Versailles statements requested
Mick Barry argued the House should hold statements before the informal meeting of European leaders in Versailles, given the war’s economic and energy implications. He asked the Business Committee to meet urgently to arrange such a debate.
The European leaders will meet in Versailles on Thursday and Friday. They will discuss the Russian invasion as it impacts on the economy and on energy supply. No doubt they will also discuss military matters. Of course they will. Perhaps no official decisions will be made in this regard but a process will be got under way without a doubt. Yet there are no statements on that meeting in the House this week. There should be statements on this issue in the House this week.
When there is a meeting of the European Council, we have statements beforehand.
Comment on this
The Taoiseach says this is an informal meeting. Let us have an informal debate. When the European Council meets, we have pre-meeting statements and post-meeting statements. This meeting is more important than 95% or even 99% of the European Council meetings held in recent times but there are to be no statements. Why not? I propose a special meeting of the Business Committee this afternoon to arrange such a debate. Will the House agree to that?