00:00Coming up, we'll be joined by Thomas Byrne, the Irish Minister for Defence and European Affairs.
00:05As Ireland prepares to take over the presidency of the Council of the European Union,
00:10the Fiannavale politician is in Brussels today to join EU defence ministers for more talks on
00:16how to support Ukraine and to boost European security. That's all in a context of an uncertain
00:21Middle East, with President Trump stating that the ceasefire with Iran is on, quote,
00:25life support. Good morning, Minister. Great to be with you.
00:27How are you? Good. So look, you'll be meeting defence ministers today. You'll be joined by the
00:32Ukrainian defence minister. Should we expect anything concrete?
00:35Well, look, I think we will be discussing lots of issues in the defence sphere. We had the discussion
00:39yesterday at the Foreign Affairs Council on Ukraine as well. I think Ukraine is very, very strong and
00:43forward in people's minds in Europe. So the question is, how do we best help Ukraine? Whether it's
00:48provision of military materiel, whether it is through sanctions on Russia, whether it is through peace
00:55talks or indeed the enlargement of the European Union. I think there are so many different avenues
00:59for us to help Ukraine and to end this war.
01:02And on sanctions against Russia, a 21st package is being written as we speak, something you probably
01:07have to push through during your presidency. Will it work, though, these sanctions?
01:10Well, look, we've achieved a huge amount. We have unanimity requirements for sanctions and
01:14we've got through 20 packages. So we'll do another package. We certainly hope and work is ongoing in
01:20relation to that. Those sanctions have had an impact on the Russian economy, quite a significant
01:24impact on the Russian economy. They clearly haven't ended the war. But I think we need to continue
01:28putting the pressure on Russia and indeed on its people in order that they can somehow put pressure
01:33on Vladimir Putin.
01:35And this is the issue. The war is still ongoing. Some are floating the idea of potentially speaking
01:38to Russia, a conversation that's been going on for many, many months now. What is Ireland's view here?
01:43Well, look, we support continued sanctions. We support the enlargement of the EU to include Ukraine.
01:48And we've also supported when individual leaders have contacted Vladimir Putin in the past.
01:52We think it is important to allow that dialogue to take place if it's going to end the war.
01:58Is it time for a special envoy, an appointee?
02:00Well, look, I mean, that's a consideration for another day. And that's a Vladimir Putin suggestion
02:05this week. So I don't think I'm going to lean into that. I think the focus has to be to
02:09support
02:10Ukraine. We have peace talks, which the Americans have been facilitating. And we've been very supportive
02:15of those peace talks. And if there were to be a place for the European Union, I think we'd
02:19be supportive of that as well. But of course, coming into presidency mode, Ireland, of course,
02:23has to take into account the views of the member states. And of course, Kai Callas and Antonio Costa
02:27make, you know, get the consensus of the member states on foreign policy issues.
02:32And on consensus, there was one move last night here in Brussels regarding sanctions against
02:37settlers in the West Bank. This was allowed, of course, because the new change of government
02:42in Hungary. Will these have much of an impact, though, on the ground?
02:45Well, look, I think it's very, very welcome that Hungary has changed its position on this
02:48and that if all the member states of the European Union agreeing on this, I think this is a step
02:51forward. I think there's more that we can do to help people in Palestine. But I think
02:55this is very, very welcome. Nobody disagrees with this now around the European table.
02:59I think it does send a message to people that the European Union is responding to genuinely
03:04serious concerns that people have.
03:06And what else could change now that there's a new government in Hungary?
03:09Well, look, we await discussions with them. But I mean, obviously, the Hungarian government
03:13up to now has blocked the opening of accession talks formally with Ukraine. That's something
03:18that we'd like to see change. They obviously have to negotiate a significant amount of money
03:22to be paid into Hungary that they would have been entitled to, but for the actions of the
03:27previous government. So I think there's a lot of work going to happen in relation to that
03:30in the next few weeks and months.
03:32And just a final question. The Eurovision is starting, of course, tonight. You won't be watching.
03:35Ireland is boycotting the music festival. Are you disappointed other countries didn't
03:39join in your boycott?
03:40It's not a matter for the government. RTE is taking that decision themselves. People
03:44in Ireland can watch BBC and other channels as well if they wish to watch it. This is
03:48a decision that RTE has taken.
03:50Do you support it?
03:51Look, we don't get involved. We're not Hungary. We don't get involved in telling the media what
03:55to do in Ireland. So I think it's important that they have their independence. They've decided
03:58this independently. And that's the decision for them to take in relation to their audience.
04:03And the independence of RTE, I think, is something that has been critical and central to our democracy
04:07over the decades.
04:08OK, Minister Lambert-Byrne, thank you so much for coming in to us. And best of luck with
04:11your long day of talks.
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