Speeches

A Uachtaráin, cyber-attacks from Russia did not start on 24 February, nor will they end when the war ends in Ukraine. Europe must be prepared for the war to expand online, with critical infrastructure at risk. As technology advances and becomes further intertwined into our economies and infrastructure, we must be aware that cyber-threats are also rapidly evolving in nature and sophistication. The EU and all Member States need a digital security architecture to defend us robustly against cyber-attacks. Ireland is a neutral country. Yet in May 2021, our health-care systems suffered the biggest cyber-attack in the history of the State. This affected most of the country’s health services, including coronavirus testing, maternal care services, cancer care, COVID-19 tracking and routine referrals for secondary care at a time when the whole system was under pressure. This, it appears, was at the hands of Russian hackers and criminals. This has led to a shift in thinking in Ireland, as we’ve seen that neutrality per se doesn’t mean that you’re exempt from Russian attacks. We have to take our defence much more seriously, within the confines of neutrality. Cyber-defence should be a priority, which means investment. That is what we must do.

Mr President, over 4.3 million people have fled Ukraine since Russia’s invasion on 24 February. According to UNICEF, over half of those fleeing are minors. This is a massive humanitarian crisis at the hands of a ruthless dictator, and the numbers will continue to grow. European Member States are opening their borders and citizens are opening their homes to those fleeing the war. But the journey to safety is not an easy one. Unaccompanied minors in particular are at a risk of abuse, exploitation and trafficking. This resolution calls for the creation of safe passages for children fleeing the conflict. It emphasises that measures must be put in place to prevent trafficking and abduction. It goes without saying that I voted in favour of this resolution, and I was proud to do so.

Mr President, I was relieved to see that the situation in Afghanistan was on the plenary agenda this week. I gave my strong support to the EU’s solidarity towards Ukraine, but we must also continue to advocate for those suffering under the oppressive Taliban regime, particularly for women, girls and the LGBTI community. I was horrified by the news on 23 March that girls’ secondary schools in Afghanistan had been ordered to close just hours after reopening. And, therefore, I fully support the calls in this resolution for the Taliban to uphold their commitment to ensuring the right to education for girls. I also support the many other important calls in this resolution: to allow women to fully participate in government and society, to allow women to access proper health care, to release all activists and human rights defenders who have been detained for advocating for the rights of women and girls and to stop all intimidation and harassment of these groups. I was pleased to vote in favour of this resolution.

Mr President, this is a very important topic and I would like to compliment my colleague behind me, Maria Walsh, who has done tremendous work here in Parliament and elsewhere on this whole topic. As has been said, COVID-19 put a huge mental strain particularly on young people, who couldn’t go to school, who were not able to meet their friends, who couldn’t play, and of course, on elderly people, who were locked at home and couldn’t see their families for long periods. Then, as the Commissioner pointed out, along comes the Ukraine war, caused by the war criminal Putin, and refugees coming here under enormous mental strain. Of course, we are very pleased that so many people in Europe are welcoming them and making it easy for them, despite the fact that it leads to a rise in the cost of living. And of course, that’s putting strain, particularly on a lot of people who are close to energy poverty and other types of poverty. So it’s good we discuss it and that we do a European strategy.

Mr President, first, I’d like to congratulate my colleague, Angelika Niebler, for her work on this report. Of course, I was happy to vote in favour of it. In an increasingly digitalised world, we are a data-driven society. Data-sharing has huge potential to inform and improve policy, from healthcare to energy efficiency. It was positive to see in this Act, measures to help boost data-sharing across sectors and Member States. Some citizens are concerned that their data may be used to benefit businesses rather than society, or that their personal data will be exploited. Trust is therefore a key consideration in data-sharing, and this Act will ensure that data held by the public sector, industry and individuals will be shared in a secure, controlled and trustworthy way. This is a good report. I am pleased to support it.

Mr President, in all probability, the ordinary people of Russia are like the ordinary people of my own country, or any country in the European Union – fine, decent people. But unfortunately, they are led by an autocrat, a butcher, a war criminal called Putin. But Putin reminds me of the film A Few Good Men, where Jack Nicholson said: ‘You can’t handle the truth’. And because he can’t handle the truth, he denies people the opportunity to express themselves. He did it with Navalny. He tried to kill him, first by poisoning him, then he put him into prison, and when his term was up, he gave him another nine years. He controls state media. Anybody who criticises can get 15 years in jail. But the truth will prevail. And someday, someone like Navalny will come along and become a true democratic leader of a free Russia. We look forward to that. The truth will prevail.

Mr President, we have three urgency resolutions here this evening, one on North Korea, one on Russia and one on Guatemala. There is a vast difference between Guatemala and Russia and North Korea. Guatemala is an important like-minded partner of the EU in Central America. There is a growing trade cooperation between the EU and Guatemala. And Guatemala has shown great solidarity with Ukraine and the EU, which had strong condemnation of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. And, of course, many of the offenses here mentioned occurred before the present government was elected in January 2020. Nevertheless, we have to be concerned about reports of recent legal actions against Guatemalan prosecutors and judges who played a prominent role in anti-impunity and anti-corruption efforts. This is also combined with the detention of human rights defenders, particularly environmentalists and indigenous people. There must be full respect for the country’s constitutional order and judicial independence. We call on the government to root out corruption and impunity, and improve the human rights situation.

A Uachtaráin, last August footage of tragic scenes in Afghanistan caught the world’s attention, such as desperate crowds running alongside a US military plane as it prepared to depart Kabul. Our initial shock here in the EU at how rapidly the Taliban seized control has passed. But this atmosphere of desperation and fear in Afghanistan has not. The Taliban made many empty promises after their takeover that they would offer full amnesty to Afghans who worked for the Western—backed government and uphold women’s rights. No sooner were these promises made than they were broken. I’m in contact with an Afghan woman and her family who tell me of their precarious situation with their rights and freedoms severely restricted and living in isolation. On 23 March, a glimmer of hope was soon extinguished when the Taliban ordered girls secondary schools to shut just hours after they had reopened for the first time. Many students were crying as they were turned away from their classes. As a former teacher, I am horrified by this denial of education and, by extension, denial of a future. The international community must increase its pressure on the Taliban to ensure that not only are girls allowed to return to school as soon as possible, but also that the curriculum will provide them with a genuine education. This will be hugely important step, and just one of the many steps needed to improve the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan.

Madam President, across Europe we are horrified by the barbaric, inhumane war crimes carried out on innocent civilians by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s army. The EU has to do all it can to help Ukrainians defend themselves, and must also take action to stop funding Putin’s war machine. And this means fundamentally rethinking our energy policy. The revision of the trans-European network for energy (TEN-E Regulation) offers an important opportunity for the EU to give priority and funding to future-proof Europe’s energy infrastructure in a cost-effective manner in line with the Green Deal. Our future lies in renewable generation. And urgent priority should be given to projects that are directly in line with the full decarbonisation objective. However, cost-effective transitions to decarbonisation must also be considered, including LNG. This is more important now than ever.

Mr President, investment is essential to the implementation of the energy transition and meeting our climate ambitions, requiring a drastic increase in investment in renewables. Our economies have been scarred by Brexit, the pandemic and now the horrific war in Ukraine waged by a callous tyrant. But climate change remains the overarching, existential problem facing the entire planet and every living being on it. The Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) aims to establish a level playing field for cross-border investment. However, it was signed in 1994. The world has changed since then and we are now entering a pivotal decade where we need real climate action. The ECT should be revised to prioritise low carbon investment over carbon intensive investment, not used as a means to curtail ambition at the expense of society. We have committed in law to climate neutrality by 2050. We should ensure all legal instruments and obligations are in line with this and this means dramatically updating the ECT.

A Uachtaráin, the bombs continue to drop in Ukraine, and while Putin, hiding his evil from his own people, levels cities with complete and utter disregard for human life, we now see the most intensive refugee crisis since World War Two. Putin, the tyrant, has been placated and facilitated by some even in this House, most of whom have desperately scrambled to rewrite their own record, but also a small minority who remain wilfully blinded by Russian propaganda. The enormity of the amount of people fleeing terror will require a response from government and society unlike anything most in Europe have ever seen. We must meet this challenge. The cost of living crisis across Europe must also be addressed. We need urgent, targeted measures to prevent more surges of energy prices. The Council must look at VAT and energy tax rates immediately, and the Commission should adopt extraordinary measures to allow subsidies to alleviate energy policy and wean ourselves off Russian fossil fuels as soon as possible.

Madam President, one year on from the coup in Myanmar, the situation there remains critical. We continue to condemn in the strongest possible terms the coup executed by the military in Myanmar in February of last year and call for the reinstatement of the elected government. Since they seized power, the military have implemented a series of severe restrictions on freedoms and everyday life. They have shown little respect for human rights and are causing untold suffering for the people of Myanmar. Particularly concerning are reports of killings and unlawful arrests of peaceful pro-democracy protesters. The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights estimates that at least 1 500 people have been killed and over 11 000 arrested since the military seized power last year. The humanitarian situation in Myanmar is dire, with reports of a systematic and sustained attacks on the Rohingya, Christians and other groups perpetrated by the military government. With regard to everyday life, the government has imposed a number of extreme restrictions on personal freedoms, including freedom of expression and access to media and information. Women’s rights also have been seriously curtailed since the military took power, with the women subject to widespread detention, sexual assault, gender-based violence and in some cases killings. The government has also exploited the COVID-19 pandemic to facilitate a crackdown on pro-democracy activists, a trend which is extremely concerning. It is imperative that former leaders – the President and the State Counsellor – are immediately and unconditionally released and the results of the democratic elections of November 2020 are respected. Although Myanmar’s former government did not demonstrate full respect for human rights either, they represented the only viable alternative to the current military rule. It is crucial, therefore, that we, the international community, do everything in our power to halt the systematic human rights abuses that are occurring in Myanmar.

Mr President, I am proud to speak Irish in this debate especially since Seachtain na Gaeilge is currently taking place in my country. Mexico is the most dangerous place in the world for journalists, outside official war zones. The situation is deteriorating and eight journalists have been murdered since the beginning of this year. To make the situation worse, there is no risk of proper punishment. 90% of murderers of journalists in Mexico have not been punished. To further aggravate the situation, President López Obrador often condemns and intimidates independent journalists and human rights defenders. The Mexican authority is pointing out that this violence has been approved. We urge Mexico to fulfil its duty and implement reforms to keep journalists and human rights defenders safe.

Madam President, batteries are everywhere in today’s world, and demand is only going to increase with the rise in electric mobility and our ever-growing reliance on handheld devices. Sustainable batteries and vehicles underpin the mobility of the future, and swift progress is crucial to enhancing the sustainability of the emerging battery value chain. The current battery supply chain is not very sustainable, although batteries are highly recyclable due to the nature of the critical materials inside of them. Cells often travel more than 20 000 miles from mines to manufacturing facilities. A significant shortage of supply for battery materials is also looming in the near future. Therefore, it is imperative that we put the framework in place to boost the reconditioning of batteries for reuse. New measures for batteries are crucial for the transition to a circular and climate-neutral economy. We must also make it easier and safer for consumers and independent operators to remove or replace portable batteries, such as those in smartphones, which often contain integrated batteries. It is crucial we solve this waste-to-scrap problem. There is an opportunity to link recycling, solving the end-of-life problem, with the supply chain, allowing us to bring more materials back into the feedstock so as not to bottleneck battery production. Setting green criteria for batteries sold in Europe will boost domestic production and help the continent to take its place as a centre of excellence for battery production and adoption of a circular economy.

Mr President, the images of Putin’s callous and inhumane invasion of Ukraine continue to be seen across the world. This unrelenting attack has forced more than two million people to flee for safety as Europe embraces for the largest group of refugees since World War II. The EU has acted, and will continue to act, in solidarity in dealing with the influx of refugees. In particular, the speed with which EU interior ministers were able to reach consensus on how to help those arriving from Ukraine, after years of discord over EU immigration policy, is to be commended. For the moment, the pressure is on neighbouring countries such as Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Hungary, who are responding heroically by welcoming Ukrainians. However, the burden of this influx is too great for any one country, and the burden must be shared. The devastation and tragedy in Ukraine has been staggering, and the stories of tragedy heartbreaking. However, we also cannot forget that we are still in the midst of other crises, in particular Afghanistan, where women, girls and LGBTI community continue to suffer under the oppressive Taliban regime since its takeover in August 2021. For better or worse, this is a defining moment for the EU, and this may finally be the time that we can agree on a consolidated common asylum framework.

A Uachtaráin, elections are, first and foremost, an expression of the will of the people. Yet efforts by foreign entities to influence domestic elections have shaken democracies around the world. With unbridled access via social media to virtually everywhere, propaganda and misinformation have been weaponised to an extent not seen before. In Europe, we have seen the horrors of propaganda and the devastation it can cause. Putin has tried to lock away his people from the world, closed their eyes to his inhumane attacks on the innocent, and seeks to rewrite history in real time – all the hallmarks of a tyrant. Suffocated disinformation campaigns deeply sullied the US presidential election in 2016, as well as the Brexit vote. We must ensure we have the tools in place to respond to this new reality. Free and fair democracies are worth defending, and no country or people should think they are immune from interference.

Madam President, the current political crisis unfolding in Burkina Faso is deeply concerning. The instability of the last few months has caused untold suffering to the people of Burkina Faso and led to a considerable loss of life. The appointment of military leader Damiba as president following a coup on 24 January, as well as the placing of elected President Kaboré under house arrest, raises serious questions about the state of democracy in the region. Indeed, it is a worrying trend that Burkina Faso joins the ranks of six other African nations who have experienced a coup in the last 18 months. Attacks carried out by insurgents and terrorists, such as the November attack in which 53 police officers lost their lives, have become an all too familiar part of life in the country. This humanitarian crisis has been ongoing for many years, and it is estimated that more than 1.6 million people have been displaced in the country since 2015. Recent events, however, have led to a dramatic escalation in political instability and human suffering. As EU leaders meet with representatives of the African Union this week in Brussels – a very important meeting – it is imperative that Europe works together with its partners in Africa to promote democratic processes across the continent. It is therefore essential that President Kaboré be released from house arrest and the elected government of Burkina Faso reinstated, to put a stop to this deepening political and humanitarian crisis. A reasonable timetable mapping the return to civilian rule must now be a priority for the region. The European Union should offer every assistance it can to its partners in Africa in this regard. Democracy is the only way forward for Burkina Faso. Hope we can get it.

Mr President, in 2021, at least 275 underage people were sentenced to death in Iran. The death penalty is in no case correct, especially for young people, people who have been tortured to confess, those who have not received a fair trial and those who have only worked peacefully for human rights. As MEPs have said earlier, the death penalty is more often imposed per capita in Iran or any other country in the world. The situation is deteriorating, but especially for members of the LGBTQ community and ethnic or regional minorities. It is not for the first time that I am strongly appealing to the Iranian authority for a moratorium on the immediate application of the death penalty. I would like to show my support and respect to the Iranian people working through a European Citizens’ Initiative to end the death penalty – the bravest of all. Recently in Parliament, we drew attention to the case of Dr. Djalali who did not receive a fair trial but is in prisons waiting until his execution. In the real world, this situation has not improved. Again, I urge the Iranian authority to release Dr. Djalali, winner of the Sakarov Nasrin Sotoudeh Prize, and everyone else who is in prison without cause. I am also calling on the Iranian authority to allow a full and fair investigation into torture and the use of lethal violence in prisons. I hope we can put more pressure on Iran to stop all these injustices.

Mr President, I must say as an author the for the PPE Group, it was a pleasure to work with the other authors from the political groups. We got great cooperation. As a result, we have good compromises and a very strong resolution, which I hope the Philippine authorities will take note of, because there has been persistent impunity for human rights violations in the Philippines under President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration. Since the so-called war on drugs was launched in 2016, thousands have been killed and there has been an unwillingness to investigate. Human rights activists have been branded as terrorists and equated with the armed wing of the Communist Party or ‘red-tagged’, many subsequently being killed. Now that the campaigning has kicked off for the presidential elections in May, fake news has become a particularly prevalent phenomenon in the country. Although the President is banned from seeking re-election, the son of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos is currently leading in the polls, whitewashing the thousands of atrocities of the Marcos regime in the 70s and 80s. Given the scale of these deplorable human rights violations and the failure to bring the perpetrators to justice, efforts must be bolstered to ensure that the upcoming elections are fair and free. Unfortunately, so far the Philippine authorities have not invited the EU to conduct an election observation mission. Election observation missions contribute to the strengthening of democratic institutions, building public confidence in electoral processes and would help to deter intimidation and indeed violence. The EU should be invited to observe elections to help ensure a high standard. Since a successful application of the Philippines to the GSP+ in 2014, the Philippines has enjoyed greater market access to the EU, which has led to a significant increase in exports. However, this must be re-evaluated if human rights obligations are not observed. I call on the Commission to temporarily withdraw GSP+ preferences if there is no substantial improvement and willingness to cooperate on the part of the Philippine authorities. It might be the best weapon to get them to mend their ways. Thank you very much again and it was a pleasure to work with my fellow authors.

Madam President, we stand before another potential deadly crisis orchestrated by Vladimir Putin. But whether an invasion happens or not, he has threatened war and backed up that threat with the deployment of 150 000 troops close to Ukraine and in a neighbouring country, Belarus. The military build-up around Ukraine has not been seen since the Cold War. Nevertheless, there is still room for a diplomatic resolution, and I sincerely hope this is the path chosen by Mr Putin. However, this is a keen reminder that Russia cannot be a trusted partner for the EU, and this should include how we get our energy. President von der Leyen is right. It is in Europe’s strategic interest to diversify our gas sources to reduce our dependence on Russia. Our future lies in home-grown renewables but, until we fully transition, LNG can provide an avenue away from Russia, with terminals future-proofed to handle green energy. In this regard, I would ask Minister Eamon Ryan in Ireland to take stock of this debate here today.

Mr President, I am delighted that President von der Leyen has designated 2022 the European Year of Youth. It is a fitting response to the challenges that our young people faced during the COVID—19 pandemic and goes to show that every adversity can create a new opportunity. There is no doubt that this Parliament needs to follow through on our promises to provide a new vision for young people which is green, digital and more inclusive. This year, young people will be a clear priority across all EU policy and funding areas. The pandemic has been extremely difficult in many ways, but for me it has also highlighted the important role that sporting clubs play in the fabric and history of local communities, especially in rural areas. We also need to pay attention to young people in disadvantaged areas, who particularly benefit from organised activities in their locality. I look forward to the launch of the Aim, Learn, Master, Achieve (ALMA) project for the disadvantaged young people. Let’s make 2022 a year to remember for our youth.

Madam President, it is entirely right to discuss animal welfare with competent authorities, businesses, civil society, scientists and most importantly our farmers. Farmers are on the front line of many core issues we face today, from climate change to animal welfare. We must not lose sight of the fact that this is a livelihood for millions of people to which farmers are deeply and emotionally committed. EU animal welfare legislation is one of the most advanced in the world, with some of the highest standards. However, we cannot hide from the fact that they are not implemented adequately in some Member States. I fully support practical steps in improving animal welfare standards in Europe, and for the most part, this motion contains many positive aspects in that regard. Ireland has gone above and beyond EU regulations in ensuring animal welfare during transport, and we stand as one of the leaders in Europe. Yet, with the disadvantage of our geographical location as an island in the north-west of Europe, some of the proposals brought forward today would effectively deal a hammer blow to thousands of our farmers. This is not acceptable. Also, some proposals would bring with them negative effects for animals. It’s all well and good making proposals, but if the implementation is not possible, and certainly they are not for some proposals, it is both the animals and our farmers that will suffer. This is particularly true for Irish farmers – who having made Trojan efforts to be leaders in this area – will be disproportionately affected by its negative effect. Such an outcome cannot be countenanced.

Mr President, the unprecedented protests in Kazakhstan at the beginning of the year saw some of the deadliest violence in the country’s post-Soviet history. Sparked by an almost 90% jump in car fuel prices in the oil-rich west of the country, protests spread with surprising speed as citizens across the country rose against the regime simultaneously. During clashes, security forces received orders to shoot live ammunition and, declaring a state of emergency, the President called for help from a Russian—led military bloc. Since last I spoke on the harsh restrictions imposed on the rights to peaceful assembly in Kazakhstan almost a year ago, little has changed for the better. The violent unrest that began with peaceful protests has left an estimated 225 people dead. Shocking. Arrests of activists continue and the regime appears determined to crush this movement. The crimes against civil society and human rights in Kazakhstan demand a firm response from the EU. It is time to impose personal sanctions against leaders involved in the violent suppression of peaceful demonstrations. The EU, together with the international community, must immediately initiate a proper investigation into the crimes committed and the disappearance of citizens during the two weeks of rallies. We must demand that the Kazakh authorities release all political prisoners and completely withdraw foreign troops. Since the country’s independence in 1991, Kazakhstan has been an important partner to the EU. It would be nice if it were possible for this to continue for the benefit of the lovely Kazakhstan people.

Mr President, Europe has been a leader in many areas, but in the global digital race we are lagging behind. The world economy is changing, and the digital sector will be pivotal in Europe’s geopolitical standing and will be a key driver of economic growth, and also in helping us to achieve our climate change goals in a manner that ensures prosperity. How businesses, consumers and governments access, utilise, and share data is at the core of digitalisation and will ultimately determine how the EU adapts to a new global economic complexion. The DSA is a landmark proposal to regulate the digital space, to protect fundamental rights of users and provide clarity to businesses as to their rights and obligations. In this regard, it will allow European digital companies to reach new customers and compete internationally. It is a not a new problem, but the pandemic has exacerbated the spread of disinformation, especially in relation to vaccines. This is something that every democracy should pay particular attention to. Disinformation spreaders now have a well-oiled machine to spread their harmful lies, the consequences of which will continue to create an augmented reality for many citizens. The DSA will help to tackle harmful content, which might not necessarily be illegal, and the spread of disinformation. It will also increase transparency for consumers and strengthen the rights of users on big platforms. At the same time, it will lead to more effective removal of illegal content, increase transparency for consumers, and strengthen the rights of users who have been mistreated by big platforms. Finally, the message has to be that, when it comes to new generation technologies, Europe must be a fast mover, not a laggard.

Mr President, the peaceful demonstrations that took place in Cuba on 15 November were a courageous effort to force the communist government to make a democratic change. This call for Cuba to transition to a more open civil society has been invigorated recently by a number of factors: namely, the widespread hardship brought about by the pandemic; a surge in the use of social media bringing together different groups such as the opposition group Archipelago; and a new generation that is hungry for change – change that has been far too long in coming. Around 600 dissidents were already detained in Cuba prior to the demonstration. But this did not deter the group Archipelago from calling for a new protest. I commend the bravery of these groups. Here in Parliament, not too many years ago, we presented the esteemed Sakharov Prize to the Ladies in White – a brave group of women who carried out peaceful protests in response to the brutal rounding up and imprisonment of 75 dissidents in Cuba in 2005. That day they told us, ‘we believe in ourselves, but we rely on you’. I was saddened to hear that a member of this group, Aymara Nieto, is currently imprisoned. Indeed, President Sassoli highlighted yesterday – while presenting the Sakharov Prize to Aleksei Navalny – all the previous Sakharov Prize winners still in prison all over the world. Perhaps in 2022, the European Parliament and Commission could organise an event of major proportion to highlight the plight of all Sakharov Prize winners still imprisoned. What do you think, Mr Commissioner? I call for the immediate, unconditional release of all those detained for the exercise of their rights of freedom and expression and peaceful assembly, and I urge the Council to adopt sanctions against those responsible for human rights violations in Cuba.