Debate contributions by Cynthia NÍ MHURCHÚ

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.

Chair, Commissioner, When travel and holiday companies failed 5 years ago, he left many people on the white spot and suffered many penalties. Thomas Cook left thousands of people, as I said, on the white beach and during COVID-19 and lockdown, many families lost their savings. The money was gone, no compensation, and the confidence was broken. This is now over. I have worked hard and directly on this statutory vote, collaborating with other MEPs across the house, and I am happy to say and proud to say that with these new safeguards, if travel companies fail in the future, your money is safe. It is as simple as that. Refunds within 14 days, long-term and movable vouchers, one person responsible for solving problems in the event of an unforeseen illness or death. I spoke directly to the tourism companies and they told me what was important to those - essential legislation and advance payments to go through the quiet months, and heavy rules would put them at risk. I listened, I took part, I fought to protect them in these talks. That is why I welcome this new legislation. They protect consumers and give seasonal companies and businesses space to survive.

Chair, Commissioner, thank you. Last month, I proudly marched with my LGBTQI+ colleagues in the Budapest Pride parade. I marched with hundreds of ordinary people from all over Europe and Hungary. Older people, children with parents and teenagers. Everyone is friendly, friendly and united. United against Orbán. We sent strong messages to Orbán that Europe would not stand up for its homophobic leadership seeking to violate the EU treaties as well as denounce democratic human rights. People in Hungary have rejected what Orbán stands for. Orbán is slipping in the polls. Its policies aimed at limiting personal freedoms are failing. The greatest lesson from Budapest's pride. Europeans and European Member States, such as Ireland, my country, will not stand aside allowing Hungary and homophobic leaders to deprive us of our freedom in Europe. We stand firm. We stand up in the danger gap together and cooperate with you Commissioner. Thank you very much.

Madam Chair, High Representative, I am deeply concerned about Israel's military attacks on Iran and its counter-attacks on Israel. I am mainly concerned for the innocent people, the civilians. The deliberate assault of civilians or civilian infrastructure is a violation of international humanitarian law. De-escalations of the conflict and moderation are necessary. If there is an escalation, there is a real risk of it spreading out into the region. We must continue to shed light on Gaza, where horrendous sights remain to be seen. Netanyahu and the Israeli Government's military campaign to bring Gaza under full control has gone a long way. It is contrary to international law. Let's not let the situation in Iran get our attention from genocide. genocide in Gaza at Netanyahu. Children and the Palestinian population are dying in their scores trying to find water and food and yet, the European Union stays aside without doing anything. The EU must suspend trade with Israel until Israel admits human assistance. Thank you.

Chairperson, Commissioner. Old stories of heart torment: Flying delay, connecting flight cancelled, left in a pit on your own. A spoiled holiday trip or a lost family wedding. Are you looking for help? You are sent back and forth between the airline and the booking company for months. This review is intended to stop this. You won't have to accept whatever offer comes from the body - a delay of 24 hours, or even worse, nothing. The airline will have to offer an alternative route within three hours, or you will have the right to book your alternative travel option, even with other airlines, or with a train or a combination of both. And the companies have a right to claim up to 400% of the value of the first ticket in return for the sudden costs. Now the airline will have to take control of the problem, provide pre-filled forms and issue a response within two weeks. Simple, easy and effective process for European passengers as it should be.

Chair, Commissioner, if we want public transport to be a realistic option for people, it must be effective and attractive. There is a need for a high-quality, affordable and accessible transport system. With passengers taking the intercity train this morning from Cork to Dublin, they spent 2 hours and 39 minutes on the train, but, it would take the same amount of time in the car. Earlier this year, I showed statistics showing that the train to Dublin is often slow, very often. In January 24, 20 out of 26 trips, the train was late. Public transport must be cheaper than other options and on time, not part of the time, but all the time. It must be comfortable, with an on-board internet service working, not part of the time, most of the time but all the time. This is why a European framework is needed to speed up infrastructure investment to make people want to choose public transport over the car. Thank you very much.

Chairs, Europe's regional airports contribute significantly to connectivity, competitiveness and balanced economic growth in Europe's regions. I am concerned, unfortunately, that we are not investing enough on them, for example in the southwest of Ireland, which is located in my constituency, which includes Waterford Airport, Waterford Airport, left half-in-work. It is a great opportunity for Waterford Airport to be used to promote research and innovation in collaboration with South-Eastern Technological University. Europe is lagging behind the United States in developing a sustainable fuel for airplanes. And this is only the beginning of drone technology that will help us, for example, in rescue operations. On tourism, targeted support through a new European fund could give a much-needed boost to innovation around Europe through our regional airports such as Waterford Airport.

Mr. President, Commissioner. It is vital that the digital world is trustworthy and that our private data is protected as it should be. You have the right to know what information is being collected about you, and why, and where it is being stored, and to know that it is not being sold or being abused in some way. We often hear that controls destroy innovation, but we have seen how self-regulation is lost and its serious impact. This decision by the Irish Data Protection Commission regarding TikTok's placement of people's data outside the EU reminds us and the tech giants that trust is something that needs to be gained and that we need to ensure real responsibility so that we can innovate in ethical and safe ways. You're welcome, Commissioner.

Dear Chairs, over 700 000 Irish people are waiting on hospital waiting lists. Under the Cross-Border Health Directive these patients can benefit from the possibility of such treatment being paid in an EU country. Figures I received from the HSE in Ireland showed a reduction of 80% in the number of patients asking for treatment abroad and a further significant reduction of 55% in the number of patients receiving reimbursements under the Directive between 2018 and 2023. This is a big challenge without a doubt. Irish health services spent €15 million in 2020 reimbursing patients under the scheme, but by 2023 this figure had fallen to €9 million. According to an EU report several years ago, only 11% of Irish people were even aware of the existence of this Directive and some were not even aware of it. One of the main weaknesses of this Directive is that the patient must pay for it first and wait up to 4 months for reimbursement. This is not enough for the poor. This Directive helps people across the EU every day to address complex medical needs and reduce waiting lists. This is why I call on the Commission here today to launch a publicity campaign to tackle the awareness challenge it is facing.

Chair, Commissioner, when someone buys a second hand car in Europe, it costs him a lot of money. He hopes that this car will be of good quality. He is not a mechanic and is therefore confident that EU standards will protect him as a consumer. All it takes is a fair price, and more importantly, a safe car. But the black is often brightened in terms of the number of kilometres that the car has burned. It is common fraud in second-hand car markets across the European Union and we are not protecting consumers as we should. I raise this fraud tonight on EU Consumer Day, as it still shows the gaps in consumer protection in the EU and that we need to explore ways to close them while not creating too bureaucracy for small European businesses. Let's act now. The functioning of the single market depends on it. Thank you very much.

Every year, thousands of Europeans are placed on long waiting lists of essential organs. Europe is currently covered by different systems and each Member State is in charge of its own transplant arrangements. Some countries have donated programs that are well developed, while others are struggling to meet demand. The survival or not of a patient is often a geography lottery. This is not acceptable. If resources and data are shared across borders, the EU could set up a shared framework. With standardised practice and a unified data repository, we could reduce the time it takes to find suitable organs for patients and save lives. While the EU has taken steps to create a more unified approach with the Organ Donation Directive, there is much more to be done. Organ transplantation is a European issue. The European Union must build a framework that ensures a transparent and fast system across all Member States. Thank you.

Dear chairs, over the past two parliamentary periods, red tape has allowed Europe to grow exponentially. We are therefore not competitive. Red tape is increasing costs for small and medium-sized businesses, making it difficult for them to make any profit. Undoubtedly, this is particularly damaging for rural communities that depend on small businesses. According to the CSO, small and medium-sized enterprises represent 99.8% of Irish businesses, employing two-thirds of the remuneration. One of the thousands affected by this is PJ Hickson, a shopper with a small business in Carlow my hometown. Excessive bureaucracy must be tackled every day: lottery, beer, spirits, wine, fresh salmon licence, IMRO for music etc. - paperwork, fees, bureaucracy and time - extraordinarily expensive. Remove the red tape I say. Disapprove the control. I welcome this Commission compass. Strength with him.

Mr President, cryptocurrencies. Undoubtedly a major technological development with positive opportunities such as a more inclusive financial system, faster cross-border transactions and revolutionary possibilities through blockchain technology. We should not ignore cryptocurrencies in Europe. However, let us not make this easy. These opportunities pose a real challenge. Price uncertainty, illegal activities and a lack of strong consumer protections. These are legitimate concerns that require a strong and clear response, but, at the same time, we should not over-regulate on the basis of fear. If we stifle innovation, we risk losing the same boost that Europe could become a global leader in the digital economy. Otherwise, our approach must be smart, looking ahead and ready to bend as it suits. Rules are needed that promote transparency, such as strong anti-money laundering and consumer protections. Similarly, we need to foster innovation by working with private innovators, creating flexible frameworks. Ultimately, Europe has a unique opportunity here with crypto. We should take the opportunity.