Speeches

A Uachtaráin, Commissioner Hahn, on 20 January 2022, Zarema Musaeva, the mother of lawyer and activist Abubakar Yangulbayev, was taken from her home by security forces. She was violently detained, and many of the families of the relatives have reportedly been abducted as well. As her health deteriorated in the last year, Abubakar contacted Chechen leader Kadyrov and offered to exchange himself for his mother, saying that a woman should not be held responsible for her son’s actions. He and his brothers are vocal critics of Chechen leader Kadyrov and are based outside the country. In July, journalist Elena Milashina was severely beaten by masked assailants whilst travelling to report on Zarema’s court hearing. The lawyer representing Musaeva’s interests was also severely beaten. This is a cowardly act by those fearful of journalists who may expose the truth. Human rights activists such as Abubakar work tirelessly and put their lives at risk to bring attention to the human rights situation in Chechnya. There must be better protection for them and their families.

Mr President, Commissioner Hahn, the current situation in Afghanistan is one I find deeply troubling, but one that I have taken a personal interest in. I have been working on this issue since the fall of Kabul, and the trends I see are extremely worrying, which is why I proposed this resolution. The Taliban takeover has led to a humanitarian catastrophe that transcends borders and affects us all. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, around 97% of Afghans are living in poverty. The economy has no cash circulating for its people to pay for the basic products and services. I remain extremely concerned for the safety and well-being of Afghan citizens. The Taliban has undoubtedly committed a series of human rights violations, from intimidation, attacks and murders of journalists, former government officials and civil rights activists, along with the disturbing resumption of public floggings. Between August 2021 and June 2022, the UN has documented at least 800 cases of violations of human rights, including arbitrary detentions, extrajudicial killings, forced disappearances and torture against former government and national security forces officials. The Taliban has ushered in a dark cloud across Afghanistan, and I fear that oppressive regime hides more horrors than we currently know. Fear has gripped the country with no respite in sight. Since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan last year, they have effectively created a society ruled by gender segregation and discrimination, with women’s freedom of movement, freedom of thought and freedom of expression stripped away. I continue to have serious concerns for the safety and well-being of Afghan citizens, particularly women, girls, members of the LGBTQI community and ethnic minorities. We, as the EU, must use our power and influence to bring about impactful and positive change for the people of Afghanistan. We must strike a balance, continuing to provide aid while applying pressure to urge them to moderate their extremist policies. Finally, I’d like to thank all groups and shadows for their cooperation in this and sending a clear message to the Taliban that the European Union stands united in condemning their activities and standing with the poor, unfortunate people, especially women and girls, who are being discriminated against every single day.

Mr President, as has been said since the marriage equality referendum passed in Ireland in 2015, it has been very positive to see Ireland as a more tolerant and accepting society for members of the LGBTQI community. While there is, of course, work still to be done, it has been encouraging to witness this positive shift. It is very concerning, however, that LGBTQI rights are under threat in several European nations, including Poland, Hungary and Lithuania, as outlined by my colleague Marie Walsh. In Hungary, 2021 witnessed a government retreat on the freedom of expression for the LGBTQI community. This rollback extended to media content portraying gay, lesbian or trans individuals, all justified under the guise of safeguarding children. The European Commission has initiated legal action against Hungary, a case I am pleased to say Ireland has joined. According to the Commission, such legislation violates internal market rules, the fundamental rights of people and the core values. Tolerance and equality must be the core.

A Uachtaráin, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has made it clear that we need to form new trading partnerships in order to diversify and strengthen our supply chains. The historical success of the EU’s single market clearly demonstrates how close economic ties with like-minded partners can cement relationships between countries. As we observe an increasingly fractured global environment, trade agreements remain an important instrument in the EU’s international toolbox. As the world’s largest trading bloc, we can leverage our unique position in order to engage with partners on important issues. Much focus is now being placed on building up our own competitiveness and strategic autonomy, and rightly so. Both are positive developments, but they should not come at the cost of the EU’s standing in the global economy and international role as a champion of free and fair trade. Through new trade agreements, we can unlock important opportunities for EU business and citizens. For example, cooperation and access to critical raw materials in the potential EU-Australia agreement will benefit our future net-zero industries, while opening up new markets in Southeast Asia can create more opportunities for Irish business post-Brexit. But any trade deal should include adequate safeguards that ensure products from third countries which might replicate or displace European goods are produced in a manner consistent with our environmental goals.

A Uachtaráin, it is rather ironic when we were talking about withdrawing from the European Charter Treaty that we ourselves were forced to withdraw from the Parliament in an emergency exercise. Now, I think it will be very good, as previous speakers pointed out, if the Council engaged in a similar emergency exercise in uniting and withdrawing, as the Parliament voted on last November. A lot of these Council members are loud in talk about what they are going to do and should do in relation to climate change and reducing emissions. But their actions do not follow their words. I think it’s hugely important that we send a clear message here today to the Council that we have to act together in a coordinated way, that each and every one of them has a responsibility to live up to our commitments in the Paris Agreement and get decarbonisation moving and get fossil fuels reduced as much and as quickly as possible.

A Uachtaráin, when we speak about decent housing, we must be clear what this means: access to clean water, adequate sanitation and hygiene, connection to water networks, etc. However, it is important to note that the energy efficiency of housing stock has a direct impact on energy poverty and the cost of maintenance. Therefore, increasing energy efficiency through housing renovation should be a priority across each Member State. There is a dire need to increase construction and renovation, to increase finance and for a more coherent policy approach at EU level. This is why the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, the EU’s main legal instrument to decarbonise the built environment, is so fundamental to Europe’s social and strategic well-being. We must also look at both national and EU funding to meet supply and demand challenges for social, affordable housing and to build more new homes. There is a need to look at what is already available, namely vacant buildings or even derelict buildings. In Ireland, they are scattered everywhere, coming to an estimated 81 712 unoccupied properties. Growing online retail has led to formal retail and office premises being left vacant. There are a number of supports to assist owners in converting these empty properties into homes I welcome the recent additional measures for this in Ireland, but more needs to be done, especially in granting planning permission, which for many is a nightmare. This is about utilisation of existing resources, not delaying planning, not taxing farmers, but reinjecting life back into main streets, towns, villages and our countryside.

Valdis, thank you for coming to answer our questions. It was said during the recession that some banks were too big to fail. I suppose paraphrasing that we could say some countries are too big to ignore, and China is obviously number one. For that reason, I welcome the EU-China High-Level Economic Dialogue. Now for my country, the Irish dairy industry is hugely important and it has been exporting infant formula to China for some time. But I think that is somewhat under threat now. So in your discussions with the Chinese, how did the discussions on the infant formula market go and what is the likely direction of travel in the near future? Because I saw an interview yesterday with the Ambassador to Ireland from China, Mr He, saying we should concentrate more on an ageing population rather than infants.

A Uachtaráin, education is a great equaliser, regardless of social background or economic status. Access to the right education opens doors for children. Education equips us with the knowledge and skills to understand different perspectives and the confidence necessary to pursue our goals. As a former teacher, I have seen clearly the transformative impact that education can have on students’ lives. It is for this reason that the segregation and discrimination of Roma children from access to education in some parts of the EU is particularly troubling. Despite the allocation of significant EU funds towards combating such forms of exclusion, the problem persists and has only been exaggerated and aggravated by COVID—19, during which time the digitalisation of education made access to education for Roma children more complicated. If you can ensure better inclusion of Roma children in education, we can address stereotypes and prejudices against Roma and Travellers through exchange in the classroom and friendships on the playground. We can promote better understanding in the next generation of Traveller and Romani culture and history. At the same time, we must provide schools and teachers with adequate resources to deliver these outcomes. Give teachers proper funding, teacher training, capacity building and they will deliver for Roma and Traveller children.

A Uachtaráin, improving firefighters’ working conditions is a very noble, and indeed necessary, thing to do and it must be done not just at Member State level, but we should have at least minimum standards in relation to personal equipment, in relation to remuneration that apply right across the European Union, so that they can feel that they are appreciated by all Europeans. As the Commissioner pointed out, firefighters protect us all, so we all have a duty to show appreciation and help them in every way to do their job. And I also welcome the commitments and the desire of both MEPs and the Commission to limit their exposure to cancer, particularly in relation to asbestos and carcinogenic materials. But also as rapporteur for the EPBD, I hope we’ll be able to incorporate fire safety measures in all new builds and in retrofitting residential houses, public buildings, commercial and business properties. That too would be a good help.

Mr President, we do not often debate sport in this Parliament because we do not have authority or competence over sport in general. Therefore, I warmly welcome this debate this morning, especially as it relates to the Women's World Cup. And first of all, I have to say, there were a lot of good things about the Women's World Cup. The games were excellent, the skill level was very high and large crowds were present. And of course, my country, Ireland, was involved for the first time and proved good, although the manager, Vera Pauw, was later given a stick and a road. But, ultimately, after the World Cup, no one was talking about the amazing games played by women but, about Rubiales and his behavior, and this showed that there is still a long road to travel to establish equality between men and women in sport and in the whole world. However, I hope that debates like this and the work of the FEMM Committee in Parliament will soon help to achieve this goal of equality.

Mr President, this a very important discussion because we need to focus on where we are in terms of democracy, and particularly the European Union, which is too often attacked for its negatives and not praised often enough for its positives. One thing I think we should really be focusing on more in the future is cooperation between national parliaments and the European Union, especially the European Parliament, because there’s too much of a divide even now. We should also be trying to improve relations and cooperation with local politicians – county councillors, as we call them in Ireland – representing municipalities through the Committee of the Regions. There is no point in having in these parties if we do not work more closely with them. Finally, in terms of creating European democracy and citizenship and awareness, I think we should be doing far more in facilitating young people to come to Europe by expanding Erasmus and ‘Meet your MEP’.

, Guatemala is one of Central America’s most populous and, unfortunately, unequal countries. There is widespread poverty, and food security issues driven by climate change, as well as widespread crime, have dramatically increased migration. More Guatemalans make the journey to the US than any other Latin American country. On 25 June, the country held the first-round election for a new legislature, as well as an election to see which presidential candidate would progress to run off. During this election, surprisingly, an anti-corruption reformer, Bernardo Arévalo, advanced. There has been concerning anti-democratic behaviour throughout and after the election. Arévalo faces many challenges entering the office of president. The international community must support his cause of increased transparency and accountability in Guatemala. I hope under the leadership of Arévalo, and with the commitment of the EU, that he is allowed to complete the work in Guatemala in collaboration with the Guatemalan judicial authorities to fight corruption. It’s a pivotal moment for Guatemala. We must not fail them, by doing everything we can to support them.

A Uachtaráin, Commissioner Hahn, in today’s State of the Union address, President von der Leyen laid out exactly why the goals of the Critical Raw Materials Act are so important, indeed essential. The proposal focuses on securing a sustainable supply of critical raw materials – a matter of paramount importance to our continent’s future prosperity and security. Considering the importance of metal to key industries, the Commission’s exclusion of aluminium from the EU’s list of strategic raw materials does not make much sense. My colleagues in the EPP and I tabled several amendments to re-insert aluminium, which thankfully passed with a large majority in committee. For Ireland, this development holds particular importance. The Shannon Estuary is home to Europe’s largest alumina refinery, with an annual capacity exceeding 1.9 million tonnes of alumina. This alumina is shipped to France and Sweden, where it is smelted to produce aluminium, highlighting the vital role of aluminium in the European industrial landscape. Strategic raw materials are vital for key industries of the future and are essential to our net zero ambitions. This includes solar panels, electric batteries, heat pumps and wind turbines. Aluminium demand in Europe is set to surge. Instead of having strategic dependencies on third countries is very important to secure a sustainable domestic supply of aluminium.

Mr President, I am pleased to explain the vote for this report. The Directive replaces the existing Consumer Credit Directive and proposes the harmonised EU framework for consumer credit to provide a high level of consumer protection. As this directive finds to account for the increase in digitalisation of finance with regard to consumer credits, to improve information to consumers, to reduce over indebtedness and to promote financial education, I obviously voted in favour. Most importantly, and thanks to my Fine Gael colleague Deirdre Clune, the report enshrined cancer survivors the right to be forgotten into EU law. This means that people don’t have to disclose previous cancer diagnoses to banks and insurance companies once a certain time has passed since the end of their treatment.

Madam President, renewable energy plays a vital role in achieving our 2050 climate neutrality, and therefore I was happy to support this file. It represents a substantial leap towards doubling the current share of renewables in the EU’s energy mix, currently standing at around 22.1 %. The updated RED also introduces measures to expedite permitting processes for wind and solar projects, including the creation of dedicated acceleration areas for renewables. I am glad to see that my amendments to the legislation have been incorporated, including provisions to substantially expedite the authorisation- and permit-granting processes for renewable energy projects. This will have significant benefits for Europe’s energy transition. A target of 49 % renewable energy in buildings by 2030 is positive, though a more ambitious target would have been welcomed. Overall, this is a good basis for renewable energy in Europe, but Member States should exceed the targets if they can.

Mr President, Commissioner, I am pleased to vote for this report. Europe boasts almost 100 000 sulphurous water bodies and 12 000 ground water bodies. These resources are not only essential for providing clean drinking water, but also play a critical role in supporting healthy ecosystems, fertile farmlands and the promotion and preservation of biodiversity. However, water becomes contaminated with pesticides, fertilisers, chemicals and salts, primarily stemming from industrial and agricultural activities. It can render the water unsuitable for both human consumption and industrial use. This proposal increases the effectiveness of the European Green Deal 2050 zero pollution ambition through increased monitoring of substances that pose significant risk to human health and the environment, while also putting more responsibility on major polluters by imposing stricter standards for several pesticides and pharmaceuticals, as well as making producers that contain polluting chemical substances help finance monitoring costs, which are currently covered by Member States.

Madam President, I just want to raise a point of order, in the sense that, when this debate started, one icon came up on our screen for catch-the-eye. I bid – like others, I’m sure – and a tick came up showing that it had been accepted. Obviously, when there was no icon for the blue card, we knew we couldn’t have a blue card. So I would suggest that, in future, if you are not taking catch-the-eye, you should say it at the beginning. There was no delay whatsoever in the debates, there was no disruption. So if it was logical and acceptable at the beginning of the debate, I don’t understand why you couldn’t have had five more minutes at the end, because it’s unfair to the Members. I saw two other colleagues of mine from Ireland who have left. They also wanted to speak. It’s disrespectful and unnecessary. Also, I have been here on several occasions up until 12 o’clock at night, so what’s the panic? Thank you very much. We have to accept your decision.

A Uachtaráin, it has been an incredible year for generative AI. AI will soon impact every industry – from customer care to transforming data centres and logistics, to medicine, to manufacturing, to energy, to the automotive industry and to aerospace. A recent paper predicted that around 20% of the US workforce could have at least 50% of their tasks affected by AI in the coming years. We are witnessing a fundamental shift in AI, driven by self-supervision. Generative AI is behind the wave of new online tools used by millions around the world –from answering queries on a range of topics to generating realistic photographs. Whether we like it or not, generative AI, like ChatGPT, are about to change not only how we work, but how the content we consume is produced. We do not know fully what implications of this wave of transformative artificial intelligence will be. The way that we make information and the basis of communication across society will be rewired. AI has broken into the mainstream and it is time to ask questions about what the business impacts of this technology are. I was pleased that the landmark AI proposal to regulate artificial intelligence based on its potential to cause harm passed in Parliament with an overwhelming majority. It is now time to ensure that leading tech companies’ artificial intelligence models comply with its requirements. There is an urgent need for enhanced collaboration between policy-makers and model providers to effectively address the gaps and challenges on a global level, and to find a common ground to ensure the appropriate implementation and effectiveness of the AI Act. AI in business needs to be held to a higher standard – built to be trusted, secured and adaptable.

A Uachtaráin, Commissioner, climate change is flexing its muscles in the form of floods, droughts, tornadoes and hurricanes, and is striking indiscriminately. The threat of climate change requires changes in the ways in which we produce, consume and organise our societies. Having said that, I am very pleased with the outcome of today’s vote, which is a positive one for nature restoration. Aimed at protecting natural resources, the law is a fundamental pillar of the Green Deal. Today’s vote now gives us the opportunity to improve the text of the Commission in line with what we need to make it work for everybody. Over—intensive land use, climate change, pollution, over—exploitation and other human pressures are rapidly degrading our natural resources. We know we need to act. We must ensure that the path we take is ambitious, but it must also be rooted in practicality. Hopefully the outcome of the trilogues will achieve this.

A Uachtaráin, inflation and the cost of living crisis is leading to widespread hardship, affecting populations across Europe. Rising energy costs, access to health care and housing, for young people in particular, are also areas of significant concern in people’s day-to-day lives. In Ireland, while GDP has grown year on year, we hear legitimate concerns raised by our citizens that the real benefit of these economic advances is not felt in their pockets. For example, young people who have worked hard, studied well and found jobs are still finding it challenging to receive a mortgage and buy their first home. Meaningful steps are being taken to address challenges at government level, such as housing and healthcare at a national level in Ireland. As an MEP, I welcome this debate as an opportunity to highlight what measures can be taken at European level to highlight and address these difficulties. As a Union of 27, we should use our collective power to counteract inflation, for example, by taking steps to deepen our energy union to tackle rising energy costs. We should also progress on a European Health Union and ensure that women and men have equal opportunities in remuneration on the labour market. While many of the bread and butter issues that citizens face can seem beyond the reach of this Chamber, we should be creative here in Europe and consider what steps can be taken in order to ensure that the European economy works for everybody in the European Union.

Mr President, where have all the citizens gone? The Fit for 55 package, which is an integral part of the European Green Deal adopted by the Commission, sets an ambitious target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 and possibly beyond that, as Mr Timmermans said at COP27 in Egypt. I am pleased to support this report by my colleague Niels Fuglsang as it takes an ambitious, but also realistic, approach to energy efficiency. The report recognises the importance of setting high targets while considering practical challenges associated with implementation strategies. I value the flexibility given to Member States in how they meet these targets, as well as the consideration given to stakeholders in terms of how to implement the nearly net-zero building standard, especially for social housing and historic buildings.

Mr President, I am pleased to support this report by my colleague Petar Vitanov as it embraces Europe’s transition away from carbon-based fuel to renewable sustainable energy sources. This report aligns with the objectives outlined in the European Green Deal, which emphasises the transitioning towards a zero-emission transport sector, as well as the necessity for appropriate infrastructure to support this transition, keeping this legislation both ambitious and realistic. Establishing a robust and dependable infrastructure through the Regulation’s mandatory deployment of a minimum charging and hydrogen refuelling infrastructure is vital to facilitate the smooth transition of the transport sector, and empower citizens to embrace and utilise new technologies. This is an absolute and immediate priority.

Mr President, good, away we go. The industrial sector is a major contributor to emissions: in 2020, the industrial share of greenhouse gases equalled 59%. The Industrial Emissions Directive’s goal is to reduce toxic industrial emissions, such as mercury, heavy metals and other hazardous substances associated with industry. I welcome the fact that the scope will not be extended to cattle farms. If we were to add cattle and mixed farms to this Directive, the cost to farmers would be enormous and unfair. And I was delighted that amendments to ensure this did not happen were fully supported by my Fine Gael and EPP colleagues, and passed with good majorities. I support this report’s objective as it increases the level of protection for the environment and public health from the adverse effects of pollution through setting higher regulatory standards. It gives businesses reasonable transition time to prepare for new requirements as well as fast-track procedures for permits. A good day’s work!

A Uachtaráin, Commissioner, the main objective of the ecodesign framework is to reduce the negative life cycle environmental impacts of products, introduce circularity and improve the functioning of the internal market. To ensure the effectiveness of the framework, it should primarily focus on the environmental aspects of sustainability pertaining to physical products. While setting ecodesign requirements for products is vital, we must also direct our attention towards increasing the development of collection, sorting, repair and recirculation systems. By bolstering these systems, we can foster a circular economy that minimises waste and maximises resource—efficiency. The holistic approach encompassing the entire product life cycle will be instrumental in achieving our sustainability goals. Minimising divergence in the implementation of this policy will not only strengthen our collective impact, but also prevent fragmentation within the internal market. It makes sense to address the products with the highest negative impacts first. This approach ensures that our efforts yield the maximum positive outcome for the environment. Regarding the prohibition of the destruction of unsold consumer goods, I agree with the general principle. However, before we include bans on the destruction of specific product types, we must gather more comprehensive product data.

Mr President, I fully support Bulgaria and Romania in their quest to be in Schengen. They are full members of the European Union, they are valued members of the European Union and they are entitled to the same freedoms as the other members. And we cannot have a situation where we have a two tier Member State – those in Schengen and those being kept out of it. So I think that has to change as soon as possible. Having said that, my own country, Ireland, we were never in Schengen because we were tied to the United Kingdom, to the common travel area. But now that the United Kingdom have left the European Union, maybe there might be an element of creativity which would allow us perhaps to be in Schengen. Because having travelled, particularly with the EPP Group and with ITRE from Brussels to places within the European Union on missions, there is a huge difference when you can travel freely without checks as opposed to when you have to show your passport et cetera at the border. And that can take a lot of time and you can miss meetings as a result. So Romania and Bulgaria, and look at Ireland.