Speeches

Madam President, I rise today to make a point of order under Rule 117 of the Parliament's Rules of Procedure. I will do this alongside 145 signatories of this House from five political groups who've requested a legal opinion of the European Court of Justice. I note what you say, President, this afternoon. But I raise the issue at you on precedent. It is our right as Members of this House to request such an opinion. In 2019, we did this – there is a precedent. We have already requested an opinion before the Council had their position in an international agreement; when the Parliament sought an opinion of the European Court of Justice on the EU's accession to the Istanbul Convention. President – it is clear that both of these cases are international agreements, and that one has been treated differently to the other. We must have equivalence in our work, otherwise this calls into question the working and independence of our institution, and I ask you to note the fact that they were both really significant and important agreements.

Mr President, I rise here to speak for Ireland's coastal communities, for fishermen who have played by the rules but now face ruin. The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea recommends that in 2026, mackerel catches fall by about 70 % and blue whiting by 41 %, but these are Ireland's lifeblood species. This crisis was not caused by Irish fishers; Ireland fishes within the EU limits. Yet some coastal states have seen unilateral quotas above scientific advice while still selling into the EU market. That is neither fair nor sustainable. Fisherman Alan O'Neil, from Cork, came to this building to tell me his son, 13 years of age, loves fishing, but he's had to tell him to move away from the profession now because there is no future in it. This is not right. The pain must be heard in this House. For one job at sea, there can be up to seven ashore, and Ireland's seafood economy supports around 17 000 jobs in coastal regions. So I say Ireland needs immediate fairness. Invoke the Hague Preferences now to cushion the blow on communities in Donegal and Cork, and ensure equal sustainability obligations for all our partners.

Mr President, Ms von der Leyen, last July you came in to this Parliament and offered us a budget that left farmers with 20 % less in their income. We rejected it outright. Last weekend you realised we were serious. You changed, you tried to pretend it was something else. But today you came in with a pig in a poke. Do you know what that is? You are offering us an opportunity to buy something, and we do not know what it is. You told us today you are going to have rural targets in future – there will be 10 % more. We need specifics! In fact, we need our old Pillar II back, Commissioner. We need our Pillar II for EU Leader funding and for all those other key issues. And in cohesion funds, we need specific funding ring‑fenced for our Member States. You started the process of just transition across Europe. You funded the workers who lost their jobs for the first four or five years. You cannot walk away now. You cannot say it's a matter for the Member States. These are your policies in the first instance that left hundreds of people out of work. They rely on this funding. I say to you we will not buy this pig in the poke. Start again. Come up with another plan.

I am in favour of the meteorological services, the professional services who tell us today: 'There will be rain – and severe rain – in your Member State on Friday'. I am critical of people who do not respond to this. I do not care whether or not it is a modern activity, whether it is a once-off flood or a major event. The critical thing is lives are being lost. We saw it in my own constituency and – Commissioner, I read this point to you as well about the role of the habitats act – sometimes we do not deal with the flooding because it is protected. The land is protected. People must come first. I agree with my colleagues from Spain from today: people must come first.

Mr President, there can be no doubt about the scale of the tragedy that hit the people of Valencia this time last year. Our thoughts are with those who lost loved ones in the floods. But one has to ask critical questions about the response of the Spanish authorities and, indeed, the reaction of the so-called 'European crisis machine'. Where was it? The failure of the early warning system is responsible for the damage done in severe weather events like this. Prevention measures are essential. I raised this directly with Commissioner Lahbib when she came before the Parliament and Marco Panigalli, the head of the Commission's Civil Protection Emergency Response Capabilities unit, admitted it. He said clearly, when they see from the weather instruments there might be a catastrophe looming, the mechanism can be pre-activated, meaning the emergency teams from throughout Europe can go directly to an area under threat before the storm, before the rain, and go on standby, ready to be deployed. Whether it's Spain, or along the Shannon Callows in County Offaly, or indeed any potential blackspot for flooding. So we must wake up to use these supports from Europe. Member States must trigger the alarm earlier and take more precautions or more will die and more land will be damaged.

Mr President, Commissioner, when I first saw the charred remains of the car in front of the home of journalist Sigfrido Ranucci, my mind went back to 26 June 1996, when the Irish investigative journalist Veronica Guerin was murdered in her car in a contract killing in Dublin, ordered by a Dublin-based drug cartel. I knew her well. She fought for investigative journalism throughout her career, even after she was first shot in the leg. When I met her, she said she would never give up her investigative work. She continued until the day she died. In the aftermath of her murder, the Irish Government responded to a public outcry against this attack on the freedom of the press, and created a new Criminal Assets Bureau with the legal power to seize assets that are clearly the assets of criminals, and the result of their crimes. Occasionally, we see nowadays reports showing BMW cars and Mercedes cars and gold Rolex watches being taken away from mansions where these guys – these thugs – live. But it's not enough. We need to see more, Commissioner. We need to see swifter and more powerful legislation across borders in Europe. There can be no hiding place for these thugs. We must go after those who flaunt their ill-gotten gains, because we cannot give into intimidation.

Mr President, two human stories for you this evening, President, one common theme: the crisis facing industry due to the extortionate price of energy in Europe, costing thousands of jobs. In my constituency in Ireland, Alex Armstrong from Kildare town has worked in the hospitality industry since he was 16 years old. He worked hard in the kitchens, weekends, bank holidays. But he doesn't do it anymore because Strong's Café in Kildare is closing down on 16 November because of overheads, crippling energy costs and more. It's no longer sustainable. Joan is in her 70s; she's worked with her husband in a busy engineering business in the Midlands since 1968. She told me she's at the end of her tether because electricity companies, she says, have robbed them. The bills went from EUR 2 500 per month to EUR 10 000 per month. When is the European Commission and the Irish Government going to realise that energy prices must be cut urgently? Industry can't wait for Russian gas to end or the super grid to be set up. We need to move now before thousands of other jobs are lost.

Madam President, thank you to all the contributors this afternoon. I was delighted to hear, Commissioner, you talk about the 46 % of the Just Transition Fund contractors and the EUR 12 billion gone out to projects. But of course, as you have heard from our colleagues today, if we had greater simplification, a more straightforward system of applying and less red tape, I believe it would be much higher. And I think we need to focus on that in the future. Many of my colleagues have raised very fair points: there must be a social dimension to the heart of this policy, not just in housing but in other areas. We need that social dimension. We must, of course, include young people, and we must look out for them. Just transition cannot be left to Member States. This is a crucial part, Commissioner, going forward: we cannot just say, 'here is the fund, do what you wish with it.' I have seen firsthand what they do with it, Commissioner, it is not pretty. In my region, they closed the peat-burning power station down, but they were not ready to transition to renewables, so in the car park of this power station today, they burn diesel oil in a peaker plant. This is crazy. It is nuts. So we must ensure our Member States are ready for this. Similarly, they now propose to take down power stations in my community and they have no major renewable project lined up. Instead they say they will spend between EUR 10 and EUR 15 million taking away these power stations, and the workers who have lost their jobs read reports in the newspapers that companies in India and elsewhere will buy some of the materials and the equipment from the old power stations and bring them to India. This type of report drives the people in the community absolutely berserk. They say 'where is the sense in this? Where is the organisation?' That is why, Commissioner, we need the Commission to be essentially involved as we go forward, we need the Commission to take control of the Just Transition Fund and ensure it works for the people who lost their jobs.

Mr President, dear Commissioner Fitto, colleagues, we all share the same ambition. We want to see a Europe that delivers for our citizens in the changing world in which we find ourselves. However, we know that ambition alone will not really deliver results. That's why cohesion policy matters. That's why I'm proposing targeted measures to ensure it delivers for people whose lives have been upended by the transition away from carbon-intensive industry. It's about making sure we see social justice before transition. It's about ensuring that no region, no community and no worker is left behind. Colleagues, this is the core message of my report before you today. In this report, we highlight what many regions are experiencing – the green transition is not an abstract policy objective, but a daily reality for communities, families and businesses. The reality of this transition is clearly visible in my own region: in Lanesborough in County Longford, at the Bord Na Móna Mount Dillon works, hundreds of workers lost their jobs and their livelihoods when the local power station was shut down. This is very real. The same story has been repeated from Shannonbridge in County Offaly and right across Europe to Silesia in Poland, where I visited this year, and countless regions in between. Workers who have given decades of service have found themselves facing unemployment. If we fail to address these issues adequately, we risk deepening regional inequalities, Commissioner. That is why I am bringing forward these new policies to ensure that workers are treated fairly and properly supported in every step of the transition. No one should face redundancy without a clear plan for retraining and reskilling, because, colleagues, without their buy-in the transition will never succeed. That is why Just Transition as a fund plays an important role within cohesion. It is not about idealism, but about ensuring the plan and the change is achievable and fair. The Commission's mid-term review earlier this year recognised this reality by expanding the scope of the fund and ensuring that, under certain conditions, just transition projects are entitled to another year to spend funds. This is good. The Regional Development Committee of this Parliament has gone further, proposing practical reforms to make just transition work even better. So first and foremost, Commissioner, the Regional Development Committee has made a strong call for a Just Transition Fund II, with adequate resources and firmly based on shared management and partnership principles. As you will be aware, the proposal from the Commission on the future MFF did not contain any proposal for a second fund. Colleagues, in order to bring citizens with us, in order to ensure no one is actually left behind, we must send a clear and unequivocal message today. We need a second fund for just transition. We need it. Anything less is unacceptable. We must continue the work we have started. We have also put further forward a concrete proposal for the creation of special economic zones in the regions hardest hit by closures. Crucially, these zones will not be a quick fix. They will remain in place until such a time as the majority of jobs last locally are actually replaced in the local area. That is the key to this, Commissioner. I have long championed education and training at the heart of transition, and therefore I am particularly pleased and happy to say that we have made bold proposals for investment in apprenticeships and training within local areas. However, crucially, this must be tailored to the needs of the local economy. This report also advocates for multiple simplification methods, bringing forward the idea of social justice before transition and specifically acknowledging the plight of seasonal workers, such as peat harvesters, that have not had adequate alternative work options created; they have been left behind. We have called for the establishment of new social training programmes for older unemployed workers who are unable to retrain and acquire new jobs to ensure they are supported until retirement. So, in conclusion, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to leave with one clear message: the future MFF proposal from the European Commission has been a wake-up call to us all. That future MFF proposal is no longer business as usual. Let's send a clear message from this House that we reject centralisation and stand up for our regions and communities by proposing a strengthened Just Transition Fund II, with simplified procedures, empowering local communities to chart a path not only towards a just transition, but towards a truly fair and just Europe. Commissioner, I give you this letter as I leave. This is the worker who says he is being left behind. He feels no options were provided after he lost his job. I hope you read it and you take his message to heart. This is real. This is a real person.

Mr President, dear colleagues, the scandal of defective concrete blocks in Ireland is not just about bricks and mortar and faulty EU regulation by the Irish Government. It's a clear and present danger to thousands of men, women and children living in County Donegal and in more than 20 other counties around Ireland. I witnessed a catastrophe unfolding myself before my own eyes when I visited these homes. Couples sleeping on couches in the only room of the house not destroyed by dampness and mould. Houses that are falling apart with cracked walls, unstable roofs, and families living in fear. Denise Grant and her family are trying to rebuild their family home in the depth of this trauma – the unrelenting crisis for them, and with continuous and never-ending stress. They told me about it. The Commission has launched an infringement procedure against Ireland and we patiently await its outcome. Commissioner Séjourné, get this sorted out. Get on with this, or lives will be lost – and I will hold you and the Irish Government responsible if that happens.

Madam President, Mr Commissioner, when we speak about the future of agriculture, some suggest only viable professional farmers should receive EU funding. But I cannot agree, because in 2023 only 27 % of Irish farmers met that definition. I say so because I reject that approach, because that's where I'm from. I'm from the centre of a country where arable farmland shares the landscape with peat land, which cannot be farmed. So part-time farmers are a part of the landscape, that is the way it is. We have both an opportunity and a responsibility to secure their future, because when my late brother farmed that land, he also prepared cattle for the factory, he also was part of the food chain, he played his part. The CAP budget must be stabilised. We must look at this issue of investment with the same urgency as we do with the EU defence budget. I say we must return to the core purpose of CAP: supporting sustainable food production for consumers. Food security also means generational renewal, and I know you will deliver on this, but I say it to you: new entrants and retiring farmers need strong, targeted incentives at both EU and national level, and I say specifically a CAP package for new entrants that includes at least the minimum, industrial wage so they will stay on the farm.

Madam President, Commissioner Lahbib, the people of Ireland will not forget what you did for them when Storm Éowyn hit our shores last January. Your emergency response mechanism sent 18 industrial generators to Ireland. The lights came back; the water came back. Our government will hopefully learn to trigger that mechanism earlier. Fortunately, we do not have widespread wildfires in Ireland, but the small coastal community of Achill in County Mayo certainly has an issue. In the last three years, they've had 12 wildfires, three of them so far this year. And indeed, their village was evacuated last year. They want to speak to you and to the Commission about a new policy, a strategy to deal with the situation – a national farm and land management strategy. They say their lives, their homes and their farming livelihoods and even the designated conservation areas are under threat. So, they want joined-up thinking, Commissioner. They want the Commission and the Irish Government to work together with all the agencies. They do not want a 'pass the box' – somebody saying, 'It is not my job to put up the signs, to speak to the tourists. It is not my job to speak to the farmers.' We ask for a joined-up approach, support the people of Achill in County Mayo.

Madam President, we're waiting for the final text of the unfair Mercosur agreement. In the wings of this building, there's talk among some countries of a side deal, a magical clause that will somehow pacify farmers in France or in Italy, and some Irish MEPs are looking for a get-out-of-jail free card of their own as well to try and save face and votes at home. But Irish farmers will see through this, Chair. No form of words or special accord will be accepted by our livestock farmers whose livelihood is threatened by those who use illegal drugs on their herd, and they're getting away with it. The job of Irish farmers is getting tougher – after months of diligent work on water quality aimed at retaining our Nitrates Directive comes yet another demand. An assessment under the Habitats Directive was never a part of this process up to now, it was never needed. Farmers need clarity. I'm calling on the Irish Agriculture Minister to engage with the Commissioner and seek clear, concise guidelines and stop this ridiculous charade that's going on before the Commission moves the goalposts again.

Madam President, High Representative Kallas, President van der Leyen must clarify her recent remarks to the Prime Minister of Israel. Specifically, what does she mean, the right to defend oneself? What are the boundaries of that right? Because what we're witnessing in Gaza is not self-defence. It's the deliberate starvation of women and children. It's the obstruction of humanitarian aid, food, water and medical supplies to an entire population. Even as the mother, as a former doctor, she knows what she's doing. This is the this is the result of her words. As Members of this Parliament, we cannot remain silent, ladies and gentlemen, we must take a stance. The European Union has a moral duty, not just a diplomatic option, to intervene for the sake of the people. We must demand unrestricted access for humanitarian aid, including food and medicine. We can do these things even outside of the Council. Mobilise EU resources immediately to assist relief efforts on the ground, and we must demand that Israel provide meaningful cooperation, not just rhetoric, to avoid a worsening humanitarian catastrophe. History will judge how we respond to that this moment. Some people in this House should be ashamed of what they haven't done so far. We must not be found wanting.

Mr President, we're in a housing crisis, so we're told. In Ireland and in Europe we need simple, straightforward reforms. Currently, the credit union sector in Ireland have EUR 22 billion in assets, just EUR 7 billion in loans given out. They want to lend out more for housing and other things. But under current central Bank of Ireland rules, credit unions must hold 10 % of the value of any investment in Irish government bonds as a capital reserve. This is despite the fact that under EU banking regulations, government bonds are considered zero‑risk assets and require no such capital buffer. If our Irish regulations were to be aligned with EU norms and this reserve requirement were to be removed, credit unions could redirect billions into domestic investment. They would immediately free up EUR 1 billion for lending to families, small businesses, farmers and for building affordable homes. Imagine what it would do. People like Tom Allen in Mullingar, a credit union, could put young couples on the first rung of the ladder for houses for the first time, so we need to get our credit unions the tools they need to invest in their future and strengthen our communities. I appeal for reform here, reform this 10 % reserve rule and start that investment.

Madam President, Commissioner, I want to commend the rapporteur for the excellent work. As an Irish MEP representing a large rural constituency, this report highlights many of the structural challenges faced by these communities. However, one of the most pressing issues of our time for our rural communities is access to housing, Commissioner. Madam President, a key challenge in solving this rural housing crisis is addressing the lack of infrastructure. Without proper investment in water, broadband and transport links, even the most basic planning permission becomes unattainable. This has had a direct effect on young people who want to stay in our communities, but cannot because of infrastructure. Supporting this kind of generational continuity and ensuring we have adequate support through cohesion policy is essential, Commissioner, in keeping rural life. If reports are to be believed, one month from today the European Commission will come forward with the multiannual financial framework. This is a crucial time for our regions, Commissioner. If we do not act now, I fear for the viability in the future. Let's keep the money for regions, not for defence, Commissioner.

Madam President, consumers all over Europe are experiencing a significant and sustained surge in food prices. On 20 April this year, food-price inflation had risen by 4.9 % over just 12 weeks. This staggering rise is hitting households directly in their pockets. According to an Ernst and Young survey published in May, the average Irish household is now spending nearly EUR 2000 per month compared to 2021. That's an enormous burden on working families. Figures from the Central Statistics Office confirm a cumulative increase of 3.6 % for 12 consecutive months. Everything is going up, Commissioner, even the butter in our canteen outside has gone up by over 5 % since I joined this Parliament last year. We know that food inflation hits hardest those who least can afford it, the lower paid, the disadvantaged, so at European level we must be honest about this. We must look at all the key contributing factors to food inflation. We know energy costs and conflict can play a role, but part of the cost pressure is driven by the rush to implement climate targets in unrealistic timescales. Well intentioned they may be, but our aim must be to strike a balance between environmental responsibility and economic affordability. Food security and the cost of living cannot be sacrificed just in the name of idealism.

Madam President, the housing crisis is crippling thousands of families and young couples all over Europe and especially in Ireland. I went to the town of Naas in County Kildare, a town which had 5 000 people in 1971, now a car-based town with 30 000 people in housing estates, and another 4 500 waiting for homes. A town that's been forgotten. Planning is terrible. The demand is just incredible. I spoke to Angela Garrett. She has two children, one aged 32, who has autism, the other 28. They're still living at home. She tells me the average price of a family home in this town is half a million euro – five hundred thousand euro! It is out of control. And what does our government do in Ireland? We put in charge a man who's paid a salary of almost half a million euro in another job to come in to take over this job. We lack ideas. We lack strong thinking. We lack an ability to consider the people who are involved here, the people who are suffering because of the lack of a home. It is an absolute disgrace. We need, throughout Europe and in Ireland, to focus on real progress for families like these.

Mr President, I welcome this report and its well-rounded assessment of what cohesion funds and policy actually stand for today. I compliment the rapporteurs. The report makes it clear, however, that stark disparities remain among the EU's regions, especially in rural areas. And in this context, I support the report's call for the need to address these disparities and simplify access to the funds, Commissioner: simplification. As a rapporteur of Parliament's own-initiative report on the just transition, I am glad to see the report calling for the continuation of that process and ensuring its reinforced financial means for the post-2027 period. However, I'm less happy with the announcement in the mid-term review of the cohesion policy of what seems to be the exclusion of my country, Ireland, from the one-year extension of the current year transition fund? I don't understand it. We must seek adequate flexibility in the capacity for Member States, such as Ireland, to have full access to the extended timeline to provide extra time to spend their allocations. As an MEP, I know how vital cohesion policy is for the regions. As we prepare for the next programming period, let's ensure cohesion policy remains properly funded, simplified and accessible to all the regions.

Madam President, Commissioner, if Liberation Day is what they're calling the events in Washington this week, then surely today, here in Strasbourg, we should say it's D-Day for our European Commission to get its act together in readiness for the challenges that are undoubtedly ahead. While Donald Trump talks of tariffs, we must talk about cohesion policy that will drive investment, reduce regional disparities and ensure that no region is left behind, especially in face of what will be tougher trading conditions. As we review our current programmes, there are fears ahead, Commissioner, that some projects risk being jettisoned for those more politically expedient in the short term, and even more concerns about reallocating funds to other priorities, such as defence spending. Commissioner, we cannot and will not stand idly by if this is proposed. We must not dilute our cohesion policy at any time, and especially when we are facing potentially crippling tariffs from the US. We need a robust, future-proofed cohesion policy, not just an investment. It's a commitment to European solidarity. Solidarity that is short in supply at the moment. We must safeguard a strong and well-funded cohesion policy well beyond 2027.

Madam President, the Gaeltacht areas of Ireland are not only geographical regions, they are part of the island's heritage. They're the heart beating of the Irish language. As the author of the book says: Language is the heart of our life. Unfortunately, a mix of bad planning or no planning at all, combined with Airbnb-style corporate acquisitions, have seen an influx of non-Irish speakers coming in, causing a dramatic shift in the linguistic balance. If planning continues to be granted without restrictions and there is no positive discrimination towards Irish speakers, there is a real risk now of losing the Irish language forever in locations like Galway, Kerry and Donegal. Commissioner, our new European Parliament Special Committee on Housing must look at this. We need positive planning policies that favour the natives, and we must ensure young people with fluent Irish are not priced out of their communities. The Irish language has survived through war, famine and numerous waves of immigration. For it to finally die due to planning laws would be a tragedy.

Madam President, motorists all over Europe are being driven to disillusionment over the lack of consistency in the price being charged for insurance premiums. The European Community was established as a single market where strength in numbers across over 20 Member States, was supposed to mean a more competitive market for insurance and cheaper premiums for the over 400 million people who live here. But this has not materialised in my country. The price of car insurance continues to rise every year, especially for young drivers, like Patrick O'Reilly from Cornafean in County Cavan: a 19-year-old boy who could insure his 2020 Volkswagen Golf for EUR 1 212 in Belgium, yet is asked to pay a staggering EUR 4 679 in Ireland. Commissioner, this is nothing short of a rip-off and no amount of prevarication over injury claims or legal costs can excuse it. We need our new Consumer Commissioner, Michael McGrath, to be brave and to seize on this issue, challenge the main players in Europe and make the single market work for European consumers.

Mr President, Commissioner, declining birth rates and an increasing proportion of elderly citizens in society is now the norm across the European Union. The figures are stark. The EU population is set to peak next year, as you know. We will lose around 30 million people within the next 75 years. As an MEP representing a mainly rural constituency, I'm aware of the major challenges out there. An incredible example for you today, Commissioner, is the village of Moygownagh in rural County Mayo and Ireland. Writing in the Western People, Liam Heffron highlighted the plight of the Irish town where, on the 24 June 2024, Mitchell's shop, the public house, the post office, the farm supply business and hardware store all failed to open. Moygownagh alone has lost a staggering 90% of its people since 1841, with the tipping point of sustainability now being passed. Like many parts of rural Ireland, North Mayo is being stripped of its population. This is why we must see the full implementation of the EU Demography Toolbox. Measures such as mentioning cohesion funds are important. The long‑term vision for rural areas must be fully implemented. We in the Committee on Regional Development (REGI) want to get the cohesion funds to do this job. Please help us, Commissioner, to solve the problem.

Mr President, the challenges facing the road haulage sector on island nations like Ireland, setting out from one of the most peripheral regions to do business in Europe, are patently unfair. Irish companies such as Beirne Express Freight in Mayo send their trailers from our island to mainland Europe, but face immediate restrictions upon arrival overseas under EU cabotage laws, while mainland operators encounter these regulations only after their first loading or unloading. This disparity costs tens of thousands of euros. Rigid driving time regulations penalise those who experience small delays, forcing them to miss ferries and wait for hours for the next one. Drivers should have the flexibility to complete their journeys without unnecessary penalties. President, how can we speak about a single market when so many of our service providers are hampered from operating within it? Remember what the Draghi report stated? How can we speak about competition in the EU when we impose all these administrative burdens? I call on the EU institutions to work towards undoing the unbalanced treatment of the road haulage sector, not just in Ireland, but in other island nations such as Malta and Cyprus.

Mr President, at one of the busiest times of the year for consumers, I believe it's essential to tell the Commissioner here tonight that euro notes and coins must remain a viable option to purchase goods and pay for services across the EU. A 2022 survey conducted by the European Central Bank found that 59 % of consumers use cash at the point of sale. In the same survey, 60 % of respondents expressed their preference for maintaining the option of both cash and cashless payments. In the meantime, while digital payments have gained ground, cash remains the most popular method of payment, and there are concerns that digital payment systems have become more susceptible now to cyberattacks from places like Russia and elsewhere. We have heard the Dutch central bank issue a stark warning to the public, urging them to ensure that they have cash on hand for essential transactions. My message tonight is very simple: we must call on the Commission to ensure that cash legally remains acceptable everywhere, even in places like Starbucks and Ryanair, who think they can be exceptions in this regard. As policymakers, we must ensure that citizens retain the freedom to choose their preferred method of payment. Mr President and Commissioner, cash is king, and long may it continue.