Speeches

A Uachtaráin, Commissioner, the General Product Safety Regulation is an important regulation that directly impacts the lives of every EU citizen by ensuring that all products sold in the European Union are safe for consumers. The GPSR has allowed European consumers to trust the products they buy, particularly for high-risk products, such as toys for our children and electrical appliances. Although the GPSR has had an overall positive effect, we shouldn’t ignore enforcement challenges and the fact that some dangerous products can still make their way onto the market. The market is constantly changing, and regulation must evolve with it. I am happy that specific attention has been paid to the need to provide appropriate support for SMEs. In addition, it is positive that a repair, replacement or an adequate refund will always be proposed for customers. The General Product Safety Regulation is an important piece of legislation, and I support all efforts to ensure it fits today’s marketplace.

Lord, you are still here, God bless you. And finally, congratulations to Clare Daly, for speaking in Irish and having a happy St. Patrick's Day for you all tomorrow. Thank you very much. So the recently published staff working document on the fitness check of the animal welfare legislation is an important step in the ongoing review of the animal welfare legislation. New legislative proposals must use the most up-to-date scientific knowledge, and it was good to hear Commissioner McGuinness say that is the intention for forthcoming legislation. The EU has had high standards in its animal welfare practice for over 40 years. Improving animal welfare results in better animal health and consequently can help safeguard biodiversity. Ireland has made significant progress in this regard. Good animal welfare is an integral part of beef farming, and Irish farmers have been exemplary in maintaining this practice. I would also like to highlight that it should be recognised that significant financial supports will be required to facilitate new animal welfare requirements. Animal welfare can be best guaranteed when farmers have the right tools and financial incentives. And finally, congratulations to Clare Daly, for speaking in Irish and having a happy St. Patrick's Day for you all tomorrow.

A Uachtaráin, the title of this is pleasing: save bees and farmers. Because I have a feeling if it was a few years ago, it would be ‘save bees’, with no reference to farmers. Now we recognise clearly that they are interdependent. You can’t save one without the other. In fairness to the new CAP, it does try and support farmers in this regard because the space for nature and biodiversity measures reward farmers for helping to create a better environment for all bees and all other aspects in nature. And as a result, of course, we hope we will have more bees buzzing about Europe accordingly. However, I would like to address one point made by MEP Avram, from S&D, when she said Argentina and Brazil were doubling the use of their pesticides. Now, if we’re going to do deals with those, that has to be taken into account, and I think the Commission should look carefully and analyse what she said and establish the facts.

A Uachtaráin, this report for Economic Policy Coordination outlines the European Parliament’s contribution to the annual European Semester cycle, very supportive. The report describes the economic risks Member States are facing and highlights the necessary steps to alleviate these challenges. The report recognises the risks of a high debt-to-GDP ratio in Member States, and that the recent increase in interest rates makes debt servicing an ongoing and heightened challenge. Parliament’s report concurs with the Commission’s recommendations on the need for support measures to be targeted, and that prudent medium-term fiscal positions must be pursued. The adopted report highlights the need to have proper enforcement of fiscal rules and a strong role for independent fiscal institutions. In essence, the report reiterates that robust economic growth, sound fiscal policies and a healthy balance between government revenues and expenditure are necessary to reduce legacy debt and make debt sustainable in the long run.

Mr President, this offer calls on Member States today to make the minimum national income fit for the at-risk-of-poverty rate. The offer sets out ways that Member States can use to reform their income schemes to make them more effective, helping people out of poverty and contributing to the integration of the labour market for those who can work. Without reforming a national minimum income, the offer puts emphasis on an individual property test compared to a household property test. In addition, training, the availability of emergency services and the activity of job markets are assessed including the minimum income. This proposal must also safeguard the competence of the Member States.

Mr President, I would like to say firstly, I am surprised that the EPP did not have a speaker on the Cambodian discussion. As rapporteur for ASEAN, I met the opposition, Sam Rainsy, and the delegation today and I would have been willing to speak. Apropos this topic, Lukashenko’s regime in Belarus has continued its repression against the Belarusian people, with civil society representatives, human rights defenders, journalists and opposition activists being persecuted for purely political reasons. Criminal persecution and draconian laws remain one of the most severe and widespread forms of repression in Lukashenko’s totalitarian state. More than 40 000 Belarusians are estimated to have been detained while protesting against this tyrannical regime, while human rights defenders have documented hundreds of cases of torture and ill treatment, with several people still missing and others having been found dead and, unfortunately, thousands having fled the country. The show trial of journalist Andrzej Poczobut and the manufactured charges against Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski are an absolute abomination. This is terrible and we have to condemn it.

Mr President, once again we are witnessing the Iranian regime’s vicious repression of its women. In September, Iranian security forces repeatedly used violence and intimidation to silence women and girls peacefully protesting the regime’s anti-women policies. We are now contending with what could be potentially one of the most heinous and inhumane acts of systemic abuse against Iranian women. The distressing reports of the serial poisonings of school girls across Iran call for prompt action and independent investigation. The regime’s weak response to the situation sends a clear message that Iran does not listen to its women. I also call on the EU to increase increased technical and capacity support to Iranian civil society. Women are equal to men and education is a fundamental right. There should be zero tolerance for any attempt to infringe on this right.

Mr President, the European Union is a great project guaranteeing equality for nations and for citizens. But there’s one thing to guarantee it in law, it’s another thing to put it into practice. And this is the nub of the problem. Too many groups in the European Union, be they people with disabilities, minority groups because of sexual orientation, religious beliefs, Travellers, as my colleague Maria Walsh mentioned, in my own country, feel that they’re being discriminated against, and it’s time to stop it. And I compliment the Swedish Presidency for trying to move this forward, unblocking something that has been blocked since 2008. Sweden is a modern, progressive country, and hopefully they can make progress on this. And finally, I would say, as we look to the east, with Putin showing total disregard for human life in Ukraine, we should move in the opposite direction and ensure absolute equality, both in law and in practice, for all our people in the European Union. That would be a great thing to do.

Mr President, I think this is a very important discussion. I enjoyed listening to the debates, and everybody is united that we must do everything we can to have proper, legitimate adoption procedures and, above all, to give support to those who want to adopt. I believe that there are thousands of prospective parents, adoptive parents, in Europe who would do so if they were given the guidance and if we got rid of some of the regulations and the long procedures. But it has to be done, of course, in accordance with the Hague Convention, as has been mentioned, so that children are going into good, happy homes. I have friends of mine who have adopted children from abroad. They have grown up in very happy homes and some of them are very successful. I think if we had the right campaign and particularly giving information to prospective adoptive parents across Europe, we could do an awful lot for children who otherwise would finish up in very vulnerable, exploitative situations.

Madam President, this mandate thus far has been marked by our commitment to climate change, which is good. So we have net zero emissions, we have Fit for 55 with the Green Deal, etc. But that also has led to headlines across Europe saying the EU is forcing us to do this and forcing us to do that. Now, I would like to see the rest of this mandate being dedicated to highlighting the supports we can give to Member states and businesses in dealing with this challenge so that the headlines would be the EU is helping us to reach our climate goals and at the same time maintaining or improving our competitiveness. That is absolutely vital from now on to change the narrative. And also, of course, I am wondering what has happened to InvestEU. In the last mandate known as the Juncker Fund, it was hugely successful in generating finance and jobs, etc. We hear nothing about it now. We need to hear more about these instruments so people can see that the EU is supporting them in reaching the Climate change goals.

Mr President, into the breach comes Kelly. I welcome the political agreement on the Windsor Framework and commend particularly Vice—President Šefčovič and his team on achieving this result, which is the product of much effort and patience. The new arrangements address the real—life concerns of citizens and businesses in Northern Ireland, while also ensuring that the EU single market is protected through a number of safeguards. It is a balanced agreement, grounded on an understanding of trust between the EU and the UK – trust which I hope we can continue to build on as we move forward. I support, in particular, the efforts made by the Commission to give Northern Irish politicians and stakeholders a voice in the governance of the Protocol, especially through the Stormont Brake. This is an important and welcome development. Now the focus turns to making this agreement a reality. In the Parliament here, I think we will take the necessary steps to implement the new arrangements as swiftly and as effectively as possible. But we will also need political will and responsible leadership, especially from the DUP, in order to make the agreement effective. I hope that can be achieved. As we approach the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, I sincerely hope to see the Windsor Framework implemented and to return to power—sharing in Northern Ireland. Stability and certainty will allow citizens and businesses to avail of the economic opportunities that the new agreement provides for Northern Ireland, and ensure that the next 25 years will be as much about prosperity as the last 25 years was about peace. It is time that we put these long and drawn—out discussions on the Protocol behind us. I hope now that we can move forward with a constructive and forward—looking EU-UK relationship. And again, thanks to all involved and especially, once again, Commissioner Šefčovič, who was outstanding all through this process.

Madam President, in my first mandate, I had the privilege of being a rapporteur for the GDPR, which was all about protecting people’s data. Now things have moved on, and it’s really about utilising data for people’s advantage. Speakers mentioned that 80% of our industrial data is not utilised. So, there is a challenge there to make us competitive and I’m sure Commissioner Breton will be addressing that in every way he can. Also, later on today, we will be voting on the EPBD about refurbishing buildings. Data is going to play a huge part there in reducing emissions so that consumers can use data to use their appliances at the optimum time and thus reduce their electricity bills and also, of course, reduce emissions. Also, data on the household stock in general will be very important in encouraging financial institutions to make green mortgages available. So, hopefully we can utilise the data to the best advantage of our citizens.

, Commissioner, I’m pleased I left home at 02.00 this morning to get here for this debate and previously for the EPP discussion on the same. The energy crisis has shown us how vulnerable Europe is to sudden energy price hikes. Even after this crisis is over, gas prices will remain significantly higher than before 2022. The new normal will hit the pockets of people in the worst performing buildings up to 10 times harder than in energy efficient buildings. I have heard from colleagues that the expansion of the ETS and an upscaling of renewable energy should be enough. But alone these are not enough or technically feasible to reach our 2030 and 2050 climate goals. Only complemented by increased renovations and structural measures in the building sector can we do this. And that is what the EPBD is designed to do. Yet the EPBD should not be a one-size-fits-all approach as buildings do not move across borders. Therefore, it is right that Member States have sufficient degrees of flexibility to ensure cost effectiveness, particularly when it comes to EV infrastructure. Colleagues are right that this will take massive investment, and I have been encouraged to see the interest and the engagement of the financial sector. It is fundamental that we get proper access to finance for people and I think we have achieved this in the EPBD. The real enforcement mechanism will be, of course, the market itself. The EPBD is as much about asset protection as it is about climate change, where investments see tangible and predictable returns. Lastly, the EPBD also holds the significant added value of job creation if implemented: 18 000 long-term secure jobs will be created for every billion invested in energy efficiency, for example. These are very important facts. Finally, I urge you all to vote in favour of this very important file tomorrow.

Madam President, a Uachtaráin, first point, the terrible invasion by Russia on Ukraine has not only shown that we are too dependent on Russia for our energy supply, but even more so on Russia and Belarus for fertilizers. This has to stop, so we need to import less and produce more. Second point, because fertilizers have now doubled almost in price, we need an emergency financial package for farmers, the same as former Commissioner Phil Hogan did when there was a milk crisis a few years ago. And thirdly, we need to reduce fertilizer use. And I think work being done by research bodies like Teagasc under director Frank O’Mara in Ireland are doing wonderful work in that regard. For instance, promoting protected urea instead of CAN, better use of organic fertilizers, and of course promoting alternative crops and scientific production methods which require less fertilizers. Do those three things and will be a long way to pleasing our farmers and helping them.

Madam President, I would like to thank the rapporteurs, as well as President Lagarde for her work, particularly in the ECB’s interest in the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) for which I am rapporteur. Inflation driven by high energy costs demonstrates the need for the ECB to further incentivise renovations in order to fulfil its price stability mandate. Buildings are the EU’s most valuable financial assets, worth tens of trillions of euros. In my view, the EPBD is as much about assets and investment protection as it is climate change, as low EPC—rated buildings will be less valuable. The reality is that public money will only stretch so far. There need to be much stronger links between the financial and the renovation sectors, as access to finance is one of the main barriers for people and businesses as they try to renovate. In this regard, President Lagarde, what is your view on the proposed European Renovation Loan and the European Guarantee Fund for Building Renovations, as well as on incentivising commercial banks to provide renovation solutions?

A Uachtaráin, there are nearly 13.7 million EU citizens residing in a Member State other than that of their own nationality. The right of those EU citizens to vote in European Parliament elections has been enshrined in EU treaties for decades. Nevertheless, these citizens face a number of barriers in exercising this important EU right. This proposal will ensure EU citizens are able to exercise their EU right to vote and stand as a candidate in European elections in the EU country they are residing in under the same conditions as nationals of that country. This includes accessible information, a straightforward registration process and the effective exchange of information between Member States with the aim of preventing multiple voting. And of course it also requires that information on registration and voting is provided in all official languages, including in Gaeilge. This proposal will also ensure unnecessary obstacles to accessing voting booths and polling stations are addressed. A good proposal.

Mr President, in response to the hardships and global energy market disruptions caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the EU introduced the REPowerEU Plan. REPowerEU is a plan to: saving energy, generating clean energy, and diversifying our energy supplies. This plan aims to strengthen and diversify the EU’s current energy supplies to make Europe independent from Russian fossil fuels well before 2030. Over time, the clean energy transition will help lower energy prices as well as reduce import dependency. It is supported by financial and legal measures to build the new energy infrastructure and system that Europe needs.

A Uachtaráin, satellite infrastructure plays a vital role in ensuring seamless communication in a digital society. Under this proposal, the Union Secure Connectivity Programme provides for a satellite communication infrastructure that is secure, flexible and resilient for EU Member States and citizens. This proposal will also ensure EU citizens receive a fit—for—purpose mobile and broadband satellite service, including improved internet connection for remote and rural areas. To do this, this proposal establishes an EU satellite constellation of an estimated 200 satellites and will serve as the EU’s first dedicated infrastructure to offer satellite communication services to governments, the economy and civil society: a fair achievement. This is a key step in ensuring an EU space-based secure communication system that seeks to meet the needs of modern society. These changes will be based on the latest innovative technologies in creating a new space ecosystem, and this proposal forms a key part of the EU’s space package.

A Uachtaráin, maintaining a high level of confidence among citizens in European Union institutions is imperative, and anyone who holds public office should meet high ethical standards. Unfortunately, the scandals that have emerged in recent months have diminished the confidence and trust that EU citizens have in the EU institutions and in the EU project. While ethics standards already exist within the institutions. Recent events have revealed shortcomings and suggest that we need a broader framework to ensure compliance and adherence to ethics. There must be clearer rules for lobbyists, for lobbyists becoming politicians, or vice versa, to avoid conflicts of interest. An independent ethics body could indeed provide important guidance in this regard and help ensure that EU institutions are better able to efficiently respond to breaches of ethics rules. Indeed, we need high ethical standards with effective measures to ensure citizens’ trust in our institutions. However, an inter-institutional ethics body must respect the defined competences of each institution and advisory body and their corresponding role in the framework of the system of checks and balances laid out in the Treaties. An EU ethics body could greatly assist in harmonising ethics rules in the institutions, providing tools and improving the system in general. However, to be sustainable, it needs to ensure it sticks to the task at hand and remains non-political and has broad support across this House. It is also important that the approval process of the European Commission remains a duty of the European Parliament as it is legitimated by the citizens.

A Uachtaráin, the Russian leadership has shown its cruelty towards the Ukrainian people, engaging in war crimes as part of its standard operations on a daily basis. But not only this: they have also shown a complete indifference to their own soldiers, sending wave after wave as cannon fodder to their deaths. I voted in favour of this resolution for many reasons. I support Ukraine’s independence and sovereignty, and the need to increase humanitarian aid to Ukraine, and I join calls for the upcoming EU—Ukraine Summit to prioritise a recovery package for Ukraine. However, I would like to underline my support for Ireland’s longstanding policy of military neutrality. As a nation we are not politically neutral when it comes to Russia’s illegal and barbaric war against Ukraine. We do not oppose and would not seek to block other EU Member States from providing military assistance, which is badly needed, to help Ukraine defend itself. Slava Ukraini!

Mr President, I support this own-initiative report, which calls for an ambitious revision of the European Works Council Directive. This is a long-awaited review. This directive offers an important opportunity to promote a transnational and pan-European economy that works for all. I welcome this measured report which seeks to adapt the European Works Council Directive in a targeted manner. This balances the interests of both employers and employees. This week, there have been major strikes in the UK, which have not been seen in recent years. Therefore, I hope that there will be no such thing in the EU and this review will help prevent this, not only in my country as Wallace and Daly MEPs said, but across the whole of Europe.

A Uachtaráin, I was happy to vote in favour of this report on the transparency and targeting of political advertising. The report aims to make it easier for citizens to recognise a political advertisement, to know what they are seeing and who paid for it. One of our greatest challenges today is the fight against disinformation and external interferences to our democratic processes while maintaining the openness of the public debate. This legislation will help make manipulative online political advertising a thing of the past. It will also make political actors more accountable for the adverts they disseminate, and when rules are broken better sanctions may be imposed across the EU. The political sphere is constantly evolving and political advertising is becoming an ever more important dimension of it. Once this legislation is in force, we hope that elections in the EU will be more transparent and resistant to manipulation.

Mr President, investing around a set of principles, rather than investing solely profit-oriented, is not a new idea. This idea goes back as far as the creation of the concept of investment itself. Today, it is well understood that we need to be mindful and cautious about the climate and social conditions of employees. As a result, the functions of the project for investment management have changed. However, research has shown that this change is inevitable. There is not much difference between investment care and investment care. It is difficult to determine whether companies are doing the right thing and doing the right thing. The red apple is often bad in their hearts. The research results published by an international media group in November are disappointing. More than 50% of these funds are still traded in some EU countries. They are still investing in fossil fuels, aviation, or highly polluting activities. On top of that, they are linked to child labor. These funds must comply with Article 9 of the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation. Unfortunately, they are not and obviously there is a hole and gap in the Regulations. To achieve the aims of the Green Deal, we need to put in place practical measures that define what sustainable investment means. It must be clear what is meant by what is green and what is not green. There can be no ambiguity anymore. When investment funds declare sustainable, they must also be sustainable and display transparent information. The effects of ‘greenwashing’ are detrimental to our society and environment. Those who are making invasive efforts and want to show respect for the environment and governance are wronged. As the investment funds play a crucial role, I urge the Commission to deal with this problem functionally and swiftly. Everyone must be honest and ethical. In conclusion, Paul Tang, the author, was highly commended for bringing this oral question to the attention of the Parliament and the Commission.

A Uachtaráin, Commissioner, with the pandemic, and now Putin’s callous war on Ukraine and even Brexit, it’s clear that the global environment is becoming increasingly fractured. As Europe faces increasing economic and security challenges, building sustainable partnerships based on shared values is key for the EU’s standing in the global environment. Yet over the last decade, other global powers have developed vast networks of trade, transport hubs and energy routes, as well as digital infrastructure all over the world, extending their global influence like roots deepening in the soil. For this reason I welcome the Commission’s presentation of the Global Gateway initiative. Through this initiative the EU can work to strengthen our global partnerships on a platform of shared values and with the objective of promoting European priorities in digital, climate, transport and health policy. It is welcome that the Commission is now approaching its international partnerships with a strategic mindset. I particularly welcome the facts of the focus on supporting climate mitigation in low— and middle—income countries. I attended COP 27 late last year, and the topic of climate mitigation and loss and damage was high on the agenda. The Commission’s intention to invest in clean energy and green technology in developing countries can also provide us in the EU with the opportunity to diversify our energy supply chains and move away from fossil fuel imports. Another point I would like to emphasise is the promotion of connectivity with the ASEAN countries. As a member of the ASEAN Delegation, I understand the potential EU—ASEAN partnerships provide. Asia is home to the world’s largest populations and fastest—growing economies. Deepening relations with this bloc will strengthen economic resilience, grow competitiveness and diversify our supply chains.

Yes, fair point. Obviously the EPP has a very good approach to industrial development and ensuring that jobs are a priority. One of the points often made by our leader Manfred Weber is ‘jobs, jobs, jobs’. But obviously conditions have to come with those jobs, and obviously there is a responsibility both on employers and employees. And I think by having this working directive, where we all agree on what should be done, that is very clear in relation to people’s rights, then that will be absolutely a positive. Sanctions may or may not be necessary, but that would be a last resort. Everybody knows the key to good industrial relations is to have a good relationship, to sit down and negotiate and come to an agreement. I’ve seen that in Ireland over the last number of years, and it has worked very well. If there’s mutual respect – that’s the key: mutual respect between workers and employers – then I think we will have a very good situation in Ireland and in the rest of Europe.