Debate contributions by Seán KELLY

A Uachtaráin, if one thing has been made clear in 2026, it is that Europe needs trustworthy trading partners – the bigger the better. And few come bigger than India. That is why it is of paramount importance that a deal can be reached, which facilitates investments and opens up trade for the EU into the world's fastest-growing economy. Populists across the world have used slow economic growth to decry free trade and push protectionist measures, such as tariffs or leaving the EU, even though we have seen that the knock-on effects are detrimental to their own citizens. We must instead seek growth and competitiveness to deliver the economic prosperity EU citizens are looking for. A major part of that is opening up new markets for trade and investment. This will leave us less reliant and exposed to threats, giving Europe the sovereignty to make its own decisions. A deal with India will have major benefits for Irish businesses – tariffs and trade barriers will be lowered on Irish spirits, pharmaceuticals and professional services to export to India. A deal would open up the rapidly growing Indian savings wealth to be invested in Irish companies. This will protect and create jobs across Ireland and indeed Europe. Now, more than ever, that is what we need in Europe to be strong, prosperous and competitive. Let's do it.

A Uachtaráin, a Choimisinéir, radio is not just a part of our culture; it could save your life. The Digital Networks Act should protect in-car radio – not just for our enjoyment, but for our safety. If the subsea cables around Ireland were damaged, or if we experienced an electricity blackout like Spain and Portugal did last year, or a major storm like we had last January, what would happen? Internet and cellular coverage would be severely hampered. Our hyper-connected lifestyles would be interrupted, leading to panic and concerns about access to vital services. This is where in-car radio is invaluable. Each car battery would ensure that people could power their radios, allowing them to receive essential government communications. Though this may sound extreme, requiring car manufacturers to keep in-car radios in an easy win for building societal resilience. Not only that, but it prevents local radio and national culture from being squeezed out by high-tech firms and streaming services. Irish people are extremely proud of our national broadcasting and it is especially important in rural areas and for older people. It is part of the fabric of our lives. And who knows? It may even save them someday.

Thank you, President. Dear Commissioner, God bless you this morning. We have seen this debate too many times. Efforts to combat misinformation and harmful online content are pitted against fundamental rights, free speech and national sovereignty, and we make little progress as a result. It's a tired story, where the real losser is the legitimacy of our institutions – the very thing that makes Putin and his cronies happy. If we want the Democracy Shield to be effective, we must start at the beginning. We need clear, shared definitions of the hybrid threats we face. Those threats must be properly identified and classified so that any future regulation can be enforced with legal certainty, rather than undermined by endless disputes and internal conflict. For this to work, it needs to be done in a transparent way. I call on the Commission to present a proposal, much as it did for the green taxonomy, which clearly defines these hybrid threats. These terms should then be debated and decided on in this Parliament, with buy-in and input from all parties. It is only then, with clear, agreed-upon legal definitions, that we can hope to bring in enforcement mechanisms to give the Democracy Shield the teeth it needs. Without this clarity, we are doomed to more of the same tired, self-destructive debate. That's what it is, Mr. President, and Happy Christmas to all of you. Thank you.

A Uachtaráin, last but not least, of course. Support Ukraine? Absolutely. Transatlantic relations? At their lowest ebb ever. EU strategic autonomy? Absolutely vital. In relation to Ukraine, the frozen assets have to be utilised. Guarantees for Belgium? They don't have to carry the can for Europe. Then it should be solved. As regards America, Trump's attitude is simple. Two words: 'America first'. Our answer? Two words: 'Europe first'. So we have to grow industries in Europe. 'Made in Europe' has to be our selling point. Above all, we have to develop the infrastructure to make it happen. A good starting point would be to implement Commissioner Jørgensen's grids package – which we discussed yesterday – because that would guarantee us energy security and energy independence, and that would be a good starting point for strategic autonomy of the European Union.

Mr President, thank you to Commissioner Jørgensen. You have listened to us and you have shared suggestions in the package that are very good. Good on you. I think we are in full agreement. an expanded and modernised electricity grid is non-negotiable, if we want decarbonisation, electrification and lower energy costs for citizens and industry. The grid package makes it very clear that our electricity grid is the backbone of climate policy, energy security and competitiveness. But we should be very clear on one point: you cannot say you want these things and then oppose measures put forward to deliver the required infrastructure. Anyone who is talking out of both sides of their mouth. According to the International Energy Agency, a fully decarbonised electricity system by 2035 is a precondition for reaching net zero by 2050. 2035 is just 10 years away, yet across Europe, major grid projects still take, as the Commissioner said, anything from 10 to 12 years from planning to delivery. If you oppose measures to accelerate permitting for grids and renewables, you are simply not supporting a decarbonised power system. You are actually making it impossible. That needs to be said loud and clear. These proposals are designed to cut timelines, remove some of the appeals and procedures that add years, without adding any real environmental value. Ultimately, the delivery of a decarbonised electricity system will do far more for nature and habitats than any legal appeal to a pylon or overhead line ever could. We cannot afford delays. Delays mean higher consumer bills, more renewable power curtailed and wasted, investment elsewhere, and a prolonged dependence on imported fossil fuels. I also welcome the proposed revision of TEN-E and the move towards more coordinated EU-level grid planning. I know every one of us will hear from our national TSOs and those concerns which they will mention deserve to be taken seriously. But if we want a genuine energy union, we must get away from fragmented grid planning across the EU. Cross-border coordination is essential if we want the most efficient and resilient system. Thank you, Mr. President, and let us continue the good work. Let's make the grid. Good on you.

A Uachtaráin, when Putin invaded Ukraine, he surprised many people in Europe, especially in the West. But we surprised him with the unity in which we responded, particularly in the sanctions being imposed so quickly, the welcoming of unfortunate Ukrainian refugees, but also the speed at which we are moving now to independency on Russia for oil and gas. But even if there was no Putin, we should be doing this anyway, because, as Ursula von der Leyen pointed out in her State of the Union address, dependency means control, means higher prices. So the alternative is what we want. Develop our renewables – we'll be shortly discussing grids – and the grids to go with them so that we can have healthier lives, cheaper energy and, above all, independence. So today is a good day from that point of view, but the sooner we move now to the alternatives that are out there, the wind and the sun, put the grids to make them happen, then we will have true independence and we can forget about Putin.

This is not about blame; this is about being realistic. The plan proposed by the US, in the name of Donald Trump, makes no sense. It's a capitulation. And without the support of Europe – both in terms of taking in refugees and supporting Ukraine in the war – they would have been overrun long ago by Russia. Peace, to be realistic, has to be fair – and particularly fair to those who are suffering. In this instance, it's Ukraine that's suffering. Russia started the war and that mustn't be forgotten.

Madam President, those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Appeasing bullies won't stop wars. Yes, we need a plan to end this war, to end the destruction and the violence. But how we bring that about matters. This is not a surrender: there can be no decisions made without Ukraine and without Europe. Russia does not get to dictate the future security of Ukraine or of Europe. The fundamental principle that borders cannot be changed by force remains paramount, and under no ceasefire agreement should the front lines be frozen where they currently are. Creating peace by granting Russia all its demands is not the way we do business in Europe. To do so would only encourage other authoritarian regimes to attack neighbouring countries in the sure knowledge that, for the sake of peace, they'd be given more land. And as Ursula von der Leyen pointed out, this would lead to more wars in due course. We need a real peace plan, not a capitulation plan. Slava Ukraini!

Mr President, over a year on from the Draghi report, and how are we doing? Not too well, I'm afraid. As Mr Draghi himself warned recently, we need a step change in the EU's action. Competitiveness depends fundamentally on two things: affordable energy and technological leadership. Yet both are being undermined by delays to the infrastructure we urgently need, from power grids to semiconductor foundries. Today, half of the Greek capacity required by 2030 has not yet entered the delivery phase, and even projects that have been approved are facing delays of up to five years because of permitting bottlenecks. This won't cut it. So what needs to change? First, Europe needs a truly coordinated investment and planning strategy for cross-border infrastructure. That includes completing the capital markets union so that European savings can be put to work. Second, we need to cut the red tape holding projects back. We need to reform planning systems to speed up permitting and make it more attractive for private capital to invest. We must redouble our efforts, or else watch as Europe gets left behind. Mr Draghi should do an annual report on each country, rating them from 1 to 27 on how they are performing. As the saying goes, we have to live according to our word.

A Uachtaráin Metsola, a Uachtaráin von der Leyen, affordable housing has become one of the most urgent social and economic challenges across Europe. Just last week, Eurostat reported that house prices in the EU have risen by an average of 53.4 % over the past decade. And in Ireland, that figure sits well above average at a staggering 83.4 %. For many, owning or even renting a home is out of reach. But the housing crisis is also a direct threat to Europe's economy. The shortage of housing is making it increasingly difficult for businesses to attract and retain workers. This exacerbates labour shortages and undermines competitiveness. The upcoming European affordable housing plan is a crucial opportunity to deliver a practical, business-friendly and future-orientated framework; one that mobilises public and private investment, promotes innovation and digitalisation and, above all, simplifies regulation and planning – the bane of our lives. This is our chance to guide the Commission's affordable housing plan. Let us not let the opportunity slip.

A Uachtaráin, I've always been in favour of enlargement. I think when you join a club, you shouldn't close the door behind you, lock it and keep everyone else out. My country has benefited hugely from joining the European Union way back in 1973. Then, of course, we had Brexit. I always felt that the best answer to Brexit is enlargement, and there are many countries that want to join the European Union rather than leave it. But joining also has responsibilities, and I think that is one of the key aspects that we need to emphasise – learning from the obnoxious behaviour of Viktor Orbán in Hungary, utilising the benefits of the European Union, then making himself popular at home by criticising everything the European Union does and voting against anything the European Union wants. So Ursula von der Leyen is right when she says we need to shake off the shackles of unanimity. This is something we should do on a gradual basis – not in everything, because there will be some areas that will be very sensitive for Member States, but certainly you cannot have a situation where Orbán has abused the situation. So we need to look at that.

A Uachtaráin, a chairde, the late John Hume, who won the Nobel Peace Prize for helping to broker the Good Friday Agreement, once said that we must spill sweat and not blood to bring about a brighter future. Just two weeks ago, we celebrated the ceasefire deal brokered by President Trump. Last weekend's events showed just how fragile it is. There is a narrow path to lasting peace in Gaza. It will require enormous restraint from both Israel and Hamas. It will require international partners to apply pressure on them to do so, and to hold each accountable for breaches like those over the weekend. It will require the inclusion of democratic actors like the EU and the UN, to help deliver a surge of aid to Gaza, to set up systems of governance and policing, and to create a credible process towards a two-state solution. There is a path to peace, but all sides – us included – must now spill sweat, not more blood.

Dear President, Without a doubt, there is a terrible war in Ukraine. And at the same time, US President Donald Trump was talking about peace, which Russia has no interest in. The best way to achieve peace is to win the war, and talking about it in the middle of the war, it's like a football team talking about a celebration in the middle of a game. You have to win the game and then you can celebrate it and the best way to achieve peace is for the Ukrainian people to win the war and keep their country. With regard to the various attacks that Russia is carrying out on us, such as drones, cyber-attack messages and disrupting our democracy, we need to urgently develop our infrastructure to protect ourselves from these different Russian attacks. Good on you, Ukraine.

A Uachtaráin, imagine you were stuck under rubble after one of the most deadly earthquakes in Afghanistan's recent history, and you can't be helped because of the Taliban's rule of no skin contact with unrelated males and females. The marginalisation of women in Afghanistan has reached new heights. Bans on women working in NGOs, studying, and restrictions on their travel have massively impacted women's access to healthcare and humanitarian aid. Women also face increased gender-based violence following disasters, brought on by the intense pressure on communities through displacement, loss of livelihoods and more. I applaud the work of organisations such as UN Women, who are doing extraordinary work to help people on the ground. These organisations need financial support, and I urge the world to not turn their backs on the Afghan women and girls, and the organisations dedicated to help them.

A Uachtaráin, a Choimisinéir, climate change is not just about sea levels and storms. It is already shaping the health threats facing Europe. Warmer winters, shifting rainfall patterns and ecological disruption are bringing mosquito- and tick-borne diseases to new regions which are ill-equipped to deal with them. Imagine a summer trip to southern France or even northern Germany, where West Nile virus or Lyme disease are not anomalies, but regular occurrences. Whilst obviously a greater burden for those living in these regions, it will also negatively impact our ability and willingness to travel between countries, undermining a key freedom of the European Union. To keep our continent safe, we must adapt. We need enhanced disease-vector surveillance systems at borders to the EU, along with integration of weather modelling and cross-border disease control. New and dangerous diseases will be commonplace if we do not act swiftly to prepare and defend against their spread.

Dear President, Commissioner, the EU is too slow where speed is needed and too fragmented where unity is vital. Our inability to adapt to a rapidly changing digital landscape has left us dependent on foreign technology, short on investment and, ultimately, strategically and economically exposed. There are two major challenges we must address if we are serious about protecting European digital sovereignty. The first, finance: We need to help our innovative companies scale up. If we can't deliver the same opportunities here that exist in New York and California then our start-ups will go there instead of staying here. I welcome the proposed Scale-Up Europe Fund to pool public and private capital and close the financing gap, but we must be ambitious in funding it. We must also deliver a real savings and investment union, giving our companies access to the capital markets they need to grow and compete globally. The second, regulation: in Washington, the instinct is to drive growth; in Brussels, the instinct is to drive regulation. We need to find the right balance. We urgently need a digital omnibus package to simplify and streamline our regulations and remove overlap and red tape. Finally, we must invest ambitiously in our digital infrastructure to reduce reliance on external providers and shield Europe from geopolitical shocks. Europe has the talent, the capital and the innovative capacity to compete. We must provide our companies with the conditions to do so. That's what I want, Mr. President.

A Uachtaráin, how the narrative changes. A few months ago, we were all dancing to the tune of Donald Trump as he touted his peace initiative in Ukraine. Of course, Russia had no interest whatsoever in peace, as we have learned since. Also, of course, talking about peace in the middle of a war is like a football team talking about celebrations in the middle of a match. The best way to guarantee celebrations is to win the match; the best way to guarantee peace is to win the war. In fairness to the Ukrainians, they are doing a damn good job at it. A three day war, in Putin's eyes, has extended to three years and a lot longer. He has lost 1 111 000 troops and is not making great progress: a kilometre here or a kilometre there. As regards the violations of our airspace, I have one observation: what would happen if we violated Russian or Belarusian airspace? There's our answer – you meet fire with fire. We have got to develop the firepower to do so and Commissioner Kubilius is doing his best to build up our defences. We need to rally around and make sure it happens.

A Uachtaráin, in today's increasingly multipolar and complex world, the European Union benefits from cultivating strong and reliable partnerships in order to continue serving as a global standard‑bearer for liberal democracy. India, soon to be the world's third‑largest economy, stands out as a natural partner in this effort. The strategic agenda and upcoming free trade agreement will help to solidify a diverse and complementary relationship. European farmers and businesses can benefit from India's massive demand for dairy products, digital services and pharmaceuticals, to name but a few areas. Additionally, the planned legal migration pathways in the agenda should be welcomed and used as a template for controlled, skilled migration, which our businesses and health services badly need. Differences remain, including over India's ties with Russia, that provide a further justification for cultivating a closer friendship with India. Protecting Ukraine and protecting Europe remain the top priority, but delivering a strong partnership with India is the most desirable aspiration.

A Uachtaráin, Afghanistan has suffered two earthquakes. One, the geological earthquake, which was devastating, but more devastating was the political earthquake when the Taliban took over, because their attitude to women is animalistic. It's sadistic; it's illogical. To think that any man who was born because of a woman, who has sisters, wives, daughters, etc., can treat women like that is just absolutely abominable. And I think we have to highlight this far more internationally and look at international partners who can put an end to this gender apartheid. In fact, it's a crime against humanity, because it's a crime against women – because from the moment they are born to the moment they die, they are given absolutely no treatment other than disrespect all the way. They have no rights; they have nothing. We've got to stand up, and international partners have to come on board to set a date by which this nonsense has to end.

A Uachtaráin, today marks two years since the massive, violent and brutal attacks on Israeli citizens and the taking of 251 hostages. We will remember the victims and their families, as well as the innocent civilians of Gaza, who continue to suffer as collateral in this conflict. Yesterday's talks in Egypt on President Trump's Gaza peace plan offered a glimmer of hope. The plan centres around urgency and immediate results. No doubt – there is urgency, but enforced starvation, especially of little children, must never be used as a bargaining tool. Any plan must ensure a sustainable future in Gaza. I welcome the commitment to Gaza's redevelopment and Israel's withdrawal from the strip – a vital step towards a ceasefire and a two-state solution. But we also need guarantees to stop annexation and settler violence in the West Bank, to protect Palestinians from further harm and demand accountability for violations on both sides. True peace will only come when the hostages are released, both peoples are treated with equal dignity, equal security and equal rights. The sooner, the better.

Mr President, Europe is made up of big countries and small countries, and often the small countries think the big countries dominate and yet we have one of the biggest countries – the United Kingdom – leaving the European Union under the pretext of a lack of sovereignty, which they are now beginning to realise is a mistake. On the contrary, small countries can make a huge contribution and you, yourself, being President of the Parliament, like Pat Cox from Ireland, shows that, as do, for instance, David O'Sullivan and Catherine Day becoming Secretary-Generals of the European Commission. Then, of course, we have Robert Schuman, the father of Europe, and Jean-Claude Juncker, who became President of the Commission and had a very successful tenure. And indeed, it should not be forgotten that it was under Jean-Claude Juncker that the Juncker Plan was introduced, which revolutionised investment financing in the European Union, which helped us get over the economic crisis. So big or small, we can be very successful. As the Prime Minister of Luxembourg said: Ireland, Luxembourg and the EU forever. Ireland, Luxembourg and Europe forever.

A Uachtaráin, a Choimisinéir, 'I sacrifice my body to alert the world to the injustice we are experiencing. This fight is not just mine. It is that of all those who refuse arbitrariness. I urge you not to look away.' I open with the words of Abdoul Aziz Goma, an Irish citizen currently arbitrarily detained in Lomé in Togo. His crime? Hosting peaceful protesters calling for democratic reforms in Togo. After six years in pre-trial detention, Abdoul was sentenced to ten years in prison in a one-day trial that made a mockery of justice. Years of torture have left their mark on Abdoul's body to the point that he has lost the use of his legs. Prisoners in Lomé prison are beaten, electrocuted and denied medical care. They must sleep sitting up due to the severe overcrowding. Many die in silence. But Abdoul Aziz Goma will not be silenced. His hunger strike, which began on 27 August, is a message to us, to Europe, and to all who believe in justice, democracy and human rights, to not let him down. We will not let him down. We will not look away. We call on the Togolese authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Abdoul Aziz Goma and all arbitrarily detained political prisoners in Togo.