Speeches

A Uachtaráin, the repeated violations of the agreement by Israel is threatening a fragile ceasefire. There must be accountability for the latest killings and the failure to allow medical evacuations, and for aid to enter. The Israeli Government must be held to account for the attacks in the West Bank. And we need action against the increasing extremist settler violence. All of us who respect international law were horrified by President Trump's proposition to ethnically cleanse Gaza and steal what little land the Palestinian people still have. This plan is colonialism in its most brutal form, and the silence from the Commission was astounding. The Commission must answer for the EU's astounding moral failure to stand up to Trump's colonial rhetoric, or attacks on international law and the multilateral institutions that we claim to hold so dear. Let us be very clear: Gaza is not for sale. Gaza is not for sale, and the land and resources belong to the Palestinian people. The EU's strategy for the Middle East, if it respected international law, would be suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. It would mean sanctions. It would mean the end of weapons transfers from EU Member States and full implementation of the ICJ advisory opinion of the 19 July. We cannot have a long-term strategy until we recognise the immorality and illegality of the occupation and pursue true justice for the people of Palestine. The EU has spent the last 15 months engaging in moral cowardice in the face of and in complicity with genocide, and this cannot continue. We need to respect international law and the protection of multilateral institutions. Free Palestine.

A Uachtaráin, as we see the EU become more transactional globally, we are witnessing a massive step backwards in our global relationships. The binary debate between tariffs or more of the same neoliberal trade agendas reveals the stunning shortsightedness of EU trade policy. What we need is sustainable, socially just trade which protects workers and our planet, not trade at all costs. Decades of structural adjustment programmes and forced liberalisation of developing economies has been a disaster for many countries in the Global South. President Trump has made it clear that he will use tariffs to bully other countries, to accede to his demands in other areas of public policy, for example on migration and drugs. The EU must stand up. We are at a crossroads. We need not more of the same, or to fight for our own right to bully others, but we need to fight for trade relations that are people- and climate-centred and that respect multilateral cooperation.

A Uachtaráin, the failure of the latest round of negotiations on the global plastic treaty has caused worldwide disappointment. Yet there are those who would see no action to reduce plastic pollution at source: the fossil fuel and chemical companies who produce it. There were 220 fossil fuel and chemical lobbyists registered for the negotiations in Busan ‑ more than all the negotiators for the EU and Member States combined, and it outnumbered the independent scientists 3 to 1. Among them, were some of Europe’s biggest companies, like BASF, Dow, Exxon and Ineos, represented by trade associations like Plastics Europe and CEFIC. These are the very companies and associations that are now calling for environmental deregulation and public subsidies under the Industrial Deal. As with the climate negotiations, we see the insidious presence of fossil-fuel lobbyists growing as attempts at multilateral actions fail. We have to kick these big polluters out so that the negotiators can focus on real solutions to plastic pollution and put the public interest first.

A Uachtaráin, Commissioner, 30.4 million people in Sudan – that's half the population of the country – currently need humanitarian support, and 14.8 million have been displaced. The civilian population, as we have heard, are facing extreme violence, deprivation and famine conditions, and the sexual violence faced by Sudanese women must end. The impact of this war on children is also particularly shameful. Children as young as eight have been raped, and almost 4 million children suffer from acute malnutrition. Over 2 million babies born during the past 20 months are at risk from the decimated healthcare system and the crisis levels of hunger. Amnesty International has called for the arms embargo to be extended to the whole country, and we need to confront the fact that the military‑industrial complex is benefiting from the violence in Sudan, just like they have profited from the genocide in Gaza. We should also recall that the peaceful revolution in Sudan only a few short years ago, where the civilian Forces of Freedom and Change alliance were not supported by the international community and were forced to share power with the military, saw democracy being snuffed out before it could truly begin. A return to the politics of power has created a situation of unimaginable suffering in Sudan. We must ask ourselves why the democratic revolution was not supported. This is one of the direst humanitarian disasters in this century, and the EU must work to end the violence and meet the humanitarian needs of the Sudanese people, including those who seek refuge. Finally, we must also look to our priorities. The EUR 4.2 billion that is needed to meet the immediate humanitarian needs in Sudan is just a fraction of the USD 2.4 trillion annual global military expenditure. We need to invest in peace, human rights, sustainable development and social justice, and not more money for the bottomless pit of militarism.

Mr. President, the genocide in Gaza has raged for over 460 days. Tens and thousands of men, women and children have been killed and an entire society has been levelled. And I welcome the ceasefire agreement, but we cannot return to business as usual, where the illegal occupation of Palestine is allowed to continue without any consequences for Israel. The response of the EU to the genocide, live-streamed for all to see, was reprehensible. European leaders are complicit with Israel's actions in Gaza. From those European weapons manufacturers that provided the weapons to the EU itself that provided the diplomatic and political cover; Europe has failed to stand up for human rights and international law, and its credibility is on the floor. Accountabilities for war crimes must now happen and the work of the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice must be fully supported. On the ceasefire deal itself – I welcome the return of the hostages and the Palestinians who have been arbitrarily detained by Israel. However, Doctor Hussam Abu Safiya, the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, remains detained and it is widely reported that his health is deteriorating due to the disgraceful treatment he is receiving from Israel. The EU must work for its immediate release. Finally, I wish to call for the repeal of the anti-UNRWA laws. There is no alternative to UNRWA, there is no 'plan B'. The EU must use all the tools available to ensure these laws are repealed, and UNRWA can continue its vital work. We need to work together to end the illegal occupation. Freedom of the Palestinians.

A Uachtaráin, biodiversity is under threat from all sides. Terrifying news of new extinctions remind us that we are living through a mass extinction of our own making. Biodiversity loss is not only due to unintended consequences of human activity though, it is also due to the deliberate actions of policymakers. We have just seen the downgrading of the conservation status of the wolf, and I am very afraid that this will be the start of an attack on our core environmental legislation. When will we learn that we cannot turn our backs on nature protection? Instead, we need to put money and resources behind biodiversity action. Over the coming year, Member States will develop their nature restoration plans. For strong plans, we need a commitment from the Commission for a dedicated nature restoration fund in the next MFF. Laws alone, though, are not enough. We also need better prosecution of wildlife crimes and if we are serious about protecting nature, then we need to show it. Crimes against nature are crimes against our common home, so when will we defend it?

Mr President, Ireland has become a complete outlier when it comes to data centres. This week, another report showed how data centres are undermining our climate and our energy goals. Since 2017, Ireland has added significant wind energy, but the climate benefit has been erased as data centres devour it instead of displacing fossil fuels. Worse, data centres are increasingly connecting now to the gas grid in Ireland, creating a blind spot in carbon planning and widening the gap between Ireland's climate targets and our actual emissions. We are also offshoring our emissions to Britain, which is further obscuring their true climate impact. The Energy Efficiency Directive requires governments to register data centres by this autumn, offering a chance for some transparency. Yet Ireland and most Member States have failed to act. Germany and the Netherlands have created databases, but they remain incomplete. So while households are being pushed to change, big tech escapes accountability. Without urgent action to curb our energy impact, data centres will leave our climate and our energy targets in tatters.

Mr President, as a shadow rapporteur, I would like to thank Ms Cavazzini for her work on this file. For far too long, ISDS have been shrouded in secrecy and back-room dealings, seeking to undermine the work of governments across the world. And while this is a welcome first step, we must go much further. Corporate courts serve only the interests of profit and seek to undermine the public good at every turn. We must also recognise that corporate courts represent a new and insidious form of colonialism. UN Trade and Development has highlighted that developing countries are faced with a majority of claims most often brought by companies from wealthy countries, so corporate courts also serve the interests of climate criminals, with fossil fuel companies having historically secured at least USD 82.8 billion in damages. The EU withdrawal from the Energy Charter Treaty is welcome, but what we need to do is end corporate courts completely to stop corporate joints running roughshod over our policy-making process. Our public court systems are more than fit for purpose.

A Uachtaráin, the international order is very clear. Targeted attacks against civilian infrastructure, with the clear aim to cut off men, women and children from water, electricity and heating are pure acts of terror. These are war crimes. I absolutely agree, and so did President von der Leyen, because they are her words in October 2022. However, fast forward to November 2024 and the ICC have issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, citing starvation and the deliberate deprivation of food, water and medical supplies to a civilian population as the basis for the charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Yet there has been radio silence from President von der Leyen and frankly, the mealy-mouthed responses from some Member States have been shameful. The EU's credibility is in shreds, not just in Palestine and the Global South, but even within its own Member States. Israel is driving a coach and horses through the institutions of international law and multilateralism, and they are being aided and abetted by these institutions. Arming Israel is complicity with genocide. Trading with Israel is complicity. Absence of sanctions is complicity. International law depends on the willingness of governments to support justice, no matter where the abuses are committed or by whom. The failure to defend international law is a threat to all of us. This is not about politics, it's not about personalities – it's about justice. It's time to sanction Israel.

Mr President, I'll pick up where my colleague has left off, because the EU has certainly thrown its sustainability commitments under the bus, and it appears to have done so for the sake of a rotten trade deal. First, the Commission proposes to delay the deforestation regulation, which just so happens to help pave the way for Mercosur. And now the EPP – never one to waste an opportunity – are trying to gut the deforestation regulation. Deforestation will not be Mercosur's only victim, though: this agreement will lead to more biodiversity destruction, more human rights violations against indigenous people, more carbon emissions, and we also know that it will negatively impact on EU farmers. We need a blocking minority of Member States to stop Mercosur. Unfortunately, the Irish Government said they were part of that blocking minority, but it now appears they're speaking out of both sides of their mouth, where most recent responses in the parliament are that they are in favour of the Mercosur trade agreement. So let them answer to the farmers back in Ireland about how they defend this terrible deal!

Mr President, the COP process is losing credibility. This week we saw world leaders not show up and the COP29 CEO has been filmed agreeing to fossil fuel deals at the summit. Fossil fuel phase‑out is essential, yet 132 fossil fuel lobbyists attended COP28. They were facilitated with their badges provided by EU Member States and the European Commission. Last week, Mr Hoekstra, I asked you about this – you can carry on your conversation there, but anyway, I asked you – and you claimed that there was no interaction between lobbyists and the Commission. This is patently untrue. One of the Commission‑organised panels featured Kadri Simson, Ditte Juul Jørgensen and an ENI‑invited representative. That happened at COP28. Fossil fuel companies have heard and denied climate science for decades and have an arsenal of climate delaying tactics. They're coming to COP for one reason and one reason only, and that's to delay climate action further. So no more access badges for fossil fuel lobbyists!

Mr President, energy is not a luxury that people can do without, and energy poverty is widespread across the EU. But after decades of privatisation, Ireland now has some of the highest energy prices within the EU and people are struggling more than ever before. Over half a million Irish customers are behind on gas and electricity payments. This is the highest level we've seen, years after energy prices first spiked after the Ukraine war. Irish households alone owe almost EUR 160 million to energy companies. What has been the response both at the EU and the national level? A few temporary credits and a bit of tinkering around with the market, hoping that it would somehow magically fix itself. But it hasn't and it won't. Those in positions of power at the EU and national level have chosen a system that leaves people at the mercy of big, profitable energy companies. It's time to face the facts: the system is failing. That is why we need real EU market reform that puts the public before profit and gives households the relief that they deserve.

President, the people of Gaza are recalling a full year of genocide. One year of brutal violence against civilians. Following recent controls by the ICJ, the EU needs to take action. It must suspend trade and impose sanctions. The attack on Lebanon is a dangerous escalation. It ignores the shameless situation in the lives of civilians. Ireland is a neutral country. We have a proud history of peacekeeping in Lebanon. On Sunday, Israel repeatedly ignored UNIFIL warnings that they were putting at risk the safety of peacekeepers.

Madam President, prior to 7 October 2023 was one of the most violent years for Palestinians in over a decade. Israeli soldiers had murdered 247 Palestinians, 47 of whom were children. But there was no EU outcry. In fact, for over 16 years, the Israeli authorities have violently imposed an illegal blockade on the people of Gaza, something the EU was aware of, but took no action. The war in Gaza did not start on 7 October. Israel has repeatedly trounced international law and committed war crimes without any consequence for years. And if the EU really believed in the rule of law and human rights, the EU-Israel Association Agreement would have been scrapped long ago, and sanctions would have been swift and harsh. But unfortunately EU double standards are the norm when it comes to Israel. However, the acts of barbarism that we are witnessing in Gaza right now are beyond our comprehension. Genocide is being live-streamed into our homes, and not a single person in this Chamber or any of the EU institutions can say that they didn't know, that they were not aware. A 649-page document documents the names and ages of those recently slaughtered by Israeli forces. The first 14 pages are the names of those under one year of age. Babies! 14 pages of dead babies! So the question for the EU today is: does it recognise the International Criminal Court? Does it recognise the International Court of Justice? Will it abide by its decisions? And if so, then it is time for Israel to finally be held to account.

A Uachtaráin, the rule of law is the glue that binds our union together. Those are your words, Madam von der Leyen. So why is it that, in your eyes, some people are more equal in law than others? Why is it that human rights are applicable in some conflicts but not others? Why are the lives of Palestinians not worthy of the same human rights, the same international law, the same humanity? We are witnessing the most documented genocide in history, and still there are no consequences for Israel. When you declared Europe stands with Israel, when you stood shoulder to shoulder with Netanyahu, you greenlighted this genocide. The double standards, the hypocrisy with how you reacted to the conflict in Ukraine compared to Gaza has done untold damage on the world stage to the European Union. There has been no sanctions, no suspension of trade. In fact, EU money and arms continue to flow to Israel. 40 000 civilians slaughtered, children burned alive in their tents and still no consequences. Colleagues today – say no to genocide and say no to von der Leyen!