What Seán spoke about.

18

Jan

2023

EN Speech

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An EU strategy to boost industrial competitiveness, trade and quality jobs (debate)

A Uachtaráin, okay, so we have a problem with China. We have a problem with our friends in the US. But our biggest problem is with ourselves. As Commissioner Breton said, we’ve been too naive. My friend Esther de Lange said, ‘we need to be smart and flexible’, and therein is the solution. We have allowed galloping regulation to stifle our industries and drive them out of Europe. Who’s to blame for…

18

Jan

2023

GA Speech

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Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 15 December 2022 (continuation of debate)

Mr. President, thank you very much for giving me the floor. Sad news from Ukraine reminds us that we need to redouble our efforts – both militarily and economically – to help Ukraine win the war and also to cut off all economic ties with Russia. We are also celebrating, of course, the single market, which has been a huge success, but side by side with that has been growing regulation and red tape.…

17

Jan

2023

EN Speech

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Surge of respiratory infections and the shortage of medication in Europe (debate)

A Uachtaráin, over the past three years, the European Union has overcome extraordinary obstacles in our fight against COVID-19. Unfortunately, this winter has again been exceptionally challenging for our hospitals. We are witnessing public health systems across the EU become overwhelmed and exhausted as a result of the recent surge of COVID-19, flu and RSV patients. Earlier this month, Ireland rea…

17

Jan

2023

EN Speech

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Consumer protection in online video games: a European Single Market approach (debate)

A Uachtaráin, a number of years ago, I organised quite a number of public events in relation to cyberbullying, which was very prominent at the time. Hopefully things have improved and the opportunities for bullying are limited, if not eradicated. Of course, the whole use of digital apparatus has grown, particularly amongst young people. Indeed, from the time they’re in the cradle, young people hav…

17

Jan

2023

EN Speech

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

A Uachtaráin Roberta, a Phríomh-Aire agus a chairde, Sweden takes on the Presidency of the Council at a time of great flux for the EU, as we face numerous political, economic and security challenges. Almost one year ago, Putin’s tanks rolled into Ukraine and began this bloody war of aggression. The war in Ukraine exposed vulnerabilities in our critical systems and triggered an unprecedented energy…

15

Dec

2022

EN Speech

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Deliberations of the Committee on Petitions in 2021 (A9-0271/2022 - Loránt Vincze)

Madam President, here we go again. I was pleased to support this report from my colleague. And on the outcome of the Committee of Petitions’ deliberations during 2021. The focus this week in the Parliament has been on increasing transparency, and rightly so. I believe that the work of the PETI Committee should be emphasised and publicised further. The Treaties confer on all citizens the right to s…

15

Dec

2022

GA Speech

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Upscaling the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (A9-0281/2022 - Jan Olbrycht, Margarida Marques)

Mr President, I am in favour of an improvement in the 2021-2028 multiannual financial framework. Less than two years ago, the multiannual financial framework was adopted. Most of the flexibility and limitations of the framing have now been used in the wake of the recent crises. In the report, Parliament wants a comprehensive review during the first quarter of 2023 to ensure sufficient flexibility …

15

Dec

2022

EN Speech

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90 years after Holodomor: Recognising the mass killing through starvation as genocide (RC-B9-0559/2022, B9-0559/2022, B9-0560/2022, B9-0561/2022, B9-0564/2022, B9-0566/2022)

A Uachtaráin, on 25 November this year, Europe commemorated the 90th anniversary of the Holodomor genocide in Ukraine. I was pleased to support this resolution, which remembers and expresses solidarity with the people of Ukraine who suffered in this tragedy. The treatment of the Ukrainian people during the Holodomor goes against the most basic of human rights – respect for human life, human dignit…

15

Dec

2022

EN Speech

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Major interpellations (debate)

A Uachtaráin, we don’t have conclusive evidence of who carried out the Nord Stream attacks. We have our suspicions. But whoever did it hadn’t reckoned with the resilience of Germany, who announced that they were going to build four or five LNG terminals and are actually opening one on Saturday. In marked contrast to my own country, where we have a Shannon LNG project in the pipeline for 10 years, …

15

Dec

2022

EN Speech

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The humanitarian situation in Ukraine due to Russia’s attacks against critical infrastructure and civilian areas (debate)

A Uachtaráin, the current humanitarian situation in Ukraine is sobering. And as the winter sets in, the Ukrainian people are preparing for the worst. The health system is facing its darkest days in the war so far. Russia has been targeting the country’s infrastructure, leaving millions without electricity, heating or water. The attacks are relentless and temperatures are freezing. Since the beginn…

15

Dec

2022

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The 30th anniversary of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities (debate)

A Uachtaráin, 30 years have passed since the adoption of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities, and it continues to be the UN’s most important instrument for minorities’ rights. It provided the essential framework to ensure that minorities’ voices can be heard and for diversity to be embraced. ‘United in diversity’ remains one…

14

Dec

2022

EN Speech

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Tackle the cost of living crisis: increase pay, tax profits, stop speculation (topical debate)

A Uachtaráin, Putin's unjustified invasion of Ukraine continues and, consequently, Europe is grappling with the unprecedented increase in the cost of living. Households across all Member States are struggling to stay warm this winter and to pay their bills. We are at a crisis point and the reality is that without immediate action, the situation will continue to worsen. The EU must ensure that conc…

13

Dec

2022

EN Speech

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ASEAN relations ahead of the EU-ASEAN summit in December 2022 (debate)

A Uachtaráin, the EU and ASEAN are each other’s third largest trading partners after China and the US. But so far, the EU has only free trade agreements with two ASEAN members, Singapore and Vietnam. As a member of the delegation for relations with the countries of ASEAN, which I like very much, I was happy to attend the fifth EU-Vietnam interparliamentary meeting last week to discuss the state of…

13

Dec

2022

EN Speech

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Annual implementing report on the EU association agreement with Georgia (debate)

A Uachtaráin, it’s always interesting to listen to the perspectives of MEPs who go and visit a country and to hear what they have to say. And in that regard, it was interesting to listen to colleagues speaking about Georgia. Obviously, because of the war in Ukraine, things have changed dramatically, and more and more countries in an eastern neighbourhood see not just their economic viability, but …

13

Dec

2022

EN Speech

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This is Europe - Debate with the Prime Minister of Slovenia, Robert Golob (debate)

A Uachtaráin, thank you, Prime Minister, for joining us today to share your views on the future of Europe. I welcome you to this timely debate. We are currently at a critical juncture for Europe and for European democracy, facing significant challenges both internally and externally. Looking internally, events within the European Parliament over the recent days have shaken our trust in our institu…

13

Dec

2022

EN Speech

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Renewable Energy, Energy Performance of Buildings and Energy Efficiency Directives: amendments (REPowerEU) (continuation of debate)

A Uachtaráin, permitting and licensing procedures remain one of the biggest hurdles in achieving mass deployment of renewable technologies. Procedures differ in Member States. We have more cross-border cooperation on complex energy projects. Without action, we would likely see more and more unnecessary time wasted in getting the required bureaucracy in order. In the Renewable Energy Directive, I t…

24

Nov

2022

EN Speech

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Outcome of the modernisation of the Energy Charter Treaty (RC-B9-0498/2022, B9-0498/2022, B9-0502/2022, B9-0510/2022, B9-0513/2022, B9-0536/2022)

A Uachtaráin, the Energy Charter Treaty plays a key role in energy policy across Europe. However, in the absence of any substantial update of the ECT since the 1990s, it is clear that the modernisation of the Treaty is due. I welcome efforts by the EU and its Member States to drive the modernisation process of the Energy Charter Treaty, particularly on investment protection standards and the foste…

24

Nov

2022

GA Speech

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The future European Financial Architecture for Development (A9-0270/2022 - Charles Goerens)

Mr President, I am pleased to support this proposal for the development of a European Financial Architecture. It will play a crucial role in ensuring that the European Union fights against poverty and inequality. It will ensure that work is done towards the UN's post-established development goals and that global climate change is halted. This plan will ensure that EU countries and the institutions…

24

Nov

2022

EN Speech

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Establishing the Digital Decade Policy Programme 2030 (A9-0159/2022 - Martina Dlabajová)

A Uachtaráin, the Digital Decade Policy Programme is a key step towards the EU achieving its objectives for the digital transformation of society and the economy. The path to a Digital Decade Programme reinforces the EU’s position as a digital leader and promotes human—centred, inclusive and sustainable digital policies. The past number of decades has seen significant developments in the internet,…

24

Nov

2022

EN Speech

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Revision of the Medical Devices Regulation – how to ensure the availability of medical devices (debate)

A Uachtaráin, Ireland has urgent and significant concerns regarding the Medical Devices and In Vitro Diagnostics Regulations. There are real issues with the implementation of the directive that need to be addressed. The regulations introduce new certification requirements. However, substantial and immediate certification bottlenecks mean that Ireland could face considerable shortages in key medica…

23

Nov

2022

EN Speech

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The Human rights situation in Afghanistan especially the deterioration of women´s rights and attacks against educational institutions

A Uachtaráin, Afghanistan is about to endure its second winter since the Taliban’s seizure of power in August 2021. Since then, the rights of women have been trampled on. Conflict, violence and human rights violations have become an inseparable part of the lives of ordinary citizens. The country’s economy is in a shambles and a major food crisis is escalating. Life has become particularly tough fo…

23

Nov

2022

EN Speech

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Human rights situation in Egypt (debate)

A Uachtaráin, having attended COP last week in Egypt, obviously the main focus was on climate change, which of course was the primary purpose. And I think we did an awful lot of that. But we did have an opportunity to engage also with human rights activists in Egypt, and their stories certainly were very strong and very compelling. And we did promise that we would bring these to the attention of o…

23

Nov

2022

EN Speech

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Amending Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2093 of 17 December 2020 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2021 to 2027 - Amending Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046 as regards the establishment of a diversified funding strategy as a general borrowing method - 'Macro-Financial Assistance+' instrument for providing support to Ukraine for 2023 (debate)

A Uachtaráin, despite recent victories in Kherson, Ukrainians are facing a bleak and bitterly cold winter. Russia is hammering Ukraine with missile fire, targeting critical infrastructure with one of its heaviest waves of attacks since Putin launched his brutal invasion nearly nine months ago. We in the EU are providing financial, military and humanitarian support to Ukraine. But it is also Ukrain…

23

Nov

2022

EN Speech

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A truly interconnected Energy Single Market to keep bills down and companies competitive (topical debate)

Madam President, the crisis we find ourselves in is mainly driven by our overreliance on imported fossil fuels and exacerbated by the terrible situation in Ukraine caused by the terrorist state of Russia. I believe our upcoming work on market design should focus on targeted improvements as opposed to widespread changes. We can provide investor certainty and protect consumers by incentivising long-…

10

Nov

2022

EN Speech

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REPowerEU chapters in recovery and resilience plans (A9-0260/2022 - Eider Gardiazabal Rubial, Siegfried Mureşan, Dragoş Pîslaru)

A Uachtaráin, I thank my colleagues for this timely report. The mobilisation of funds through the RePowerEU chapters of the Recovery and Resilience Facility, will provide Member States with much—needed financial support to achieve our energy diversification goals. Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine and the ensuing energy crisis in Europe has shown that we must end our dependency on Russian energy…