Speeches

Mr President, there is no winner when it comes to tariffs between two of the world's largest economies. We've heard this repeatedly throughout this debate. Jobs are lost; prices of goods go up; the cost of doing business goes up. And, ultimately, no one benefits from it – not Americans, not Europeans. Neither consumers nor companies gain from what is going on. Giving up on trade relations is not the answer, when more than EUR 4 billion worth of goods are crossing the Atlantic. In my own country of Ireland, particularly the west of Ireland, pharmaceutical products, world-leading Irish alcohol – like whiskies and gins – other agricultural products – like butter and cheeses – worth billions, meet the demand for quality products of the American consumer. We now have an additional three weeks to reach an agreement with the US, and I hope that this delay is a signal that the Trump Administration recognises that economic growth stems not from isolation, but from well-functioning relationships with reliable trading partners. And I hope we ourselves reform the single market, get better supports for our businesses and continue to grow the EU.

Madam President, colleagues, on 28 June, the streets of Budapest were alive with defiance. Budapest Pride was a protest, but it was not only the LGBTQ+ community that took a stand. Thousands of individuals came together with unwavering support to oppose the relentless erosion of the rule of law in Hungary. The message that rang loud from Budapest is that our leaders, this Parliament and our Commission need to step up. The time to monitor, to review is well and truly over, and we are three years on since the Commission referred Hungary to the Court of Justice. And nothing has changed. Nothing. The protection of rule of law cannot be put on hold while the judicial system and the process takes its course. It's simply too slow. The protests led by the Hungarian people was a clear signal that any form of rollbacks on the rule of law cannot and will not happen in the EU. Yesterday, with the release of the 2025 Rule of Law Report, the Commission said that protecting the rule of law remains a top priority for the current College of Commissioners. At the same time, Commissioner McGrath openly acknowledged that the dialogue with Hungary is failing. In light of this, I strongly urge the Commission to move beyond the words and take decisive action based on the evidence already in hand. It's like this: it's absolutely not acceptable for any pro‑EU political group or individual in this Parliament to sit back while these principles are undermined. Rule of law, equality and the freedom of expression are absolutely non‑negotiable.

Madam President, colleagues, on 28 June, the streets of Budapest were alive with defiance. Budapest Pride was a protest, but it was not only the LGBTQ+ community that took a stand. Thousands of individuals came together with unwavering support to oppose the relentless erosion of the rule of law in Hungary. The message that rang loud from Budapest is that our leaders, this Parliament and our Commission need to step up. The time to monitor, to review is well and truly over, and we are three years on since the Commission referred Hungary to the Court of Justice. And nothing has changed. Nothing. The protection of rule of law cannot be put on hold while the judicial system and the process takes its course. It's simply too slow. The protests led by the Hungarian people was a clear signal that any form of rollbacks on the rule of law cannot and will not happen in the EU. Yesterday, with the release of the 2025 Rule of Law Report, the Commission said that protecting the rule of law remains a top priority for the current College of Commissioners. At the same time, Commissioner McGrath openly acknowledged that the dialogue with Hungary is failing. In light of this, I strongly urge the Commission to move beyond the words and take decisive action based on the evidence already in hand. It's like this: it's absolutely not acceptable for any pro‑EU political group or individual in this Parliament to sit back while these principles are undermined. Rule of law, equality and the freedom of expression are absolutely non‑negotiable.

Madam President, Commissioner, colleagues, in March, the Hungarian Government banned the freedom of assembly – we've heard this again and again today. It is one of the most important, core values of our democracy, a right that allows us to gather together for common purpose, including peaceful protests and demonstrations. This ban is one of the many cracks in the foundations of fundamental rights and the rule of law in today's Hungary. This ban has direct consequences for our LGBTI+ community and it's so blatantly clear that it bans Pride. But these attacks on the rainbow community in Hungary are not new, and not only happening in this one Eastern Bloc country. A narrative is brewing that speaking out about minority rights only gives Orbán and other authoritarian regimes power. But what happens when we begin to ignore our LGBTI brothers and sisters, when we look away, hoping not to cause trouble? We lose something essential. We lose the very values – the very values – that define us. And that is, ladies and gentlemen, however you identify, our European values. The Commission and Council leaders cannot delay any further in holding this government to account for its blatant violations of rule of law and fundamental rights. I am really proud to say I will be travelling to Budapest Pride to stand proudly with our rainbow communities and allies – because, ladies and gentlemen, in the face of oppression, there is absolutely no space for silence.

Mr President, colleagues, High Representative, earlier this month, a report from within an EU institution was published online which clearly spelled out Israel's unequivocal and brutal war crimes in Gaza. A report from inside our own European Union documented Israel's deliberate use of starvation as a weapon of warfare. This is a report that was compiled in November 2024, and since then, while thousands more innocent people have been killed, Israel has continued to enjoy the privileges of free trade from the European Union. How many times have MEPs stood in this very Chamber and demanded a review of the EU-Israel agreement, pleaded for its suspension, begged for action that actually means something? Let me be very clear: the EU's current inaction does not reflect my views, nor does it reflect the views of the many of my constituents I represent, or my country. We demand peace. We demand an immediate end to the killing, and we demand that the EU take serious action.

Mr President, recent riots on the island of Ireland, which began in the town of Ballymena in County Antrim, have morphed from concern about a tragic sexual assault allegation into xenophobic violence against migrant families. As Amnesty Northern Ireland Director Patrick Corrigan said, we are just one petrol bomb away from racially motivated murder. Families have been forced from their homes as groups hurled bricks, petrol bombs and fireworks, leaving innocent children vulnerable and traumatised. This is not a protest for justice; it's racism cloaked in outrage. Sadly, inflammatory political rhetoric has added fuel to the fire. Some politicians have deliberately fanned the flames of hatred and, by linking migration to crime, they've pitted neighbour against neighbour. We must stand with victims and prosecute hate-fuelled crimes swiftly. And we must invest in our community dialogue and integration. Ireland and Europe must show that diversity is a strength, not a threat.

Mr President, I speak today on behalf of the communities in Donegal and Mayo – places where families are living in homes that are literally falling apart around them. These houses were built with defective concrete blocks containing too much mica and pyrite, causing serious structural damage, emotional and financial strain for many, many people. In 2023, I joined colleagues from the Petitions Committee on its fact-finding mission to Donegal, a powerful moment that helped bring much-needed European attention to this crisis. The Parliament visit was built on years of local advocacy and resulted in clear, practical recommendations: first being faster access to a scheme that is fit for purpose, less red tape, stronger support for families, including mental health services, and accountability, with assurances that this would never happen again. We must properly enforce rules on construction materials and hold those to account and prevent this from ever happening again. We must ensure colleagues in the Irish Government and this Parliament deliver on those recommendations to strengthen the protections for everyone's future.

Mr President, the audiovisual industry is worth over EUR 1 billion to Ireland's economy. From actor Rob Lowe to Variety magazine, the world recognises our island as a global production powerhouse. Trump's latest threat to slap a 100 % tariff on foreign movies could wipe out our film industry in an instant. Over 16 000 jobs, many in rural Ireland, hang in the balance. A far cry from Hollywood's drama, the livelihoods of many of my constituents are in doubt as we sit here and debate this morning. Unsurprisingly, this latest policy seems unworkable; given the international and entwined web of investors, labour and revenue, how can one even define a foreign film in this day and age? As time has taught us, there is always scope for a rollback from the Trump administration. However, while we may hope for such courage, we cannot be complacent or naive. I'm calling on the Commission and our Member States to act with urgency and seek the answers from the US on the policy over the coming days and weeks.

Madam President, Commissioner, I was delighted in your statement where you said you're going to pay personal attention, because as I sit here in this Chamber again for the second mandate, I'm listening to these speeches and I cannot help but feel grossly concerned about the direction of travel. Hungary's recently passed legislation is yet another attack on the LGBTI+ community, but this action expands beyond Hungary. It's about the message it sends to every gay or queer kid in Europe, wondering if we are moving forward on their behalf or slipping backwards. We cannot turn a blind eye – yet again – to the blatant attack on the rights of our community in Hungary or elsewhere. We need to take urgent action and that is done through conditionality. We need to find teeth, now more than ever, to actually pin these people to a collar, because ultimately we're turning into the United States of America right now. Equality is non-negotiable and the visibility of any community should not be a crime. EU fundamental rights are not à la carte – as much as some might believe. And we need to find teeth now, Commissioner, more than ever.

Madam President, as we sit here in Parliament tonight, thousands of workers in the pharmaceutical and medtech sectors, many in the west of Ireland, are sitting at home facing 48 hours of deep uncertainty. Ireland is arguably the single most exposed EU Member State to a transatlantic trade war. In 2023 alone, we exported around 36 billion worth of pharmaceuticals and chemicals to the United States, while the jobs of 50 000 Irish workers are dependent on the sector. However, it is for the sake of the European economy as a whole that our attention must be on reaching a negotiated agreement with the US. A trade war is not a fait accompli. The EU successfully avoided tariffs in 2018. We must do the same again this year. To put in terms familiar to President Trump, for the next 48 hours, workers and businesses on both sides of the Atlantic will be watching closely, focused on the real art of the deal. Ultimately, we must ensure that through strong actions and careful words, trade remains a bridge, not a battleground.

Mr President, the Commissioner mentioned two words: stability and predictability. Commissioner, if you ask young men and women in Ireland right now whether they would consider going into farming, sadly most would say 'no'. You heard this no doubt, when you visited Ireland in January, because land is expensive, credit is hard to get, succession is complex to navigate and incomes and markets are volatile. We all know this. But what is incredibly important now is what we go forth with. We cannot ignore the fact that only 7 % of our farmers are under 35, and they need that stability and predictability, now more than ever. We need to make agriculture, the whole sector, more attractive and support young people in a practical manner now. Not later on, but now. It's a matter of food security – you mentioned that – and the survival of our sector across the EU. And with all eyes being on how we're going to fund everything that's in this vision, Commissioner, I'm asking you in your strategy that you will put forward, that you think of the young men and women, which I know you do, but it's incredibly important that we have those practical steps in place so that they can develop a stronger food security for us all.

Madam President, these debates always make me incredibly disappointed in our democratic policies and belief systems. We represent millions of Europeans – LGBTI and other, all – and it saddens me that in this House, that is built on bringing people together, that we forget that in many, many of our speeches. Let me bring it back to why we're discussing this very important parenthood regulation. An estimated 2 million children currently face difficulties in having their parents recognised in another Member State – 2 million children. Not children of gay people or straight people. Just children across our EU right now have difficulties in their parents being recognised by the 27 Member States. This much needed and timely EU parenthood regulation provides that clarity and consistency in helping families navigate the legal systems that have now, up to this point, been fragmented. This is not just a legal case. It's a human issue. No matter where you live in Europe, your rights as a parent must be respected. I want to pay particular attention to the regulation, which will ease burdens on folks like me who may decide one day to have children. As an LGBTI individual and ally, I should, too, face the same rights as everyone in this House and, most importantly, everybody we represent in this House. We cannot afford to let prejudice stand in the way of progress. Europe must treat all families equally, and we must have a Commission and a Council that fight to do that.

Mr President, according to the European Commission, there's 229 million women living in the EU, 5 % more than men. Again, I point out – just ironic – about 5 % of elected officials here sit in this House to debate such an important issue, ignoring the 229 million people that elected us to be here. I certainly welcome the roadmap, but let's be very clear to all EU citizens on the realities facing women in today's world. 87 000 women across the world will die because they're women. Over the course of a decade, that's the city of Amsterdam. 96 % of AI‑generated content known as deepfakes are pornographic in nature, sexualised content targeting women and young girls. We know this from reports that 99 % of them are indeed women and young girls. The foundation of gender equality is built on the rights to live free from all injustices. Yet, at the current pace of progress, gender equality will only be achieved by 2158. Yet I ask, what are we doing in here for the 229 million citizens that elected us and expect us to do better?

Mr President, Commissioner, farmers in Ireland are extremely worried about the prospect of additional tonnes of meat produced at lower costs and poorer environmental standards entering our EU, in direct competition with local meat produced to the highest of European standards – standards we set here for them. As an island nation, Irish farmers know more than most how important trade is, especially in the current political landscape, and there can be no support without concrete answers to the questions below. How do we protect the interests of our farmers and rural communities, and ensure that farmers actually benefit from this trade deal? How do we guarantee that there is no unfair competition, and that our farmers are not left behind in the global market? And how do we ensure that farmers on both sides of the Atlantic meet the same environmental and quality standards? We must negotiate safeguards to ensure that Irish and European farming remains competitive, resilient and fair. The farmers deserve it.

Mr President, the mental health crisis among young people in Ireland and across the EU demands urgent attention, and it'd be remiss of me not to acknowledge the fact that lesson what 2 % or 3 % representation of this Parliament sits in the Chamber tonight to discuss such an important issue, that is, the second leading cause of death for our young people: death by suicide. And yet, Commissioner, we have an empty Chamber. That's not on you – that's on us. And it's certainly disrespectful to the young people and their families who are losing their lives on a daily basis, because we don't get things right in this House. In rural Ireland, for example, services are often distant or unavailable, and young people may not know where to turn to. And I think of the parents, the guardians and teachers who are trying to help out and give the necessary resources without the training supports that they need the most. And this is where we step in. This is where Member States need to be able to see and understand how to tackle the growing crisis that is impacting their communities, and it's vital this direction comes at EU level to protect future generations from this crisis. It has to come from here. It has to be funded by the MFF. We have to see an EU mental health strategy and a European Year to go with it and ultimately not see statistics again and again and again telling us our young people are dying by suicide.

Mr President, what lies before us now is a fragile promise of peace. The ceasefire, while essential, is only the first step, and our focus must now shift to two key issues: accountability and the long road to rebuilding Gaza. A ceasefire does not erase the wrongs of yesterday, and peace will not take root without justice. As the violence ends, we hope, we must ensure that accountability is brought to the fore. Accountability is the foundation on which a lasting peace will be built, ensuring stability in the Middle East in the challenging years ahead, along with justice for the many thousands and thousands of victims. I welcome the Commission's announcement last week of a new aid package for Gaza. But let us be very clear – this is just the beginning. Rebuilding homes, schools and hospitals must require not just money, but strategic vision. The EU, US and UK must lead in investing in the long-term recovery of Gaza's devastated infrastructure. I'm immensely proud of the Irish people's unwavering support for a ceasefire. Even when our critics were loud and harsh, Ireland has stood firm and I have every confidence that we will continue to fight for peace. But this burden can no longer rest on a handful of nations – all 27 Member States must step forward with real and meaningful actions, not just words. The promise of peace is tangible for Israelis and Palestinians alike, but let us not mistake this moment as an end. This is only the beginning of the work we must all do collectively.

Mr President, in 2023, the University College Dublin conducted a survey of over 250 Irish farmers. Over 20 % of farmers surveyed shared they had experienced suicidal ideation in the previous two weeks and nearly 40 % reported experiencing moderate to extremely severe stress. These alarming statistics are a snapshot into the mental health crisis gripping our agricultural community across the EU. Ireland is not an outlier. In France, in 2020, the rate of death by suicide among farmers was over 43 % higher than the national average. In Poland, 168 families lost their farmer in their life by suicide in 2021. We know, through research, the three key indicators of such lives lost are: increasing regulation, designed here in this House; the lack of consistency in agribusiness, which creates financial pressures; and the fact that farming is overwhelmingly done in isolation. This simply can't go on. Commissioner, I, like many of our EU farmers, appreciated your honest reply in your hearing to the mental health of our farming and rural community. I believe that you will work to ensure the issues facing our agriculture sector are alleviated and ultimately farmers can do what they do best and what they love to do, which is farm. But this isn't just on you; this is on each and every one of us – left, right, centre – to deliver the consistency they need.

Mr President, in 2020, a University of Galway study found that 96 % of Irish female politicians received threatening messages, while three quarters faced online threats of physical violence. Deepfake technology has escalated the threat of online harassment of all female politicians. Deepfakes are being weaponised to spread fake news, political misinformation and, most alarmingly, to perpetrate sexual harassment. These manipulated videos violate a woman's privacy and endanger her career and her personal life, and the impact is deeper than this, sadly. It threatens to silence women in public life overall. Fears of such attacks discourage women from running for office or speaking out on key issues. Image‑based sexual abuse increasingly undermines their ability to participate in politics. The AI Act and the DSA mandate transparency for AI‑generated media and content moderation, including clear rules and notice and take‑down procedures for deepfakes. And our Commission and Member States need to do more to implement the safeguards to detect and prevent harmful deepfakes and to address gender‑specific digital threats within AI regulations. Legislation without implementation is failing female politicians. How can we expect women to lead and speak out if we fail to protect them from these attacks?

Madam President, we speak tonight on the urgent need to address the gender pay gap, and time and time again, discussions about equality seem to echo late at night in an empty Chamber, leaving me with a great sense of frustration. There are 20 colleagues here tonight, representing over 51 % of our population in the EU. Last mandate we delivered binding pay transparency measures through the directive on pay transparency, but gender equality isn't just about pay, it's about securing women's future. Take pensions for example. Women on average retire with significantly lower pensions compared to men, a direct consequence of the pay disparity faced throughout their careers. Let's not forget pink tax too. Women pay a higher price for products simply because they are marketed for us as female – from toiletries to clothing to services like dry cleaning, thousands of euros are hidden in tax that hits the wallets of women across the EU, further widening the financial gap. We desperately must build on the directive for the thousands of women who are currently setting up their businesses and can't access capital, or the many who are experiencing physical, mental and financial abuse in partnerships but stay to protect their families.

Good evening, colleague. I wouldn't be waving. How dare you? How dare you insult the women that represent thousands of women, our allies, who represent thousands of women across the EU? And actually, as you were speaking, colleague, can you really stand over the fact that, in your country ‑ the Netherlands, I believe ‑ 33 % of women in a relationship have experienced violence by an intimate partner? In total, 17 % have experienced physical violence and 32 % have experienced psychological violence? Can you actually stand over what you just said about us women and your own people, who sadly elected you to this Parliament that believes in democracy and equality? Shame on you, sir. Shame on you.

Mr President, I speak this evening with mixed emotions as we address the issue that has impacted generations of women across the EU for far too long, and that is violence against women. Like some of you in this debate, every time I speak on this growing issue, the weight of inaction grows heavier. Yet I am also immensely proud of the Parliament's landmark legislative achievement passed in this last mandate, which is a bedrock of women's safety. As former Irish MEP Frances Fitzgerald outlined, the gender-based violence legislation represents a historic milestone in our EU for women's rights. While this legislation is progressing, violence against women has not stopped, and I think of the harrowing stories of Gisèle Pelicot in France or Nikita Hand in Ireland. And we must remember that neither person should have had to endure such horror. I think, too, of the strength of women in Poland fighting daily for their fundamental rights to autonomy, to their own bodies, and the women in the United States who watch in disbelief as individuals and public representatives show blatant disregard for their rights and dignity. Here in this House, we strive to ensure that women's rights are upheld with unwavering conviction. But let us be honest with ourselves: our responsibility does not end with legislation. Violence against women does not appear out of nowhere. It arises from deeply rooted sexism that pervades our culture, institutions and attitudes, and it simply must end.

Madam President, I come from a country that has endured the harsh consequences of restricting women's reproductive healthcare choices. In Ireland, there were times when pregnant women were institutionalised, deprived of their rights and subjected to deep suffering due to state-imposed restrictions on their reproductive decisions. While Ireland has made significant progress, the scars of the past still linger. The debate today centres around Poland, where women are currently being denied access to abortion care. State involvement in women's bodies is not only unjust, it undermines their dignity. A policy designed for women should not disregard female autonomy. It ultimately invades their own choices. We know the cost of silencing female autonomy, for prioritising politics over well-being or dignity. We hear colleagues here this evening doing the same. I urge Poland to listen, to learn from our history and to honour its commitments under the Committee on Elimination of Discrimination Against Women. Access to safe and legal abortion is not just a matter of health. It's a matter of justice and equality. And ultimately, folks, dear colleagues, dear Commission, dear Member States, we cannot fail our women and we must not fail our women. I stand here with all the women who have had to make difficult choices for themselves – and that's what it is: for themselves.

Mr President, leaders across the globe are failing to heed the desperate cries of hunger in Sudan. Young children are starving to death in the world's largest humanitarian crisis. As many as 150 000 people have been killed by fighting. More than 10 million have fled their homes, and 25 million people are at risk of hunger. Famine has been declared in Darfur, the only place in the world where a full-scale famine has been declared in years. Some estimate that 2.5 million citizens could die by the end of the year. Yet the world has barely responded. What makes this even more incomprehensible is that this region is the breadbasket of East Africa. There is no natural reason for there to be a famine here. This crisis of hunger and starvation is entirely man-made. Access to life-saving food is being weaponised by both sides. The two parties are constantly blocking access through theft, attacks on aid convoys, bureaucratic red tape and arbitrary permit denials. Aid trucks can wait up to six weeks or more to be clear for onward travel. In Sudan, hunger has been turned into a weapon of war. The number one priority must be ensuring an end to the crisis of hunger through the passage of aid. The EU can and must create a space for both parties to negotiate access for food. Until aid flows safely, the cries of hunger will continue.

Madam President, once again, I stand here and reiterate the call for an urgent review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. I do so with the singular intention of bringing about peace and ending the loss and pain felt by innocent lives on all sides over these past 12 months. The agreement is of economic importance to Israel, with an estimated worth of 46 billion alone last year and it is EU strongest economic lever in its ability to bring about peace in the Middle East, just one of its strongest levers. Last week I wrote to our Taoiseach, Simon Harris, asking that he double down on the Irish Government's request to President Ursula von der Leyen for a review of this agreement and this follows on from the initial request from Ireland and Spain for review last February. And, as I'm aware, no response to this request has been received. It is extremely disappointing that the Commission has thus far ignored the urgent request from EU Member States and it seems that we're no closer to this review now than we were six months ago. I look forward to the Irish Government's continuing to push for an urgent review for as long as it takes.

Mr President, gender equality has been and remains central to my work and I'm honoured to join the Women's Rights and Gender Equality Committee this term. The trailblazers of our last mandate – and I think of Evin and my colleague Frances Fitzgerald – who set a strong foundation with the directive combating violence against women. But our work continues. Violence against women is a systemic problem that devastates communities, especially in rural areas where silence prevails. With over 30 % of the EU population living in rural regions, and as an MEP representing a majority rural area, this issue is particularly close to my heart. The reality is stark: 1 in 3 women in our EU today has endured physical or sexual violence. And in our rural communities, women face unique challenges: geographical isolation and limited access to vital resources that can leave them feeling trapped. Organisations like Esker House in Athlone, County Westmeath, are doing critical work creating safe spaces for those in need and we have a responsibility to amplify our support to organisations like Esker House who work so tirelessly. Gender-based violence is a preventable human rights violation deeply rooted in inequality and underfunded resources. This is unacceptable and we must end it. And if I am allowed, President, I just want to thank, and on record, Commissioner Dalli for your work on LGBTI rights and women's rights and equality overall.