What Chris spoke about.

23

Apr

2024

EN Speech

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Effective coordination of economic policies and multilateral budgetary surveillance - Speeding up and clarifying the implementation of the excessive deficit procedure – amending Regulation - Requirements for budgetary frameworks of the Member States – amending Directive (joint debate – Economic governance)

A Uachtaráin, the EU likes to say that it listens and it learns. Well today shows that it does not listen and it does not learn regarding economic sovereignty and austerity. This deal lays the seeds for future austerity, hollows out national economic sovereignty and empowers unelected Brussels bureaucrats to further interfere in national budgets. Ireland needs a massive investment to build schools…

10

Apr

2024

EN Speech

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One-minute speeches on matters of political importance

Mr President, I want to take this opportunity to talk about the future for young fisherwomen and men throughout Ireland and their communities. Recently, I visited Arranmore Island, off the coast of Donegal, and was honoured to meet Muireann Kavanagh, a 14-year-old girl who catches pollock off the coast of her island like her father and grandfather before her, using this very hook and line. But Mui…

10

Apr

2024

EN Speech

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Discharge 2022 (debate)

, as the people of Gaza face a humanitarian crisis unparalleled to anything we have seen this century, some political forces here in Brussels, like the EPP, are questioning the need to fund the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees. We should be increasing and championing the work of UNWRA, not attacking it! Shame on those trying to attack the Palestinian people when they a…

13

Mar

2024

EN Speech

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The immediate risk of mass starvation in Gaza and the attacks on humanitarian aid deliveries

Mr President, a chairde, what is happening in Gaza is a live-streamed genocide, a humanitarian catastrophe broadcast in real time. How much horror must the people of Gaza endure before we act? How many more children must die before we hold Netanyahu’s Government accountable? The mass starvation in Gaza and the attacks on humanitarian aid deliveries must be called out for what they are: war crimes.…

12

Mar

2024

EN Speech

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Council and Commission statements - Preparation of the European Council meeting of 21 and 22 March 2024 (debate)

A Uachtaráin, EU leaders will gather in ten days’ time, with no doubt much informal discussion of the next Commission president. President Ursula von der Leyen has been selected to be the EPP candidate. I apologise, President von der Leyen, but when it comes to Ireland, you just don’t get us. That’s why I believe a second term for you would be detrimental to Ireland and the EU. Launching your camp…

11

Mar

2024

GA Speech

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One-minute speeches on matters of political importance

Mr President, we are celebrating Seachtain na Gaeilge 2024. It is worth mentioning that this is an international celebration with organized events around the world. Language rights are a living debate. It is so important for our identity, culture and human rights that this Parliament upholds our language rights. We should be proud of the Irish language and promote it in Europe and Ireland.…

28

Feb

2024

EN Speech

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Implementation of the common foreign and security policy – annual report 2023 (A9-0389/2023 - David McAllister)

Mr President, it’s difficult to vote for a report such as this without being conscious of comments by Ursula von der Leyen, which completely disregard Irish neutrality. Last week, President von der Leyen said that we need a Commissioner for defence. This is the European Union. If she’s interested in military alliances, there’s a job going at NATO. But keep Ireland out of your plans! The texts vote…

26

Feb

2024

EN Speech

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One-minute speeches on matters of political importance

Mr President, this weekend I attended the Irish Skipper Expo, which brought together fishermen with fishing and coastal stakeholders from across Ireland. The message I kept hearing was that Dublin and Brussels are not doing enough to ensure the survival of the Irish fishing sector, which has taken real blows between Brexit and the COVID pandemic. There is a real fear that there is more to come, as…

7

Feb

2024

EN Speech

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Instant payments in euro (A9-0230/2023 - Michiel Hoogeveen)

Mr President, I welcome the adoption of the new EU rules on instant payments. I especially welcome the approval of my amendment, which means that checking IBAN numbers to prevent fraud will be free under these new rules. This means people can use this service and so fraud can be prevented. By following this process, ordinary workers and consumers will be empowered to know whom they are actually tr…

7

Feb

2024

EN Speech

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Commemoration of the 70th anniversary of Abbé Pierre's appeal on addressing homelessness in the context of persisting poverty and social exclusion (debate)

Mr President, I want to welcome this debate on the 70th anniversary of Abbé Pierre’s appeal on addressing homelessness. His appeal, which centred on the belief in the fundamental right to shelter and the need for immediate action to address homelessness, is as relevant today as it was 70 years ago. In Ireland, we have had successive Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael governments setting records they should…

7

Feb

2024

EN Speech

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Empowering farmers and rural communities - a dialogue towards sustainable and fairly rewarded EU agriculture (debate)

Mr President, Mr Vice-President, Madam Commissioner, I want to express solidarity with family farmers who are feeling the pain of inflation, fuel costs, competitions with imports from outside the EU, and general lack of fair prices. These mounting challenges – while they’re being asked to do more – has reached a breaking point for many who are more concerned than ever for their family farms’ futur…

6

Feb

2024

EN Speech

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Calling on the Council to take all necessary steps to reach an agreement on the European cross-border mechanism file and open negotiations with Parliament (debate)

Madam President, , firstly, I want to acknowledge the promotion of better cross-border cooperation. As someone who grew up near Britain’s border in Ireland, I know the administrative and economic hurdles, as well as the societal hardship this border imposed on our communities. So I fully appreciate the importance of cross-border cooperation. Our Good Friday Agreement established a North South Coun…

5

Feb

2024

EN Speech

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One-minute speeches on matters of political importance

Mr President, the assembly in the north of Ireland has elected an Irish citizen, a republican, a pro-Irish-unity First Minister. I want to congratulate Michelle O’Neill on her election to that role. We must harness the full potential of this decade of opportunity for our island. Now is the time for the European Parliament and the Belfast Assembly to begin formalising direct engagement between our …

17

Jan

2024

EN Speech

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Gender aspects of the rising cost of living and the impact of the energy crisis (debate)

Madam President, throughout the pandemic, it was the women of Ireland that sustained our societies. The weight of paid and unpaid caring responsibilities, as well as work in low-paid essential services, was disproportionately carried by women. Now, post-pandemic and faced with the cost of living crisis, the disproportionality continues. Irish women often act as the shock absorbers of the cost of l…

13

Dec

2023

EN Speech

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EU strategy to assist young people facing the housing and cost of living crisis (topical debate)

Madam President, I want to welcome this debate on an EU strategy to assist young people facing the housing and cost-of-living crises – crises exasperated by the greed of energy and financial institutions, who record record profits while workers and families pay record prices. In Ireland, the cost of renting or buying a home is beyond the reach of most people. North American cuckoo funds should be …

12

Dec

2023

EN Speech

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Need to release all hostages, to achieve a humanitarian ceasefire and prospect of the two-state solution (debate)

Mr President, a chairde, in October, the Irish Parliament became one of the first in the world to demand a ceasefire. That vote sent an important signal to the international community: it told the world that the people of Ireland are on the side of peace and against violence. Standing with the oppressed, not the oppressor. And it sent a signal that other parliaments should have followed: the assau…

21

Nov

2023

EN Speech

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Proposals of the European Parliament for the amendment of the Treaties (debate)

Mr President, and friends, this debate comes at a very crucial time. Therefore, it’s disappointing to me that the same old voices have decided to exploit it in order to advance their agenda of promoting qualified majority voting instead of unanimity in areas like taxation or foreign policy and defence. Make no mistake about it, we in Ireland are determined to keep our foreign and defence policy fu…

8

Nov

2023

EN Speech

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One-minute speeches on matters of political importance

Madam President, across Ireland we have seen mass rallies rightfully calling for an end to Israel’s massacre of innocent children, women and men in Gaza, wiping out entire families, brutalising those in occupied territories. The Israeli Ambassador in Ireland has insulted and attacked the Irish people and our President for showing solidarity. Further, Israel now refuses to allow Irish citizens to l…

19

Oct

2023

EN Speech

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Generational renewal in the EU farms of the future (debate)

Mr President, Commissioner, I welcome this report and thank the rapporteur for working constructively with us all to produce such a progressive report. Generational renewal is key for the social, economic and environmental sustainability of rural areas, and indeed for the future of agriculture. Ireland is particularly vulnerable as one third of our farmers are over 65. Unfortunately, young people …

18

Oct

2023

EN Speech

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Mental health at work (debate)

Madam President, I welcome this debate on mental health in the workplace. It’s a time of unprecedented advancements in science and technology, which we are told will improve the work-life balance for workers and families. Regrettably, the reality falls far short of the promise. The extent of mental-health challenges within the EU is alarmingly significant. It’s particularly pronounced amongst youn…

18

Oct

2023

EN Speech

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The despicable terrorist attacks by Hamas against Israel, Israel’s right to defend itself in line with humanitarian and international law and the humanitarian situation in Gaza (debate)

Mr President, firstly, I want to express my deepest sympathy and condolences to the family of the Irish woman Kim Dampti, and all families who have lost loved ones, whether they be Israeli or Palestinian. There is no justification for the killing of civilians by either Hamas or Israel. We must also condemn the forced displacement by Israel of Palestinians in clear breach of international humanitar…

13

Sep

2023

EN Speech

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Amending the proposed mechanism to resolve legal and administrative obstacles in a cross-border context (debate)

A Uachtaráin, I want to welcome this debate. Speaking as someone who grew up near Britain’s border in Ireland, I have seen the administrative and economic hurdles and community hardship this border imposed on our peoples. This mechanism could be an interesting model for better working cross-border cooperation, pending reunification of Ireland. So I welcome this report. The Good Friday Agreement es…

12

Jul

2023

EN Speech

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Relations with the Palestinian Authority (A9-0226/2023 - Evin Incir)

Mr President, the situation in Palestine is dire and the Israeli regime is making conditions in Palestine difficult for any free and democratic government to function. In the West Bank, nearly 200 permanent checkpoints, scores of barriers, a draconian permit regime – all supported by a repressive biometric surveillance system – continues to control and divide families. Tens of thousands of Palesti…

12

Jul

2023

EN Speech

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Nature restoration (A9-0220/2023 - César Luena)

Mr President, the Nature Restoration Law endorsed today was an important step in placing the reversing of widespread loss of flora and fauna to the top of the agenda. But we must ensure that farmers are fully involved in this process. We need to address their concerns. The Parliament’s endorsement of Sinn Féin’s amendment on having a national socio-economic impact assessment to tailor any measures…

11

Jul

2023

EN Speech

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Relations with the Palestinian Authority (debate)

Madam President, in Palestine, we have again seen over our airwaves the Israeli military committing gross breaches of international law and standards on the use of force, which may constitute a war crime. These are not my words, but the words of representatives of the United Nations, when last week in Jenin, Israeli forces murdered a dozen Palestinians. Five were children, many more badly wounded.…