Debate contributions by Cynthia NÍ MHURCHÚ

Mr President, thank you very much, Commissioner Mînzatu. If the European Union wants to be at the forefront of drone technology, we need to be prepared and invest in it strategically and on a broad scale. Drones are no longer niche tools but essential technology. Yes, drones play a crucial role in military defence, but they are equally essential for search and rescue missions, the policing of our coasts against trade and drugs and people, of course for mapping and agriculture, and for many of the daily tasks that are crucial for Europe’s security and resilience. Ireland is already at the forefront of this innovation. In Cork, ICP Newtech is producing high dissolvers of bombs and drones that fight fires. And in Shannon, A-Tech SYN is developing drones for surveillance and mapping. In addition, our regional airports, such as Waterford Airport in South Ireland, are ready and able to partner with our SETU technology universities to promote drone technology.

My friends, Daddy Christmas is coming and many people will be travelling a lot over the coming weeks, and I'd love to see public transport in Ireland work nationally for everyone, but unfortunately, it's not. Our transport system in Ireland is still failing many people. Dublin, our capital, is a major transport centre, but there is not yet a direct metro or rail service to the city centre. So travellers rely on a bus service that is often slow, too frequent, or not at all, and in cold, wet weather. If we are serious about achieving our climate and environmental goals, we need real investment in our public transport system. It must be better, faster, more affordable, and especially in rural areas such as counties Kerry, Cork and Tipperary, where travel services are lacking or absent. During the Christmas period many people are left isolated without any bus or train, and consequently, depending on cars too much and not out of choice but out of need. We must do our best to invest properly in our public transport system. It is a human right.

A chairde, a Choimisinéir, we talk non-stop about EU defence and security, but inside our very borders, we must defend our critical medicines industry – our pharma, our biotech, our research and development and, of course, our public health systems, as we have ageing populations throughout Europe. We should ensure that a citizen's diagnosis or treatment or prognosis, whether it's for cancer or a neurological illness or something else, doesn't depend on where they live. I say 'no' to second-class citizens or third-class patients. We need to strengthen the EU medicines production and supply and access to critical ingredients, because access to medicines should never be a luxury. We need cooperation between Member States in procurement – it's a priority. Our citizens deserve rapid, safe and affordable critical medicines. And we need to diversify our supply chain. We should not be held to ransom by the USA, by China or India because of shortages or high prices or other political tensions. I say bring production back to the EU. Bring research back, clinical trials and fund these industries, Commissioner. As my mother used to say: 'A stitch in time saves nine.' Let's plan. Let's act. Let's work hard as elected representatives for our citizens and ensure they are well served.

(Start of speech off mic) a chairde, I like choice, that is why my purse has cash in it, but also cards. In Ireland, my government confirmed this week that access‑to‑cash legislation will come into effect this Friday. I am very pleased, because cash is king for very good reasons. Number one: choice. Number two: access. Number three: equal rights for older citizens, refugees, the poor, those who are digitally illiterate. It is called financial inclusion. Alternatively, when people are faced with the breakdown of the ATM and no power, we need to have resilience. Alternatively, when we we're faced with tech glitches and we can't pay digitally, then of course we need cash. Also, we need an alternative when faced with money‑laundering concerns and suddenly our bank account is temporarily frozen. It's simple, my friends: cash needs to be mandatory to sit alongside its shiny new cousin, the digital euro. But the digital euro should never be pushed upon us exclusively to the detriment of cash. I stand with the voters of Ireland South who have told me that they want choice and freedom: power over their purse. 'Let's keep the cash', they say. Yes! Cash is king and queen.

Mr President, Commissioner, 97% of young people are online every day, and for many teenagers, that means long hours on screens that never leave their hand. And we know that what happens behind them disappears from parents' eyes too often. Predators slide in through private conversations and group messages, and the algorithms are tailored to draw our attention, not for the interest of the user, pushing for sharper or more sexual content. In seemingly harmless games, they hide 'loot' boxes that imitate casino working methods, often with real money. This is not a bad parenthood but a business model based on behavioral psychology and dark patterns. If we are serious, friends, about protecting minors, we need a few things: age-appropriate attitude, secure age checks, restrictions on addictive features and 'loot boxes', and a solid application of EU rules. And if we want to strengthen the confidence of parents, we need to confirm this resolution. I welcome the vote tomorrow.

Mr President, Commissioner, currently in Ireland and across Europe, our democracy is being poisoned. Not with tanks or troops, but with lies that get 'likes'. On every platform every day, we see false stories and conspiracy theories being inserted into our society. They move faster than facts. They target people who are mad or worried, and turn neighbors into enemies. We have all seen how this attackes the real world: threats to journalists, mistreatment of politicians, harassment of minorities, even stimulation of street violence with online rumours. The Democracy Shield in the EU is about protecting our information space, as we protect our borders. Making it harder for foreign powers or bad actors to manipulate our debates, and even control and change our elections. That's why we need strong, independent local media. They do three important things, my friends. They keep people rooted in their own communities, replace rumors with verified facts that people can rely on, and ensure that distant commentators and anonymous algorithms do not crush local voices and realities. We have to protect them.

Mr President, as a mother, I am very disappointed that such horrific and unsuitable items were made available on Shein's platform in the first place. It is a big red flag that this type of product could easily be listed, sold and shipped for an online marketplace in Europe. It represents a complete failure and inadequate corporate responsibility supervision. If companies can allow something so ambiguous to find consumers, how can we have any confidence in the rest of the products they sell? Do their electronic items meet fire safety standards and are toys or clothing for children free from poisonous materials? Where does it stop? There is one thing that is clear about this issue. We need much stronger regulation and application to protect the public from dangerous and unethical products. Online platforms must be held accountable for what they allow. I call on the Parliament to act quickly and forcefully against the bodies, like Shein, acting with no respect for people - for European citizens.

Friends, trust is the foundation of effective health care. And today, since we are focusing on the importance of breast cancer screening, we need to put patient reliability, transparency and trust at the heart of our strategy. We know that women respond more positively to migraine programmes that unequivocally set out risk factors and prioritise patients at risk, especially guided by specialised healthcare professionals through clear communication. This tells us that women need to believe in the system, not just participate in it. Therefore, our screening programmes need to be accessible and consistent and tailored to risk while providing full clarity on options, intervals and results. Only then will women trust the process so that it is reliable and safety is prioritised and results are robust. Let's promise, friends, that we will develop screening schemes that women can rely on.

Chair, Women's Aid, Carlow; Amber Refuge, Kilkenny; ADAPT Domestic Abuse Services, Limerick; Oasis House, Waterford – I've visited them all. I applaud you very much for the protection of women suffering from ill-treatment. I welcome this debate today and it is a great opportunity to call on Member States to fully and speedily implement the Directive on Combating Violence against Women and Girls ahead of the June '27 deadline. In Ireland, we are well aware of the cost of inaction. The Irish Government is introducing Jenny's Law or Jenny's Law - legislation to create an agenda and public register of domestic violence, and which gives women, people, the right to know if a person has a record of serious sexual abuse? This new law was named after Jennifer Poole, a beautiful young mother whose partner murdered her in 2021. Jenny's death could be avoided and I hope that this new legislation will avoid deaths like Jenny's death.

Chairperson, Commissioner. The Quiet Girl. Kneecap. Archery. Song of the Sea. Frank and Frank. Spongebob the Movie. Clay of the Cell. I am Ireland. An old night. Potato, and I could move on. I could go on and on, but these are examples of the innate, cultural, wonderful, rich diversity that is associated with our Irish language in Ireland. That language is replicated among other languages within the Member States of the European Union. It is vital that we protect and defend our cultural diversity. It is a huge strength of Europe that we pay tribute and respect and protect our minorities, whether the language is a minority language or a minoritised language. So I say to the Commissioner and to the Commission: please do everything in your power to protect this directive, to enhance this directive, and to ensure that there is at least 30% of European origin on platforms, and that we don't bend to the culture outside...

Mr President, we need a faster timeline to achieve full and transparent energy independence from Russia. It is time that we complete what we started and close the loopholes. The loopholes that enable Russian oil and gas to reach our markets through other, developing countries. Russian oil and gas are trapped in the thousands of Ukrainians who have died in the war. Every euro we pay on Russian energy helps finance Putin’s war, which is causing a crisis in the European Union. Europe has already shown that diversity can be created. We have weakened our dependence. We have developed renewable energy sources and strengthened our resilience, but loopholes undermine our unity and credibility. A loophole allows Putin to exploit our weakness. The EU must be united and stop any intermediate state becoming a backdoor to Russian energy.

Dear friends. European security purposes are changing. In particular, we face challenges when it comes to digital scams and online fraud. Technological developments are opening up new opportunities for criminal gangs to profit from thousands of Europeans attracted by false investment platforms, romance scams and identity theft. This type of crime does not stop at borders but too often friends, our police forces stop at borders. We can no longer allow our security strategy to be based on dealing with cybercrime and online fraud on a purely national basis. They are trans-European criminal problems. They require cross-border solutions, information sharing in real time, linked investigations through Europol and the use of collaborative investigation teams to follow the money across jurisdictions. Criminals use technology to move quickly and our police have to move much faster.

A Uachtaráin, a Choimisinéir, on World Mental Health Day, we are reminded that mental well-being is not just an individual issue, it's deeply shaped by the world we live in. I proudly wear the pin of the Samaritans in Ireland today because economic inequality, unemployment, poor housing, lack of access to education or healthcare – they all create conditions that can harm mental health, push people to the margins, to the edge. And, of course, when people struggle to make ends meet, their stress, anxiety and sense of hopelessness only grows. So mental healthcare must go beyond therapy rooms. It should include fair wages, safe communities, affordable housing and quality education. Investing in these social foundations isn't charity, it's prevention. When societies address inequality and build security together, they nurture resilience and mental health resilience.

Dear President, when Europe is discussing new rules for the digital age, we often hear that regulation will harm businesses or curb innovation. But the story tells a completely different story. Every time Europe protected its people - with labour rights, environmental standards or safer products - the same warnings were issued. But smart regulation helped build trust, stimulated innovation, and set global standards. We saw this with safety belts and food safety. What began as 'burdens' were symbols of safety, quality, and progress. Foreign powers and uncontrolled giants should not restrict our future or deprive us of our values. Without control over the harmful algorithms, injustice and hatred and manipulation come. Europe must lead the way with fair, fair and effective rules that protect people who do not have a business drowning in red tape.

It is vital that our farmers have a fair income, not only in Ireland but across Europe. Average farm incomes in Ireland are expected to reach €48,500 in 2025. This represents a 39% increase on 2024 and an 82% increase on 2023, when average income was as low as €19,000. I'd like to welcome you before. Our food security in Europe depends on farmers getting a fair payment for the food they produce. We need to strengthen the position of our farmers in the food supply chain and protect them from unfair trading practices. However, given Ireland's tradition of strong farmer-led agricultural cooperatives, particularly in the dairy sector, I will be supporting the amendments of my colleague Barry Cowen to allow Member States to provide a derogation to cooperatives on the basis that democratic scrutiny of milk supply pathways is maintained, and that fair terms are ensured in these treaties.

Madam President, Commissioner, Europe and this Parliament prides itself on complying with international law, championing the rule of law. A few questions, therefore, for the Commissioner, President von der Leyen and High Representative Kallas: is the continuation of the EU‑Israel trade agreement compatible with EU law? No. Is Israel interfering with EU aid and aid infrastructure? Yes. What are the EU Commission doing about protecting taxpayers' funds? Nothing. Is the arms trading with Israel by certain countries in the EU compatible with EU law? No. So, why are we waiting? You need to play your part, Commission. Suspend the EU‑Israel trade agreement forthwith. Halt the sale of arms to Israel by certain EU states. Stop prioritising dialogue over action in the face of abject genocide. Do your job. Do it right. Do it right now.

A Uachtaráin, the violation of Poland's territorial integrity and sovereignty by Russia was reckless, unprecedented, but nevertheless an all-too-familiar move out of Putin's playbook –deliberate, brazen, evil and corrupt. In July of this year, an investigation carried out by The Irish Times in Ireland, a newspaper, found that there was a dramatic increase in the number of Russian shadow ships in Irish waters. Our Irish Naval Service and Air Corps have stepped up their monitoring of the sanctioned vessels. These shadow ships are taking economically inefficient routes. They are sailing well outside of their recognised shipping lanes. Since Putin's full-scale illegal invasion of Ukraine in 2022, followed by – rightfully so – broad ranging sanctions imposed by Europe, Russia has relied on its shadow fleet to smuggle oil and natural gas to valuable markets in the Global South. So Europe – no more naivety, I say. No more benefit of the doubt – an attack on Poland is an attack on Europe. Let's have a swift, united, robust response and we need more efficient sanctions against Russia. Long live a free Poland and a free Russia.

Chairperson, Commissioner. We have a single market, but it is not fully exploited. We have allowed ourselves to be bent under the burden of red tape and too many rules in the EU. The result? Small choke businesses and weakened and reduced job creation, innovation left aside. The new EU commission pledged to reduce red tape, rules and regulation. But are they going to do it? Researchers from the Innovation Council for European Policies tracked the 383 recommendations made by Mr Draghi in his competitiveness report last year. His assessment showed that only one in ten recommendations have been applied so far - that's an implementation rate of 11.2%, too low. We must act. We need to reform, and we need to act now to ensure that the single market works to the best of its potential in the future. This includes reducing unnecessary bureaucracy, consistent application of existing legislation in all Member States across Europe.

Mr President, Europe is facing a sharp increase in threats from foreign interference and disinformation campaigns. Trust in our European institutions is under attack and building divisions in our communities. The world is at a crossroads: democracy is under enormous pressure and autocratic regimes around the world use disinformation as a tool of hate. In Renew Europe, we believe there is an urgent need to act when tackling sophisticated campaigns and organised groups focused on the misguided manipulation of information and intelligence. These campaigns exploit digital vulnerabilities to undermine democracy in Europe. We are talking about a combination of cyberattacks, social media manipulation and disinformation. How can we fight back? Investing in quality and independent journalism, as recommended by my group, Renew Europe. I encourage my colleagues here in the house to support our application and establish such a European Fund.