Speeches

A Uachtaráin, I thank my colleagues for this timely report. The mobilisation of funds through the RePowerEU chapters of the Recovery and Resilience Facility, will provide Member States with much—needed financial support to achieve our energy diversification goals. Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine and the ensuing energy crisis in Europe has shown that we must end our dependency on Russian energy supplies and ramp up homegrown renewables. In Ireland, one million homes have the roof space and orientation suitable for the installation of up to ten solar panels. This could translate into 8 % of Ireland’s renewable energy targets. We take this opportunity to harness the potential of renewable technologies. The benefits from a climate and energy security perspective would be immense. I thank my colleagues Mr Mureşan, etc., for the good job they have done.

Madam President, I voted in favour of this report. Higher EU ambition on cybersecurity and in protecting critical infrastructure is vital. Recent incidents have revealed the fragility of the EU’s infrastructure and emphasised the danger of cyberattacks, including the sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines and last year’s massive cyberattack on the health system in my own country. European critical entities are more interconnected and interdependent, which makes them stronger and more efficient, but sadly also more vulnerable. In the case of an incident, a common level of cybersecurity in the EU is crucial for the functioning of the internal market. We must take the necessary steps to harmonise our internal market and improve cybersecurity throughout the EU. I was pleased to vote in favour of this report, like many others in the Parliament.

Mr President, I was pleased to vote in favour of the report on this important amending regulation organised by my colleagues Gearailt and Ó Céileachair from Ireland. The Digital Operational Resilience act is important to ensure that the necessary safeguards are in place in the provision of financial services to mitigate cyberattacks and other ICT-related risks. Cyberattacks are real dangers today. One occurred in Ireland last year when a ransomware attack was carried out on the Health Service Employability. This has had a wide-ranging and long-lasting impact to respond to the subsequent high financial burden on tax payers. Legislation is a step in the right direction to ensure that our e-systems are protected.

, Madam Commissioner, we must listen to those affected and recognise that racism, xenophobia and discrimination are still prevalent in the EU across all Member States. Research from the European Union Fundamental Rights Agency has shown that racism comes in various forms, and unfortunately, harassment and discrimination remain a harsh reality in the daily lives of ethnic minorities and marginalised groups across Europe. The EU has taken action through its anti-racism action plan, and many sports organisations, including my own, the GAA in Ireland, have introduced programmes such as Show Racism the Red Card. It is vital we do not lose momentum in the fight against racism. The EU needs to develop a comprehensive approach to tackle all forms of racism and discrimination and to ensure that measures to combat racism are implemented effectively. European values and freedoms should pertain to all people of every race and ethnic group. Our motto has always to be ‘equality, not superiority’. Let’s show racism the red card.

A Uachtaráin, as I say, at the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference in Egypt, which I am grateful to be attending, it is paramount that an agreement of continued cooperation, and support, is reached to ensure we limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. COP 27 comes at a time of great significance with the energy crisis across Europe. The impact of climate change can also be seen following the recent flooding and extreme rain, even in my own constituency in Cork. COP 27 will need to ensure sustainable climate finance, a significant transition to renewable energies and the protection of our ecosystems, while also ensuring an affordable and secure energy source for households, farmers, commuters and industry. We must ensure investment in research, innovation and digital technology to support the energy transition. There is untapped and undeveloped potential in many facets of energy generation in Europe, most notably solar, biogas, offshore wind, as well as green hydrogen.

A Uachtaráin, today I voted to strongly condemn the growing level of hate crimes against the LGBTQI community in Europe. This comes in light of the brutal and unjustified murder of two young men in Slovakia by far—right and radicalised gunmen. No person should ever feel threatened or unsafe as a result of their sexual orientation. That is why today I stand as an ally with the LGBTQ community and I call for an end to hate—fuelled rhetoric and violence. We all have a role in ensuring respect and decency towards every person in our community. The hatred fuelled by the far right and homophobic groups has led to fear, violence and terror. We must put an end to this intolerance and intimidation. Human dignity is a fundamental human right that every person deserves. The malicious attack in Slovakia, killing two young men, as well as the growing number of hate crimes, go directly against this value. Today, we reaffirm our commitment to human dignity. We condemn all heinous murders motivated by hatred and prejudice.

A Uachtaráin, journalists play a crucial and significant role in ensuring the transparency, accountability and openness of our political institutions. The murder of anti-corruption investigative journalist Daphne Galizia five years ago is a scar on the face of democracy. I therefore welcome the resolution denouncing persistent flaws with the rule of law in Malta. I would also like to commend my colleague David Casa for his continued work in championing this topic and resolution. Today’s resolution reaffirms the European Parliament’s calls for Malta to fight against corruption and ensure the freedom of the press is enforced and guaranteed. Malta must also ensure that the rule of law – a key European value – is upheld. The European Union is built on democratic values, the rule of law, and the freedom of the press. The heinous murder of Daphne five years ago goes against all of these values. Ensuring the true freedom of the press means ensuring the protection of our democracy.

, we have entered a new and pivotal phase of the callous and unnecessary war in Ukraine. I think everybody knows that the war could be over tomorrow if war criminal Putin wished it so. Europe’s reaction to the war is, of course, multifaceted. But I am glad that MEPs Buşoi and Carvalho have raised this particular aspect. As has been pointed out, the EU higher education and research community has expressed a strong support for the Ukrainian research and innovative sector. I welcome the steps taken to ensure Ukrainian entities are eligible for a rise in Europe funding, and it is positive to see the European Innovation Council announce 20 million of support for Ukrainian start—ups. I also warmly welcome the MSCA4Ukraine initiative, which provides 25 million to support fellowships for Ukrainian PhD students and postdocs. I hope this scheme can get up and running as soon as possible. Yet, in line with MEPs Buşoi and Carvalho, I also believe that more action can be taken. Ukrainian research infrastructure is under extreme pressure with the war. The Commission should investigate how further to support these people under the EU—Ukraine Association Agreement. With rockets continuing to destroy Ukrainian cities, indiscriminately targeting schools, universities, hospitals and research infrastructure, such as the National Gene Bank of Plants, and the death toll of scientists increasing, Ukraine needs a coordinated approach to save its research community. The situation in Afghanistan also comes to mind, but academics have been forced into exile or hiding by the Taliban, who require full societal obedience to their dogmatic and oppressive views. In this regard, I would like to highlight the good work done by the Scholars at Risk network, in particular Europe Director Sinead O’Connor, who is based in Maynooth University in Ireland. Maith thú a Shinéad! Go raibh maith agat.

Thank you very much for the question. As we pointed out, and my colleagues as well, we want to have sustainable fishing. We want to protect the marine areas. But it must be done, first of all, on up—to—date data. That is not the position as of now. Secondly, if you ban fishing from these waters by Irish and other fishers from the European Union, there’s going to be a shortage of food, as my colleague Mr Millán Mon pointed out, and therefore we are going to be importing it from other countries who do not have the same standards, who do not have the same sustainability and who are actually taking fish from our waters. So we have to protect our own group first and we must consult with those who are most involved, and that’s the fishers. And if they are happy with it, then we move ahead, because if it is in their interest, as you are pointing out, then why would they be going against it?

A Uachtaráin, the EU has the world’s largest maritime area, with a coastline approximately 68 000 kilometres long. Ireland, a small island on the edge of Europe, has one of the largest sea-to-land ratios of any EU Member State. With the ocean an ever-present feature of Irish life, we hold huge value and huge respect for the sea around our island. It is a source of beauty, activity and economy for our coastal communities. Given the importance of the sea to our livelihood, we must protect our vulnerable marine ecosystems. Deep-sea ecosystems are unique hotspots for marine biodiversity, in particular because species in deep-sea areas are uniquely vulnerable to overfishing. Their long lifespans means a significant time is needed to replenish their stock. In this regard, the sustainable conservation of vulnerable marine ecosystems is essential. However, ‘sustainability’ is the operative word here, and for this reason, I welcome the opportunity to consider the social and economic consequences of the Commission’s Implementing Regulation. While conservation efforts are essential, so too is the need to protect the fair living standards of Ireland’s fishing communities. We must ensure that our conservation efforts are environmentally, economically and socially sustainable. When implementing this regulation, I call on the Commission to have due regard for the unique circumstances of coastal communities and the fishing industry. Adequate consultation with fishing communities and the use of the most recent data is essential when classifying areas as vulnerable marine ecosystems. A socio-economic assessment should be factored into any Commission decision before drastic measures are taken. As an example, I would like to highlight that Irish fishermen suffered considerably post—Brexit, losing access to UK ports and waters. As we move forward with marine conservation efforts, it is important that we are mindful of the broader economic context in which these decisions are taken. I call on the Commission to consider this in their implementation activities.

Mr President, culture plays a special role in the harmony of our global society. It is important to bring people together. Culture can create a connection between different people from different tribes regardless of the differences between them. As we have seen with the European Union, we can overcome cultural differences and connect with people from different cultures in a meaningful way. Putin's war has caused a lot of disaster for Ukraine. As we know, many lives have been lost as a result of the war, but that is not enough for ugly Putin. On top of that, it aims to destroy Ukrainian identity and culture. It won't stop until it loses everything. Russia is destroying Ukraine’s heritage culture and cultural property as part of its strategic method to end Ukraine’s independence. I welcome the Commission’s efforts to support artists and cultural professionals fleeing the war. I also acknowledge the Commission’s cultural support in the Member States. Cultural associations in the Member States are doing excellent work to ensure the integration of Ukrainian refugees into our community. By sharing culture, I hope that we will be able to welcome the Ukrainian people who are escaping the violent. With this in mind, I hope that they will join us. We need to support local and regional cultural societies. As a result, we need to invest in these associations on a foundational basis so that we can see the benefits.

Mr. President, first of all, warmly welcome my friend Tony Murphy, who took up his duties as the new Court of Auditors President earlier this month. I'm very happy with you today, Tony. I look forward to your presidency. The 2021 annual report covers an enormous amount of work and topics. This year, for the first time, the ECA covered the Recovery and Resilience Facility, the main component of the EU’s 800 billion Next Generation EU package. The auditors have also outlined the key findings regarding revenue and the many areas of spending under the EU budget and the European Development Fund. One of the main purposes of the ECA is to highlight shortcomings in the management of EU funds. Last year was an extraordinary case, where the EU took bold action in relation to common financing mechanisms. The work of the ECA ensures that risks and challenges for the EU's finances are managed effectively. It is vital for the functioning of the EU to have a full view of risks in relation to EU funds. Good luck to you, Tony, and your colleagues.

Mr President, A Uachtaráin. These are special times from a climate and energy perspective. The decisions to be taken at COP27 will shape climate and energy policies and have an impact on all of us. With worrying peaks of energy poverty affecting vulnerable families, small businesses and local authorities all over the EU, we must act urgently. Making our energy system independent of Russian fossil fuels and fossil fuels in general is the big challenge. An acceleration of what is the most important legislation in the current mandate, the Fit for 55 package, is top priority. It is vital that Fit for 55 is adopted as a unit in order to show the strong leadership and commitment of the EU and its Member States to ambitiously contribute to closing the gap necessary to limit global warming. I am happy to be travelling to Egypt as part of the ITRE delegation. We need to act urgently and move from commitments to results. We need to act now.

Mr President, Putin’s armed forces have underwhelmed. But he retains a strong grip on energy supply, for now. He will try to weaponise the winter to weaken resolve and support for Ukraine. The EU and Member States must introduce a range of measures and supports to help households and businesses and protect citizens from the worsening energy price hikes. Immediate actions of the energy crisis should not be at the detriment of the future needs of our energy system. Yet the market should be for the benefit of society, not siphon the life from it. It is only right to apply a windfall charge to actually give that money back to citizens. To reduce energy bills for consumers in the longer term, the answer is clear: embrace the energy efficiency principle and get renovating the built environment. But for now, the windfall profits being made by producers and, above all, by traders of the energy system must be subjected to storm force taxes. These astronomical and immoral profits must be taxed as soon as possible.

Mr President, I do not know if there is an interpretation in Irish for this session or not, therefore, in case I do not, I will ask the Commission my question in English at the end. Clearly, the pandemic has shown us that it is much better to cooperate at European level than to have each country go their own way and it is good that we see this collaboration at the beginning of the pandemic, both in terms of taking a stance against Putin and his illegal war in Ukraine. Also, while Joe Biden said, COVID-19 is over, it is not over, and it is important that we urge our citizens to be vigilant, especially when winter is coming, as COVID is much worse in winter than in summer. And now my question. MEP Trillet—Lenoir said we need an international treaty on pandemics. I would like to ask the Commission, do they believe in that and, if so, what progress is being made to ensure that comes about?

Mr President, current affairs in Haiti have completely disappeared from control and order. Parents don't want to send their children to school. There is a shortage of energy and clean water. In addition to the bad, hospitals, banks and shops are struggling to keep their doors open. Political instability has worsened since the assassination of President Haiti last year. In addition, inflation of almost 30% has exacerbated the problem. About 40% of Port-au-Prince are in charge of crime gangs and are killing hundreds of Haiti and the police are unable to control the gangs. I appeal to the Haitian authority to exercise attentive oversight over an honest and fair election. They need to ensure democratic integrity and put an end to this chaotic policy.

A Uachtaráin, the climate crisis is increasingly affecting the lives of millions of people across the world. This year, Pakistan endured extreme weather conditions: from its heat wave in March and April, to the devastating floods in June. Pakistan was one of the country’s worst affected by climate change in the first years of this century. This climate-induced crisis has come on top of an ongoing political and economic crisis. After the heaviest monsoons in over a century, 1 600 people lost their lives and approximately 13 000 people were injured, in addition to the millions of homes lost. The floods have also had a devastating effect on Pakistan’s agriculture, which plays a central role in the country’s economy. It is essential that the EU stand with the people of Pakistan, a country with which we have strong bilateral relations for over 60 years. I welcome the funding and supports that have been provided already. Europe has offered humanitarian funding, provided medical aid and exported essential equipment, such as water pumps and hygiene kits. I would like to make a broader point. In Europe our primary focus is on the unjust war in Ukraine and the resulting energy crisis, which poses immediate and acute dangers. Climate change, on the other hand, has not gone away. It poses an existential problem for the human race, and the effects are plain to see.

A Uachtaráin, the war in Ukraine and the COVID—19 pandemic have caused huge disruptions to global supply chains, exposed European vulnerabilities, and shown that, now more than ever, the EU needs to diversify our trading routes and develop new partners. However, diversification should not come at the expense of other EU policy goals that ensure that producers and trading countries abide by environmental and labour standards similar to those standards, that producers within the EU follow progressive labour and social rights globally, and that protect the commercial activity of businesses within the EU. As the world’s largest trading bloc, we are in a position to use our trade policy to engage partners on important issues. For this reason, I welcome the Commission’s additional sanctions, using its trade toolbox for enforcing labour, environmental and human rights standards. It is essential that these sanctions are used in a responsible way, namely only as a measure of last resort. Sustainability objectives should not undermine the negotiability of our trade agreements. It would be an own goal for the Commission to impose sanctions haphazardly. Doing so would undermine the negotiability of our trade agreements and indeed drive away prospective trading partners. The Commission’s proposal, I think, strikes this delicate balance between negotiability and ambition.

A Uachtaráin, we’ve entered a new phase in the unnecessary and callous war waged by Vladimir Putin. His shambolic and illegal referendums have served as a fickle means for Russia to try to absorb thousands of square kilometres of Ukrainian territory in what will be the largest forced annexation of land in Europe since 1945. Like the heinous war crimes that are part of Russian standard military tactics, disinformation has now become a fundamental element of Russia’s international relations. Last week, within hours of the Nord Stream pipeline explosion, disinformation, fitting the pattern of Russian information warfare was immediately circulated on social media platforms. This is a very sophisticated and covert operation, which at this stage is a well—oiled machine that has proven to be effective in many circumstances. It’s amplified to social media algorithms. The aim is to flood social media with false information, to blur the lines of fact and deter public opinion from supporting Ukraine, depicting it as a failed, corrupt, Nazi state. Disinformation has been so effective that many so-called ‘free thinkers’ have been reduced to unwitting Kremlin spokespersons. It is time to strongly counter this disinformation in the EU.

Madam President, uimhir 3, I think we were all very happy to support this report and to see it being approved by an overwhelming majority because it establishes a single charging portal for mobile phones, tablets and other portable electronics in the EU. Not before time. The aim of this proposal is to improve consumer welfare and reduce the environmental footprint that comes from the manufacture and disposal of chargers and is part of a broader effort to make products in the EU more sustainable, reduce e-waste and make consumers’ lives easier. Beyond saving consumers money, there is also an environmental benefit. While electronic waste is the fastest-growing waste in the EU, less than 40% is recycled. This law aims to reduce the volume of such waste. So now, people all over Europe, including myself, can go to our boxes and drawers, which are full of all sorts of chargers, which we will never again need to use and dispose of them properly.

A Uachtaráin, I was pleased also to vote in favour of this report. It aims to build resilience and competitiveness within the EU aquaculture sector. The EU imports 70% of all the aquatic food it consumes. In this regard, the EU aquaculture sector has a great potential and it is important that the European Commission and EU Member States provide the legal framework required to develop it further. EU aquaculture contributes to food supply and food security by providing sustainable and quality food products with a smaller environmental footprint than land—based, thus ensuring that EU aquaculture progresses in accordance with the green transition, while also bringing socio-economic opportunities to coastal regions and rural areas. I think it’s a worthwhile initiative and hopefully Member States, including my own, can avail of the opportunity.

Madam President, I am pleased to support this report from my colleague, Ms Trillet—Lenoir, for a regulation on serious cross-border threats to health. These new measures aim to strengthen public health in the EU when faced with serious challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic unfortunately revealed how the European Union severely lacked the tools to counter a health crisis, and consequently our national health systems faced extremely dark and challenging times. Public health systems across all Member States were overwhelmed and exhausted. The pandemic also showed us the importance of European solidarity and coordination. The report recommends strengthening operational coordination at European level and the promotion of solidarity in the European Union. I welcome the regulation and I support it.

A Uachtaráin, Commissioner, about 90 million persons in the EU have some form of disability; 50% of persons with disabilities are in employment compared to 75% without disabilities. Although major advances have been achieved in favour of people with disabilities, often these citizens are still faced with significant barriers to full participation in their communities. Efforts must continue if we are to achieve a more inclusive, fairer Europe, including access to employment and the rights of people with disabilities. Member States have been lagging behind for years when it comes to implementing EU legal texts on inclusivity. With the new EU Centre for Accessibility, we would hopefully have an effective tool in coherently implementing accessibility in the EU. I call on the Commission to guarantee adequate financial and human resources to ensure the effective operation of the centre. Let’s make the world a more inclusive place. It is time to raise the living standards of European citizens, especially those who are currently represented. And, finally, a shout out to the social farming initiative in my own constituency. The farmers involved are generously leading by example, by giving people with disabilities the chance to work on their farms. Initiatives like this should be encouraged and replicated all over the EU and in all aspects of human engagement.

Thank you, Mr. President, and congratulations Mr. President, for the kind words you have given us. Thank you, Ursula, for staying for the entirety of the debate. You spoke a lot about energy, and rightly so. And to your credit, you’re going around the world trying to get LNG supplies for Europe. But I’m sorry to say that in my country we have an opportunity to build an LNG terminal free of charge for the government, which one army of government is blocking. We also have vast gas resources of our coast which are not being utilised, and yet we are largely dependent on one pipeline from the United Kingdom. And today the United Kingdom said if Russia cut off supplies of gas to Europe, then there will be gas rationing and electricity outages in the United Kingdom and Ireland. So I would ask you to ask countries like Ireland to use the resources and opportunities they have and not to be scrounging on the supplies that other Member States need, and also to remove the roadblocks to the deployment of renewables, especially planning and permission. And one final ask, maybe not to put the clocks back this winter to save energy.

A Uachtaráin. I commend my colleague Christophe Hansen on the work he has done on this file. This proposal for a regulation to limit the availability of products linked to deforestation on the EU market is a step in the right direction in order to achieve the EU’s commitment to curb deforestation and forest degradation. This is a topic close to the heart of many of my constituents in Ireland South. They want to know where the products that they buy come from and to be sure that these products are not linked to the destruction of forests and their ecosystems. For this reason, I welcome the ambition to supply deforestation-free products in shops and businesses across Europe in the future. It is worth noting that I voted to support the inclusion of financial institutions’ activities with this regulation. Financial institutions must take responsibility for ensuring that finance they provide to companies does not contribute to the activities that pose a risk to forests and our ecosystems. I am very pleased to support this report.