Speeches

Mr President, Commissioner, firstly, congratulations to the rapporteur Mr Halicki on a well‑crafted, forward‑looking report. The 2026 budget will be a vital tool to strengthen Europe's agriculture, fisheries, research and education sectors. But it must also rise to the challenge of new and fast‑evolving priorities. To boost its competitiveness, Europe must innovate more and faster. That means greater financial backing for SMEs, simplifying their reporting obligations and lowering barriers to the single market, our greatest asset. I also welcome the clear focus on fighting disinformation, promoting gender equality and investing in healthcare and humanitarian aid. Let's make sure the 2026 budget delivers for all Europeans.

Mr President, 100 days ago the Commissioner was set the task of crafting a new and bold vision for the future of farming in Europe. To your credit, Commissioner, you have delivered a realistic roadmap that is unafraid to tackle the challenges faced by farmers – a vision that supports local production, prioritises generational renewal and paves the way for fair prices. As you know, this vision is only the first step, and we as MEPs have to work with you and to support you to turn this vision into real change. That means ensuring that the policies set in motion are backed by the necessary funding in the next common agricultural policy. Farmers have been promised change time and time again, and we now have your roadmap and it's time for us all to move beyond talk: it's time for real, concrete action.

Mr President, the European single market has been the foundation of our economic success, connecting 450 million consumers across 27 countries. But let's be honest: it's not yet finished. And by leaving it unfinished, we are letting down European consumers and businesses alike. The biggest gap is services: 70 % of the EU economy. Yet complex regulations and red tape make it tough for companies, especially SMEs, to expand across borders. Then there's the Capital Markets Union. We currently rely too much on banks for funding. We need to let savings and investments flow more freely across Europe. And let's not forget digital and energy markets – still fragmented. The solution for this? Simplified EU‑wide rules. And the only final point: European consumers also expect safe and traceable products, particularly in agri‑food goods. But when imports fail, we must meet standards, and we must react swiftly to protect businesses, farmers and consumers alike. So 30 years after the single market was born, it's time to finish what we started.

Mr President, Commissioner, I want to start by welcoming the new Roadmap for Women's Rights. Gender equality is a fundamental principle of the EU, and this roadmap is a crucial step forward. However, we must ensure it leads to real change. In these times of geopolitical uncertainty, we cannot afford to backslide on gender equality. Across Europe, we are seeing growing threats to these rights, from severe underfunding of critical support services for women to gaps in legal frameworks addressing gender-based violence. An excellent example of progress, however, is the Zero Tolerance Meath pilot project in Ireland, led by Meath Women's Refuge and Support Services, to tackle domestic sexual and gender-based violence. And so I urge the Commission to use this roadmap as a foundation for the post-2025 Gender Equality Strategy, while also ensuring the full and timely implementation of the Directive on gender-based violence. Words are not enough. Action is needed now!

Madam President, Commissioner, over 60 % of EU companies today identify excessive regulation as a significant barrier to investment and 55 % of SMEs cite regulatory and administrative burdens as their main challenge. In the current EU political climate, marked by concerns over tariffs, trade tensions and the spectre of Donald Trump, simplification in EU rules have never been more crucial. The Commissioner's latest simplification package could save our companies EUR 6.3 billion in administrative costs. However, as we streamline, we must maintain regulatory certainty and clarity. I welcome proposals to revise the scope of the CSRD, reducing heavy burdens on SMEs and enabling them to prioritise innovation. Yet, simplification cannot compromise our climate commitments. With clear climate targets for 2030 and beyond, the fundamental course of direction is not changing and so regulatory adjustments must reinforce, not weaken our green objectives. In this context, I have two questions for the Commission. Firstly, will the upcoming agricultural simplification be as ambitious as those in the first Omnibus proposal and can you provide more detail here, please? Secondly, in the context of the EU-UK reset, could you clarify how simplifications within the CBAM may affect alignment with the UK's ETS?

Mr President, free and open trade is crucial for both Ireland and Europe, but I want to again raise my concerns on the Mercosur trade agreement around traceability and the need for a level playing field for our farmers and food producers. A recent Eurobarometer survey highlights the fact that 88 % of Europeans agree that agricultural imports of any origin should only enter the EU if their production has complied with EU environmental, animal welfare and labour standards. This shows that Europeans, as consumers, value the work we do here to protect high standards, and ensure traceability and sustainability. One of the greatest strengths of the European Union is its high standards in traceability and food security. We have a duty to ensure that all products coming into the EU meet these standards. Irish farmers are proud of their product and are committed to upholding high standards, but also expect to be on a level playing field with their competition.

Madam President, to strengthen our economy we must start with smarter regulation. With much global uncertainty, completing and fully leveraging our single market – the largest in the world – must follow suit. Removing barriers will strengthen resilience, attract investment, and create jobs. A Union of Skills will be central to this effort. Prioritising lifelong learning, STEM education and upskilling is essential to driving growth and innovation. But ambition requires action – real financing to transform plans into reality. And simplification must go beyond business. I welcome the Commission's commitment to bring forward a substantial simplification package for farmers. We must align this to the next Common Agricultural Policy to ensure that, as spending demands rise, food security remains a cornerstone of EU policy. In short: simplify our rules, invest in our people and complete the single market.

Madam President, Europe stands at a pivotal moment in relation to skills. Our labour market is undergoing significant change, driven by technology, the green transition and changing economic demands. Without investing in skills, we risk falling behind on the global stage. As our industries and businesses are crying out for workers with the right expertise, further education and training is more crucial than ever. Apprenticeships help develop the entrepreneurial skills employers seek, and vocational training and education equip workers to thrive in evolving industries. By 2030, 90 % of jobs will require digital skills. But as pointed out by Draghi, 37 % of Europeans in the workforce lack even the basic digital knowledge. The Union of Skills must be more than just an EU initiative. We need significant investment. The time for action is now. Europe must invest in the skills of tomorrow, today.

Mr President, Europe is ageing rapidly, and by 2014, nearly 1 in 3 people will be over 65, and more than 1 in 10, over 80, driving the demand for long‑term care services, especially for conditions like dementia. We know age is the key driver to dementia and Alzheimer's disease. In 2020, approximately 7 million people in the EU had dementia – a number projected to double by 2050. Yet today, nearly half of older Europeans with severe care needs lack adequate support due to unaffordable and inaccessible services. We must create a more supportive care system to relieve the stress on informal care and reduce the burden on families. Future health programmes must prioritise dementia with dedicated funding, and a European dementia action plan should coordinate efforts for timely diagnosis, innovative care solutions and improved working conditions. These measures will plan for a healthier Europe and navigate the challenges of democratic transition.

Thank you for your question, but what I'm trying to say is I think we should really, really put pressure on the platforms to make sure there's verification identity, and I think this would solve a lot of problems.

Madam President, Commissioner, we are at a critical moment when it comes to both protecting our democracies and citizens in the digital age. Many social media platforms, which once served as tools for connection, are increasingly becoming hubs for disinformation, exploitation and harm. This isn't just about protecting democracy. Anonymity is being weaponised in other ways. Catfishing, where predators create false identities online, devastates lives, exploiting vulnerable individuals, including children. The Digital Services Act is a bold start, but we must go further as this is not about eroding the right of having anonymity. It is about ensuring platforms can verify real users to deter fake accounts used for harm, protect children and vulnerable individuals, and build a digital environment of trust and accountability. The time for decisive action is now.

Mr President, Commissioner McGrath, imagine a friend scrolling through TikTok or Instagram, stumbling upon disinformation that influences how they vote. This isn't a fantasy; it is our reality. In recent elections across Europe, we have witnessed first hand the impact of unchecked disinformation. Social media platforms have often failed to detect and address the spread of false narratives, leaving our democratic processes vulnerable. Disinformation campaigns are not just about spreading lies. They are deliberate attempts to sow division, erode trust and weaken the democratic values that unite us as Europeans. This pan-European crisis demands a coordinated EU-wide response. The Digital Services Act represents a crucial opportunity to counter this growing threat. By holding social media platforms accountable for the spread of disinformation and hate speech, the DSA can serve as a robust tool to protect our democracies. However, tackling this issue effectively requires more than regulation. We must also equip our citizens of all ages with the tools and education to identify and challenge disinformation. Strengthening verification procedures is equally essential to ensure information integrity. This isn't just about elections; it's about safeguarding our democracy.

Madam President, the gender pay gap is a pressing issue right across Europe. Women earn on average 13 % less per hour than men, and this inequality has lifelong consequences. Women's economic empowerment demands urgent action. It is our role as lawmakers to foster policies that empower women, especially young women, to become the leaders of tomorrow. Advancing women into leadership roles, enforcing pay transparency and fostering workplace cultures that prioritise inclusion are the key to this. And while this Parliament has taken close steps to close the gender pay gap, we must continue to expand programmes that promote female entrepreneurship, skills development and STEM participation. We can and we must do more to empower women in all walks and in all stages of life. There is so much more to be achieved if we put our political weight behind the fight against inequality and discrimination.

Mr President, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reached unprecedented levels, with countless lives depending on the indispensable work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency. Suspending funding for UNRWA would be catastrophic, cutting off critical services to millions of Palestinian refugees. No organisation matches UNRWA's comprehensive aid delivery in Gaza, and recent Israeli legislative efforts to ban its operations threaten to violate international law and jeopardise regional stability. At this critical moment, the international community must uphold humanitarian principles, stand against these violations, and strengthen support for UNRWA's vital mission to save lives and maintain stability in the region.

Madam President, the figures on violence against women are staggering. We have to remember that behind each and every one of these statistics, there are mothers, there are daughters, wives and sisters, each one deserving dignity and respect and to feel safe, especially in their own home. I want to acknowledge the work of former MEP Frances Fitzgerald and our Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee. Their leadership and dedication have been instrumental in advancing the fight against violence towards women, both in Ireland and in Europe. I also want to applaud organisations like Meath Women's Refuge and Teach Tearmainn in Kildare, who provide vital support to those who need it. However, we cannot stop here. The work is far from finished. We must continue to fight for those whose voices have not been heard yet. In five years from now, I hope we can look back on significant progress made and one day proudly proclaim that Europe is one of the first continents in the world to eradicate violence against women.

Madam President, Commissioner, the greatest asset that Europe has is its people. Since its inception, the European Union has funded and driven the development of its people through education, skills and apprenticeships. But if we are to compete on a global scale, we need to break down the barriers that are causing the skills gap in Europe. Housing, infrastructure, red tape, the cost of living – things that are not just unique to Ireland – are the main barriers. And while our urban areas are very attractive for our young skilled workforce, we need a more comprehensive plan for our rural areas. In my constituency, in the Midlands–North-West in Ireland, young people often see Dublin and other urban areas as their only option for work and education. The EU needs to be at the forefront of solving these problems with a comprehensive plan for the development of rural areas. We need to show young people that their future can be at home, that they can innovate and thrive, not tens of thousands of miles away, but right here in the European Union.

Mr President, Commissioner, in Ireland, we have witnessed first hand the transformative power of cohesion funding. It has fostered innovation, strengthened local economies and empowered communities. As we engage in discussions about the next programming period of cohesion policy, we must remember the fundamental principles that underpin this essential framework: economic, social and territorial cohesion. They reflect our collective commitment to ensuring that every citizen has the right to stay in the place they call home, supported by robust public services, digital connectivity and opportunity for skill development. We must ensure that these successes are not merely fleeting achievements, but become the foundation for our future. It is our responsibility to ensure that every region, every local authority, has better access to the funding necessary to foster growth and development.