What Mairead spoke about.

19 Oct

2021

EN Speech

The Right to a Healthy Environment (debate)

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– Madam President, I would like to thank my colleagues for raising this really important issue and having this debate this evening, because we do need to look at the connection and the right to a healthy environment of citizens, not just of Europe, but globally. There were some points raised (and many), so I can’t address all of them, but I want to reassure you that, when it comes to water, last y…

19 Oct

2021

EN Speech

The Right to a Healthy Environment (debate)

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– Madam President, human rights and a healthy environment go hand in hand, and that’s what this debate is about this evening. It’s true for all, but it’s particularly important for children, women, indigenous peoples and local communities, because these groups are more vulnerable than others to the effects of climate change and environmental degradation, as the Minister mentioned. The right to a c…

6 Oct

2021

EN Speech

Banking Union - annual report 2020 (debate)

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– Madam President, I want to acknowledge the work not only of our rapporteur, but also the shadow rapporteurs and everyone who contributed to this debate. There were many opinions, but I heard a very strong call for advancement on Banking Union; I appreciate that message and I take it with me. I want to acknowledge, as many of you have, that the banks were stronger going into this crisis because o…

6 Oct

2021

EN Speech

Banking Union - annual report 2020 (debate)

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– Madam President, honourable Members, firstly, my appreciation for the work of our rapporteur, Madam Hübner, and for her speech on this report on Banking Union. This is Parliament’s sixth report on completing the Banking Union and it shows the commitment of this Parliament to the Banking Union, and we in the Commission appreciate that support and commitment. But the fact that we are discussing th…

8 Jul

2021

EN Speech

The death penalty in Saudi Arabia, notably the cases of Mustafa Hashem al-Darwish and Abdullah al-Howaiti

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– Mr President, honourable Members, the European Union is unequivocally opposed to the use of capital punishment in all cases and without exception. It is a cruel and inhumane punishment which fails to act as a deterrent and represents an unacceptable denial of human dignity and integrity. We remain concerned about the continued use of the death penalty in Saudi Arabia. According to our sources, i…

8 Jul

2021

EN Speech

Hong Kong, notably the case of Apple Daily

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– Mr President, honourable Members of the European Parliament, today’s debate on Hong Kong, as you’ve all pointed to, is taking place in the week following the first anniversary of the draconian national security law. On 24 June Hong Kong’s main pro-democracy media outlet, Apple Daily, printed its final edition, after several of its leading journalists, including the owner Jimmy Lai, were arrested…

8 Jul

2021

EN Speech

The case of Ahmadreza Djalali in Iran

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– Madam President, honourable Members, EU policy towards Iran is based on a comprehensive approach, critical in all areas of concern and cooperative when there is mutual interest. The European Union has a long—standing and clear position on Iran’s distressing practice of arbitrarily detaining EU—Iranian dual nationals. No individual should be used as a pawn. The EU is following the case of Swedish…

8 Jul

2021

EN Speech

Sustained price increase of raw and construction materials in Europe (debate)

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– Madam President, honourable Members, this is a real and immediate issue for our businesses, particularly SMEs in the European Union, so it’s really important that we have this debate here in the European Parliament today. We are experiencing a peak demand for raw and construction materials, but we have the necessary means to cope with it if it persists. First, our green and digital transitions m…

8 Jul

2021

EN Speech

Sustained price increase of raw and construction materials in Europe (debate)

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– Mr President, honourable Members, I really want to thank Parliament for putting this issue on the agenda. We are experiencing sustained price increases of raw materials and construction materials. The COVID-19 pandemic and related containment measures have had a significant impact on the EU industrial sector. Supply chains were disrupted within and outside our single market. The disruption prese…

8 Jul

2021

EN Speech

Labour rights in Bangladesh (continuation of debate)

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– Mr President, this debate really confirms that we share very serious concerns regarding labour rights in Bangladesh. Bangladesh’s full alignment with international standards on human and labour rights remains crucial, also in view of the EU’s current legislative work on the future regulation on the Generalised Scheme of Preferences. As I stated in my opening remarks, Bangladesh is expected to gr…

8 Jul

2021

EN Speech

Labour rights in Bangladesh (debate)

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– Mr President, the promotion of human rights and labour rights is an essential part of the Union’s external action. And it is with grave concern that the Commission has observed the deteriorating situation of human rights, including labour rights, over the past years in Bangladesh, from repression of trade unionists and restrictions on the freedom of association, to weak labour inspection and haz…