Kathleen FUNCHION

GUE/NGL

Kathleen FUNCHION

MEP · Ireland

Plenary speeches · European Parliament

Plenary speeches · EU Parliament

What Kathleen spoke about.

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Speeches updated 2 days ago

All Speeches

44

Since July 1, 2024

Time at the Floor

0.9h

≈ 53 min

Average speech length

1:13 min

≈ 1.2 min · Rank 630/690

Activity

Monthly speeches

Speeches Ranking

Since July 1, 2024

Top 5 Show all

Rank		Name	Country	Group	Speeches
1		Lukas Sieper	GermanyDE	Renew Europe (Renew)	356
2		Sebastian Tynkkynen	FinlandFI	European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR)	329
3		Juan Fernando López Aguilar	SpainES	Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D)	301
4		João Oliveira	PortugalPT	The Left in the European Parliament (GUE/NGL)	207
5		Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis	LithuaniaLT	Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D)	198

7

Jul

2025

EN Speech

One-minute speeches on matters of political importance

A Uachtaráin, it seems Irish insurance holders are stuck in some kind of a rip-off cycle, particularly when it comes to car insurance. In Ireland, we are now paying nearly twice the EU average and it's at the highest it has been in five years. People and families, particularly in rural Ireland, who need cars to get to work, to get to school and basically live their lives, are facing unexplained ri…

18

Jun

2025

EN Speech

Upcoming NATO summit on 24-26 June 2025 (debate)

A Uachtaráin, whilst I recognise the sovereign right of each Member State to choose their own foreign policies and whether or not they participate in military alliances, such as NATO, I hope each of you too recognises the sovereign right of my country, Ireland, to maintain its historical policy of neutrality. We in Ireland have a proud history and tradition of UN peacekeeping, and long may that co…

17

Jun

2025

GA Speech

Strengthening rural areas in the EU through cohesion policy (A10-0092/2025 - Denis Nesci)

Mr. President, although I welcome this report a lot, I could not support it. As an MEP, as I move around South Ireland, I see the need for rural policies and funding for our rural communities. That's why I think it's scandalous that there is an article 39 in this report saying that we should bring military forces into our rural policies. Dear friends, there is enough money and emphasis going towar…

17

Jun

2025

EN Speech

Situation in the Middle East (joint debate)

A Uachtaráin, when future generations look back on the live-streamed genocide in Gaza, they will not look kindly on the EU institutions. They will not look kindly on the President of the European Commission, who willingly takes phone calls from war criminals. They will not look kindly on this institution, as after nearly two years of war crimes being broadcast onto our television screens and our p…

5

May

2025

GA Speech

One-minute speeches on matters of political importance

5

May

2025

EN Speech

Ninth report on economic and social cohesion (debate)

Mr President, thank you, Commissioner, for being here. I firstly want to thank Mr Protas and all his team for their cooperation and work, as in many ways this is the report the European Parliament needs. It is ambitious for a well-budgeted and progressive cohesion policy. However, it has a major flaw, which means it fails the litmus test for myself and for my colleagues on the Left. It opens the d…

2

Apr

2025

GA Speech

Implementation of the common security and defence policy – annual report 2024 (A10-0011/2025 - Nicolás Pascual de la Parte)

Mr President, I could not support this report. The report put a strong emphasis on military matters for the European Union and I am not in favour of that. As an Irish Member, we are proud of our historic policy of neutrality. It is not right that the European Union is pushing us in Ireland to move towards a European Army. We have to stop this. That is why we were not able to support this. Thank yo…

1

Apr

2025

EN Speech

Human rights and democracy in the world and the European Union’s policy on the matter – annual report 2024 (debate)

A Uachtaráin, across the globe, we are witnessing an increasing assault on international humanitarian law and human rights. This must be challenged regardless of where it takes place, and this Parliament must set the highest of standards when it comes to upholding the values of human rights and democracy. For us in Ireland, this Parliament must firmly oppose any rollback on justice for victims of …

12

Mar

2025

EN Speech

European Semester (joint debate)

A Uachtaráin, whilst I welcome certain aspects of this report, particularly in recognition of the role of formal and informal carers in society, I ultimately cannot vote in favour. We are not fooled by calls for debt sustainability, which is in reality calls for a return to the failed policies of austerity. The call for sustainable pension systems is nothing more than Eurospeak for increasing the …

11

Mar

2025

EN Speech

European Council meetings and European security (joint debate)

A Uachtaráin, as a Member from a country that cherishes our neutrality and recognises the benefits it has brought to the world, I want to express my opposition to any backsliding when it comes to the neutrality of Ireland. Our country has a proud history of UN-mandated peacekeeping missions, a tradition that has gone on for decades. Our neutrality has enabled us to maintain an independent foreign …

11

Feb

2025

EN Speech

The need to address urgent labour shortages and ensure quality jobs in the health care sector (debate)

A Uachtaráin, I welcome this debate as we urgently need to address the crises in recruitment and retention in our disability and our health care sectors. In 2024, there was an estimated shortfall of around 1.6 million health and social care workers across the EU. In Ireland, we have the particularly unfair situation of Section 39 workers who work for privately owned charities and agencies that are…

10

Feb

2025

EN Speech

One-minute speeches on matters of political importance

Mr President, I want to raise the issue of domestic violence and a law that we should be enacting, which is called Valerie's Law. So currently, an absolutely horrific loophole exists within the law in Ireland and other Member States, which means that when a partner intentionally kills their partner, that person still retains guardianship rights of their shared children. It's actually difficult to …

19

Dec

2024

EN Speech

Need to update the European strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities (debate)

Madam President, people with disabilities are entitled to the same rights, dignity and respect as everyone else in society, and I commend the progress made under the previous strategy for people with disabilities, particularly the introduction of the European Disability Card and the recent publication of guidance on independent living. It is hard to communicate everything you want to say in one mi…

28

Nov

2024

EN Speech

Strengthening children’s rights in the EU - 35th anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (debate)

Madam President, previously in our national parliament in Ireland, I had the honour of chairing our children's committee for around four years. So, I know how important the issue of children's rights is. And children must be at the heart of EU policy. We need to tackle serious issues such as child poverty, child sexual abuse and the protection of children online. While I commend the vital work of …

27

Nov

2024

EN Speech

Presentation by the President-elect of the Commission of the College of Commissioners and its programme (debate)

A Uachtaráin, after all the drama and the delays, the deal is done and we will have five more years of Ursula von der Leyen. President von der Leyen, you are unacceptable to us on the left, and you are unacceptable to the Irish people, as an enabler of an ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people. What's more, your Commission is hell bent on passing the Mercosur Agreement – an agreement whic…

22

Oct

2024

EN Speech

Guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States (debate)

A Uachtaráin, firstly, I wish to commend Li Andersson for this progressive report. I welcome the emphasis on education, training, better pay and conditions. And I also note the key message that affordable housing is key to addressing social inequalities. A decent home is fundamental for every worker to thrive and prosper. In Ireland, workers are burdened with sky-high house prices and also rip-off…

21

Oct

2024

EN Speech

One-minute speeches (Rule 179)

A Uachtaráin, last week in Ireland, it was revealed that EUR 158 million was left unspent in the mother and baby institution payment scheme. This was a redress scheme meant for survivors who suffered terribly at the hands of the State and religious institutions. And can I add that they were primarily women. I want to firstly pay tribute to all of those who are still fighting the cause for justice.…

10

Oct

2024

EN Speech

World Mental Health Day - need for a comprehensive EU strategy on mental health (debate)

A Uachtaráin, it is important that this Parliament recognises World Mental Health Day to raise awareness, reduce stigma and promote mental well-being throughout Europe. Issues around mental health reach us all. If we have not personally suffered, someone we know and love probably has and often in silence and solitude. There has been some improvement in tackling the stigma involved with mental heal…

19

Sep

2024

EN Speech

The historic CJEU ruling on the Apple state aid case and its consequences (debate)

A Uachtaráin, I warmly welcome the ECJ ruling that Apple must pay Ireland EUR 13 billion in unpaid taxes. The Irish Government wasted EUR 10 million of Irish taxpayers' money fighting a case, siding with one of the wealthiest corporations ever to exist. This should never have been the case. Money that would have been far better utilised in housing or health care or our disability sector was wasted…