What Seán spoke about.

9 Jul

2026

EN Speech

Composition of committees and delegations

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Mr. President, I will be as fast as I can. Yesterday, at the first debate on the conclusions of the European Council meeting, a lot of Members – understandably at the time – were critical of the non-attendance of the Irish Presidency. Having already looked at the reason, I can now assure Members that it was not the fault of the Irish Presidency. The European Council decided, because it was the con…

9 Jul

2026

EN Speech

Feasibility of a 28th tax regime and its potential to support EU competitiveness (debate)

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Madam President, my colleague Ressler said Europe was a sleeping giant. And this is a sleep that is self-inflicted because of overregulation etc. So now we need to wake up and get rid of the sleeping tablets. I think the report by Mario Draghi has been followed through very sensibly by the Commission in relation to omnibuses and now the 28 tax regime. But also crucial to that is investment money, …

8 Jul

2026

EN Speech

Harnessing the potential of a competitive and sustainable EU Bioeconomy Strategy for EU strategic autonomy (debate)

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Mr President, I am pleased to speak on this important topic. Europe's bioeconomy represents one of our greatest untapped economic opportunities – by turning agricultural residues, forestry by-products, marine resources and organic waste into high-value products, we can reduce our dependence on fossil-based materials while creating new jobs, new industries, and new income streams for rural communit…

8 Jul

2026

EN Speech

The EU’s role in the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip and the accountability of Israel under international law (topical debate)

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A Uachtaráin, the Commission estimates that rebuilding Gaza will cost USD 71 billion. For decades, the EU has funded schools, hospitals, water networks, community centres in Palestine – many of them now destroyed. We must ask ourselves why the European Union has become remarkably consistent in financing the foundations of Palestinian life, while displaying far less determination in holding account…

7 Jul

2026

EN Speech

2025 Commission report on Ukraine (debate)

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Mr President, this is a very important topic for all of us. Therefore, our support for Ukraine must continue to be unconditional and unwavering. This support must remain unconditional even where this brings economic or political challenges for all of us. Ukraine is defending all of Europe, and we must take every single measure possible to choke the Russian economy and ensure nothing we do in the E…

7 Jul

2026

EN Speech

Presentation of the programme of activities of the Irish Presidency (debate)

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Mr President, Mr President, Mr Commissioner, congratulations, Mr President, on the great speech you have given us. Like you said, you've made a good start and proceed with the good work. The competitiveness, values and security theme of the Irish Presidency – I think most people can see that's good, and it captures the essentials for this mandate. I think Mario Draghi outlined in 2024 the need for…

7 Jul

2026

EN Speech

Urgent measures to strengthen the competitiveness and safeguard quality jobs in the EU’s automotive sector (debate)

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A Uachtaráin, I think there is nothing more depressing than to see a traditional industry like the automotive industry basically going down the tubes, especially because of unfair competition from China. So that's up to us to ensure that competition is stopped and that we give a fair advantage to our own industries. But also, I think, we can move forward and be a little more creative. I agree with…

18 Jun

2026

GA Speech

International Day of Play: promoting children’s right to play (debate)

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Thank you, Mr President, At a time when I was rising up in Ireland, we are told to go out to play and not come back until dinner was ready. This does not seem to be the case for today's children. In these times, many children are staring at a screen for long hours, and unfortunately, video games are not counted as play. Playing together creates friendship, develops trust, learns to solve problems …

17 Jun

2026

EN Speech

The resilience of the European transport sector and the need to ensure the supply of essential goods amid ongoing geopolitical instability (debate)

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Mr President, the resilience of our transport sector is synonymous with the resilience of our fuel supply and its cost. If we can't power our transport fleets, haulage, freight, shipping or aviation, our economy will grind to a halt. The recent war in the Middle East has demonstrated clearly just how vulnerable our transport sector and, by extension, our economy is. The IEA estimates that oil supp…

16 Jun

2026

EN Speech

The role of the EU in efforts for peace and stability throughout the Middle East after the announced deal between the US and Iran (debate)

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A Uachtaráin, let's firstly get the facts straight. A peace deal has not been achieved between the US and Iran. There is a memorandum of understanding, a framework for negotiations, and difficult negotiations lie ahead. Despite President Trump's words regarding what has been going on in Iran since the war began, one thing is clear: it is a different Iran, but not necessarily a better one. While th…

16 Jun

2026

EN Speech

Achieving digital sovereignty and resilience for Europe, in light of recent developments affecting access to advanced AI technologies (debate)

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A Uachtaráin, whether we like it or not, AI is here to stay. AI will define our competitiveness and cybersecurity for years to come, and it would be naive to simply be AI customers. President Trump's decision to ban Anthropic's powerful Mythos model underlines the geopolitical importance of this technology. We were punished in 2022 because of our dependency on Russian gas. If data is a new oil, we…

21 May

2026

EN Speech

Need for an adaptation of the EU legal framework on sustainable biofuels (debate)

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A Uachtaráin, the recent volatility in global fossil fuel markets has again demonstrated how exposed Europe is to global price shocks completely beyond our control, and why ending our dependence on fossil fuels is so important. Sustainable biofuels can play an important role in that transition, but as someone who has been closely involved in the sustainability debate over many years, I think we al…

20 May

2026

EN Speech

High time to deliver on the Single Market, providing certainty and predictability for EU businesses and quality jobs (continuation of debate)

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A Uachtaráin, 'high time to deliver on the single market'. The words 'high time' suggest an urgency and the frustration, which is understandable. I remember saying to Ursula von der Leyen over two years ago, at an EPP meeting, that since I came here in 2009, all I was hearing was, 'We need to complete the single market, we need to complete the single market, we need to complete the single market.'…

19 May

2026

EN Speech

EU cybersecurity and preparedness in view of advanced AI systems (debate)

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Mr. President, my friends, as advanced AI evolves at breakneck speed, Europe faces a defined test: innovation must strengthen our security, not undermine it. We see the massive benefits of AI every day in Ireland, driving our tech sector and transforming healthcare. But we cannot afford to be blind to the unprecedented cybersecurity risks. Sophisticated AI is already being weaponized. It accelerat…

29 Apr

2026

GA Speech

Sudan’s abandoned humanitarian crisis: three years of conflict (debate)

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Mr. President! It is a sad reflection of today's world that the media pay little attention to the biggest civil crisis of our lives. Twenty million Sudanese civilians are suffering from food insecurity and a dozen have had to flee their homes. The EU should position itself as a peaceful and honest broker here, but more importantly as the world’s largest aid donor and peace force. The EU is well po…

29 Apr

2026

EN Speech

Danger of normalising relations with Russia, including its participation in major cultural and sports events (debate)

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A Uachtaráin, why was Russia excluded from participating in major cultural and sports events? Because, without provocation, it invaded Ukraine, destroyed its infrastructure, committed all sorts of crimes, particularly in Bucha and, as has been pointed out by Mr Van Lanschot, has killed many of their athletes and coaches. Now we're supposed to let them back in? What has changed? Nothing has changed…

29 Apr

2026

EN Speech

The need for targeted criminal provisions and platforms’ responsibility to effectively address cyberbullying and online harassment (debate)

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President, Commissioner and colleagues, When a child dies, a thousand questions are posed in the shattered lives of those left behind. What did we do to deserve this? What could we have done to prevent it? Why us? When Jackie Fox's daughter Nicole was tragically taken from her, she turned questions into a mission. She pushed, she marched, she fought, and, through her strength and determination, sa…

28 Apr

2026

EN Speech

Presentation of the Better Regulation and Enforcement Communication (debate)

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A Uachtaráin, Commissioner Dombrovskis, Mario Draghi was right to place better regulation at the centre of the competitiveness debate. Europe cannot regulate its way to success. We need smarter and clearer rules, limited to what is needed and what genuinely solves problems. That starts with proper impact assessments. Every proposal should be tested for cost benefit, administrative burden and real …

27 Apr

2026

EN Speech

Order of business

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Madam President, colleagues, I would like to bring your attention back to July 2025, when we voted on an urgency resolution on Ryan Cornelius, a British businessman married to an Irish woman, who's been arbitrarily detained in Dubai since 2008. Today, Ryan Cornelius turns 72 years old. Under UAE law, prisoners over the age of 70 should be released. Yet Ryan remains behind bars. 27 April marks the …

25 Mar

2026

EN Speech

Energy security, independence and supply in the geopolitical context - ensuring market stability and affordable energy for industry and citizens (debate)

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A Uachtaráin, a Choimisinéir, whether we like it or not, we are going to need oil and gas for many years to come, and that means we should be utilising the oil and gas resources within Europe ourselves. Rather than leaving it in the ground, we should be utilising it. That means Corrib and Barryroe in Ireland should be utilised immediately. But more important than that is to ramp up the deployment …

11 Mar

2026

EN Speech

Building Europe's clean, independent and secure energy following the 2026 North Sea Summit (debate)

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10 Mar

2026

EN Speech

Presentation of the Energy Package (debate)

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9 Mar

2026

EN Speech

Upcoming European Research Area (ERA) Act (debate)

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A Uachtaráin, Europe is home to some of the finest universities, laboratories and research centres in the world. Our scientists lead breakthroughs in medicine and clean technologies, artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing. These institutions are one of Europe's greatest competitive advantages. For this reason, we must do what we can to ensure this sector continues to thrive. That means…

12 Feb

2026

EN Answer

Cooperation among enforcement authorities regarding unfair trading practices in the agri-food supply chain (debate)

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11 Feb

2026

EN Speech

International Day of Education, fighting inequalities in access to education (debate)

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A Uachtaráin, as a father, a grandfather and a former teacher, it breaks my heart to see children without fair and equal access to education, which I enjoyed and was able to provide for my own family, thankfully. Education is a powerful tool. Not only is unequal access to it morally wrong, it's dangerous and economically detrimental. Inequality in education is one of the primary underlying causes …