing everything humanly possible to continue to articulate for peace. I share the view that there is an inconsistency in approach being taken by the world to the conflict in Ukraine, which needs to immediately end as it is an illegal, brutal invasion - and I welcome the Deputy saying those things - and to what is happening in the Middle East. It is a humanitarian catastrophe and there are war crimes being committed. It is important that we call out both. Ireland does, and others should.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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And those complicit.