Debate contributions by Seán KELLY

Mr President, the motion for a resolution is not only a political statement on the situation in Azerbaijan, but a moral statement. We need to respond to Armenian ethnic cleansing, continued military aggression and Azerbaijan’s blatant disregard for human rights. The European Union must protect democracy, and the rule of law and those values must be constantly respected. We must not only condemn these actions, but also act on them. We must hold Azerbaijan to account. We would use this resolution to reaffirm our commitment to human rights not only in words but also in action. And now I'm going to take the shot.

A Uachtaráin, protecting our oceans is essential to Europe's sustainable future. The EU's target to designate 30 % of European seas as marine protected areas is an important and necessary step in safeguarding marine biodiversity. We should also ensure 10 % of these are strictly protected to allow for regeneration. We have a responsibility to put marine conservation at the forefront of our efforts to tackle climate change. In this regard, I support the swift enactment of Ireland's Marine Protected Areas Bill, a key piece of legislation that will shape the future of marine conservation in Ireland for generations. Additionally, and in an Irish context, our oceans hold immense potential to power our renewable future through offshore wind energy. With the right incentives and with respect for environmental protections, offshore wind can support biodiversity and enhance marine ecosystems by providing clean, sustainable energy. Ireland is in a unique position to lead and deliver in this regard.

A Uachtaráin, I think this is a very timely debate, because we are looking at a situation which we have made for ourselves. We are in a rush to regulate everything. We have ensured that some industries, and particularly steel, are no longer viable. But I was encouraged by the points made by Commissioner Dalli, where she pointed out the reality of the situation, but also the opportunities in terms of the ETS, Just Transition Fund, Innovation Fund, electricity market, reskilling, upskilling, reducing the administrative burden and CBAM to turn the situation around. If we don't, we're going to have a situation where we won't have any heavy industries like steel and aluminium, but also we won't be able to reduce emissions because, as she pointed out, 70 % of wind turbines need steel. So it's a win-win by having more heavy industry in Europe rather than importing from unstable regimes like China, etc. If we don't, we won't need any Net Zero Industry Act because we'll have net zero industry. The choice is ours.

(Start of speech off mic) ... as devastating forest fires ravaged parts of the Amazon. While the immediate flames have now subsided, the scars left behind remind us of the critical importance of this vast rainforest, not just for South America, but for the entire world. The Amazon, often referred to as the lungs of the Earth, plays an essential role in regulating our climate by absorbing significant amounts of carbon dioxide. When these forests burn, not only are we losing valuable ecosystems and biodiversity, but vast amounts of stored carbon are released back into the atmosphere, further intensifying the effects of climate change. The fires we have seen, while not an everyday occurrence, have highlighted the ongoing threats the Amazon faces. Though some fires may have been linked to natural cycles and weather phenomena, it is undeniable that human activity has played a significant role, as rightly pointed out by Commissioner Schinas. It is a wake-up call, reminding us that the Amazon, with all its biodiversity and climate regulating functions, is vulnerable. As policymakers, we must ensure that international cooperation remains strong in protecting this vital resource. While the fires may no longer be front-page news, the underlying challenges persist and we cannot become complacent. The Amazon is vital for the health of our planet and future generations. The recent fires are a reminder of the fragility of this vital ecosystem. And while the worst may have passed, the need for action remains, as the Commissioner pointed out, both in terms of the climate but also for the indigenous peoples who are constantly being pushed out of their natural homes. This has to stop also.

A Uachtaráin, we are witnessing a deeply troubling development in Iraq with the proposed amendments to the personal status law. These changes would effectively place family matters – including marriage, divorce and child custody – under the jurisdiction of religious courts rather than civil law. This move undermines the principle of equality before the law, as enshrined in Iraq's own constitution, and would lead to disturbing discrepancies along religious lines. This is a significant step backwards for women's rights in Iraq. It threatens to increase child marriage, domestic violence and inequality, perpetuating a cycle of suffering for women and girls. Already, 22 % of unregistered marriages in Iraq involve girls under the age of 14, some as young as 9. This is appalling and we must condemn it in the strongest possible terms. The EU cannot turn a blind eye to this issue. Women's rights are human rights, whether it is in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Mr President, (the microphone did not pick up the start of the speech) ...and if I go beyond that, turn off the microphone. I want to support my colleagues, especially Miriam Lexmann here and the other authors, Petras who have accurately demonstrated what is happening in China with regard to the Uyghurs. Of course, this is not the first time that we are talking about the Uyghur situation in this Parliament, with the right to be talking about it again tonight, in particular the case of Ilham Tohti and Gulshan Abbas. They are imprisoned without cause and we should push them to let them go free. China and the EU also have a close relationship when it comes to trade, and we should use this trade to push China to grant civil rights to Uyghurs and even to be fairer to us when it comes to trade as well.

A Uachtaráin, the 2024 report highlighted a number of shortcomings that we should be addressing: judicial independence, media freedom and anti‑corruption are just some of the areas where we see significant breaches of the rule of law. In Ireland, we have implemented a number of measures to improve our national judicial systems. However, we are only one Member State, and this is only one aspect of the rule of law. To affect change across the Union, we need to address the repeat offenders who make little or no effort to reduce their own violations. This will be the challenge faced by Irish Commissioner‑designate Michael McGrath as he starts on his portfolio. Over the past several years, we have seen Hungary breach multiple aspects of our core values again and again. Corruption is rampant, transparency is seriously lacking, independent governance is in serious danger. Prime Minister Orbán's most recent law on the defence of sovereignty exemplifies this. It is against the concept of democracy and the practice of fundamental rights, and it constitutes a breach of the rule of law. Now Hungary has the influential role of the Council Presidency. Orbán spoke earlier today about improving the EU and making it great again. This populist rhetoric is nothing short of hypocritical. We need to stand against these breaches and against Hungary's lip service.

A Uachtaráin, I was pleased to vote in favour of this resolution to mobilise the European Union Solidarity Fund to assist regions affected by severe natural disasters in Italy, Slovenia, Austria, Greece and France. These disasters have inflicted devastating damages, with estimates reaching billions of euros, and have profoundly impacted the lives of countless citizens. While this resolution gives our support for a critically important financial response to the situations in these Member States, we should be clear that it is also a powerful expression of solidarity and support from the European Union to its members, as we have seen countless times over the years. It underscores our commitment to stand by those in need during times of crisis. By approving this mobilisation, we are sending a clear message that the EU is united in its resolve to help our fellow Europeans rebuild and recover. In conclusion, my vote today reflects the commitment to solidarity, resilience and proactive measures for a safer Europe.

A Uachtaráin, this is not the first time we have debated Sudan here in the European Parliament. It's ongoing, unfortunately, and the situation isn't getting better. Indeed, every Sunday in my home parish of Fossa in Killarney, the parish priest, Father Geaney, prays for those in the most troubled parts of the world. And he usually mentions Ukraine, the Holy Land, as he calls it – the Middle East, and Sudan. And that will give an indication of the scale and breadth of the problems in Sudan. I agree with previous speakers like Ms Incir, who said that we certainly must do more in the European Union to give humanitarian aid here so that the sufferings of those people can be alleviated, but obviously work harder at getting a solution in the long term. Peace and stability in the country is the only way to end suffering in the long term. The European Union can lead and hopefully lead more into the future so our parish priest won't be including Sudan in the troubled places in the world.

A Uachtaráin, every bomb dropped, every border crossed adds to the suffering and displacement of people who have already endured too much. Israel has every right to defend itself. The hostages must be released. And Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran must all be condemned for their heinous acts. But what we have seen in the aftermath of 7 October is not entirely self-defence, but collective punishment and the clear breaking of international law. We in Europe, if we are to be true to the values we say we cherish, must be more proactive in pushing for a peaceful solution, discouraging all parties from the use of force. Otherwise, we are failing in our responsibilities. The EU is Israel's largest trading partner. In black and white, the EU‑Israel Association Agreement explicitly ties us, our economic relationship, to the observance of human rights. What we need is an urgent ceasefire and a return to true dialogue, and the EU should use the tools at its disposal to encourage this.

A Uachtaráin, Europe's competitiveness is facing a fundamental challenge and, as Mario Draghi's report highlights, we cannot ignore the underlying structural causes. It has become abundantly clear to me, particularly since the onset of the recent energy crisis, that there can be no competitive Europe without cheap and predictable energy costs. As long as we remain dependent on imported fossil fuels, and as long as volatile fossil fuels set the cost of electricity, we will continue to struggle. We must break this cycle. European competitiveness requires European energy independence and that independence must be based on indigenous, cost-effective, renewable energy: wind, solar and, critically, storage solutions such as batteries and long-duration storage technologies. It is through these technologies that we can stabilise electricity prices, provide predictability for businesses and ensure long-term competitiveness. This means accelerating the roll-out of renewables, modernising our grid and removing the bottlenecks that slow down progress, especially our planning process. By decoupling electricity prices from fossil fuels, we can lower costs for industries and consumers alike, giving Europe a competitive edge and reducing our reliance on volatile external markets. The time for action is now. A strong statement from Council next week will be very welcome in this regard.

Mr President, I was pleased to vote in favour of this report and why not? Because we must stand in solidarity with our western and central European counterparts. The terrible floods and bad weather have hit them hard over the last few weeks and, in particular, we express our condolences to Austria, Germany and Poland and others for the extent to which they have suffered from these terrible floods. But this is not the first time this is happening. It has been getting worse in the last three decades and in that time 5.5 million people were affected. 3 million people died and the economy cost 170 billion. That shows that, in the short term, we need to give them cooperation and financial help and so on to get the infrastructure right, but it shows how important it is now to fight climate change and roll out our green market and reduce the emissions as quickly as we can.

A Uachtaráin, I voted for this resolution as the Venezuelan presidential election on 28 July marked a significant decline in the rule of law in the country. Maduro's regime, like Chavez before him, has employed numerous tactics – such as banning candidates, creating confusion and withholding voting records – to undermine a legitimate electoral process. Without transparency, his self-declared victory cannot reflect the will of the people. International observers were banned while friendly monitors were allowed to mislead the world about the election's legitimacy. This complicity in vote-rigging contributes to the ongoing survival of this oppressive regime, which has driven nearly 8 million people to flee Venezuela – more than those fleeing Syria. We must urgently call for an end to the repression of opposition members and civil society. We must put more pressure on Maduro. Without international pressure, the hopes of democracy in Venezuela are fading fast.

(start of speech off mic) ... voting for this resolution, as we must stand united in reaffirming our commitment to Ukraine as it faces an illegal and unjustified war of aggression from Russia. The courage of the Ukrainian people in defending their sovereignty is commendable, but the costs – both human and material – are staggering. Russia's systematic atrocities, including indiscriminate attacks on civilians and critical infrastructure, constitute war crimes. Millions of Ukrainians remain displaced, suffering the consequences of this brutal aggression. The US mobilised over EUR 100 billion in support, including military aid. However, we must do more. We must remember that this conflict is not just about Ukraine: it threatens our shared values and democracy. As we consider the long-term recovery of Ukraine, we must push for accountability for war crimes and support reconstruction efforts. Together, we can stand with Ukraine and ensure that justice prevails in the end.

Mr President, As the Commissioner said, in general, it is right that we stand up for whistle blowers, especially those who are trying to protect our environment, as unfortunately for many years now it has become clear that our nature, seas and environment are in danger. And if illegal things are happening around the world, we should stand up for the whistle blowers that show that. And that’s the case with Paul Watson. Is there a right for a person who wants to target illegal whale-fishing to be imprisoned? Should he have to go to Japan and go to court? We should stand strong with those fighting climate change and in particular protecting our seas.

A Uachtaráin, they say doctors differ and patients die; judges differ and we get apple pie – a very expensive EUR 13 billion apple pie. But I point this out because, in 2020, the EU General Court ruled in favour of Apple and the Irish Government. The CJEU has, however, ruled differently. We accept and respect that decision, and now we move on. Two points. One, this is a state aid ruling, not a taxation ruling. And two, Ireland does not give any preferential tax treatment to companies or taxpayers, and this current legislation complies with all international taxation obligations. We have participated in OECD initiatives on base erosion and profit shifting, etc., And our success is not just down to competitive corporation tax rates; it is also due to a skilled workforce, a good education system, a proud member of the EU, English-speaking, close ties with the US, etc. So Ireland – whether apple pie or no apple pie – is not going to lie down and die. Éire Abú!

A Uachtaráin, the systemic erosion of women's rights in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime is a grave and pressing issue that deserves greater attention on the international stage. Recent laws implemented by the Taliban represent another chilling step towards gender apartheid, aimed at erasing women and girls from public life entirely. We must unequivocally condemn the Taliban's radical interpretation of Sharia law, which has led to rampant gender persecution and a culture of fear. Women are not just being denied their rights, they are being systematically oppressed with access to education and work severely restricted. The resilience of Afghan women is a testament to the human spirit, yet we cannot leave them to face this oppression alone. The international community, including the European Union, must do more and act more decisively. I have been trying for some time to get a family – mainly women – out of Afghanistan, but can't get them visas. We in the EU need to make more visas available for Afghan women in particular. The sooner the better.

A Uachtaráin, the dire situation that continues to unfold in the Gaza Strip is deeply troubling. This conflict, now in its 11th month, has led to an appalling humanitarian disaster. Over 40 800 Palestinians have lost their lives, with more than 94 000 injured. The devastating impact extends beyond Gaza, spilling over into the West Bank, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis. As Fine Gael MEPs have previously communicated in our letter to President Ursula von der Leyen, it is evident that urgent action is required. The International Court of Justice has made a clear ruling. Israel's continued occupation of Palestinian territories is unlawful. Yet the suffering persists. MEPs must now intensify our efforts. The EU must leverage its significant economic influence to reassess and potentially revise its trade agreements with Israel. Our trade relationships must align with our commitment to human rights and international law. Ireland's position remains unwavering. We condemn the terrorist attacks by Hamas and call for the immediate release of all hostages. However, we also assert that Israel's response must adhere to international law, limiting force to what is necessary and proportionate. The European Union must use all its diplomatic resources to bring about an immediate and lasting ceasefire. The two-state solution is the best avenue for peace in the region. Every day this policy slips away and those who support peace must stand up now, before it is too late. We owe it to the innocent caught up in the daily atrocities to bring about a ceasefire and peace and a two-state solution.

A Uachtaráin, apologies for missing my time earlier, but I was at a heads of delegation meeting, and thanks for taking me now. So despite an extraordinarily challenging few years, we've made significant strides forward in our energy strategy. In the first half of 2024, half of our electricity was sourced from renewables. This is a monumental achievement for Europe. We have also made remarkable progress in reducing our dependency on Russian gas, cutting it down from 45 % in 2021 to just 18 % today, and hopefully to zero soon. Additionally, after nearly 2 years of volatility in the electricity market, prompting a rapid response by the Commission, prices have finally stabilised. These successes are the result of a united European effort in response to unprecedented challenges, and we should take immense pride in what we have accomplished, especially you, Madam Commissioner Simpson. Thanks to you for all your leadership and good work, and we wish you well in the future. However, we must not become complacent: 2040 and that 90 % target are truly just around the corner. While we have made great progress on permitting, large renewable energy projects typically require a decade or more from conception to initialisation, so huge progress needs to be made there. We must provide long-term visibility and support for the industry beyond 2030. To meet our 2040 target, we will need a fully decarbonised electricity system by the mid-30s; an ambitious push towards electrification and heating and transportation; and a rapid expansion of green hydrogen and carbon capture technologies for sectors that are challenging to electrify. The 90 % target is, however, a major opportunity – an opportunity to enhance Europe's competitiveness, as outlined in Mario Draghi's report. So the new Commission most come forward quickly with an ambitious pathway to 2040.

A Uachtaráin, as President von der Leyen has emphasised, our goal must be to secure a peace that restores Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. I wholeheartedly welcome Taoiseach Simon Harris's recent bilateral meeting with President Zelenskyy and his reaffirmation of Ireland's support for Ukraine's journey towards EU membership. This summer marked a historic milestone as Ukraine formally began its EU accession process, reflecting the Ukrainian people's aspiration for justice and a European future. I am also proud of Ireland's new agreement on support and cooperation with Ukraine. This agreement underscores that the values we share with Ukraine are fundamental to our own. As the Taoiseach has affirmed, we will stand by the brave people of Ukraine for as long as necessary. So far, the EU itself has provided over EUR 118 billion in aid to Ukraine. However, our energy policy should have prioritised EU energy independence long before Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014. The best time to have set this independence target was 2014. The second best time is now. Ukraine must be an integral part of this renewed commitment to energy security and independence. And finally, the Wall Street Journal today reported that there were a million people either killed or wounded in the war so far. One man – Putin – is responsible for those million casualties. We must stand with Ukraine as long as it takes. Slava Ukraini!