Luke Ming Flanagan
Member of the European Parliament · The Left · IE
“All the more reason then that we get this right when deciding who gets this money. In the Commission proposal, the text refers to those most in need. To me, the most in need are those that farm marginal lands on smallholdings and those on designated lands.”
“A Uachtaráin, fáilte romhat, a Mhichíl. Fáilte romhat, a Thomáis. Madam President, when I got elected to the European Parliament, I got elected as a sceptic. I got elected because I was told by the Irish Government continuously when they weren't happy with the EU enforcing rules, that they were made to do it. I have discovered otherwise.”
“Finally, in relation to defective concrete, when are you going to get your act together? Infringement proceedings remain open. They do so in spite of the fact that thousands of people's lives have been blighted by crumbling houses. The danger of this issue repeating itself remains very real. The European Parliament has backed this.”
“Madam President, we already have an abundance of legislation. We keep having reports, hearings and debates. Yet still, in the Eurobarometer published this week, adolescents and parents agree that the action that would help most to improve adolescent mental health well-being online is better implementation and enforcement of existing rules…”
“And the best thing is to have them running, jumping, skipping, painting, sewing, cycling, skating, swimming, knitting, baking, digging, planting, growing, kicking a ball, hitting a snooker ball, throwing a stick, playing with the cat, playing with the dog, and being outside as often as possible.”
“Your goal of simplification is insulting and treats farmers like they are simple and incapable of carrying out practices that would free us from dependence on expensive inputs.”
The complete record
Every one of 20 lines we hold for Luke Ming Flanagan, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account.
“Finally, in relation to defective concrete, when are you going to get your act together? Infringement proceedings remain open. They do so in spite of the fact that thousands of people's lives have been blighted by crumbling houses. The danger of this issue repeating itself remains very real. The European Parliament has backed this. You now need to do something about it. People deserve dignity. They don't have it. 2-0113-0000”
“All the more reason then that we get this right when deciding who gets this money. In the Commission proposal, the text refers to those most in need. To me, the most in need are those that farm marginal lands on smallholdings and those on designated lands. We also need to respect those pluriactive farmers who, while not making a full-time living out of farming, are nonetheless contributing in a significant way to food sovereignty and the provision of public goods – the latter of which has never been properly remunerated for. The proposals on fisheries are even worse: from 6 billion to 2 billion. As with agri funding, this means it has now been never more important that small-scale, low impact fishers are given this money. The money must be provided in a way that fishers can actually access it. As things stands, that is not the case.”
“A Uachtaráin, fáilte romhat, a Mhichíl. Fáilte romhat, a Thomáis. Madam President, when I got elected to the European Parliament, I got elected as a sceptic. I got elected because I was told by the Irish Government continuously when they weren't happy with the EU enforcing rules, that they were made to do it. I have discovered otherwise. And since I got elected here, I have to say I believe the common agricultural policy is the most important policy of the European Union. In my county alone, a county of 80 000 people, EUR 1 billion in CAP payments has come to Roscommon since I was elected in 2014. Over the same period, in the future, if we stick with current budgetary proposals on the MFF, we would see a reduction in payments of EUR 200 million just to Roscommon, excluding inflation.”
“And the best thing is to have them running, jumping, skipping, painting, sewing, cycling, skating, swimming, knitting, baking, digging, planting, growing, kicking a ball, hitting a snooker ball, throwing a stick, playing with the cat, playing with the dog, and being outside as often as possible. But unfortunately, that isn't possible if we're all working 60 hours a week. So the biggest thing we can do is … (The President cut off the speaker) 3-0107-0000”
“Madam President, we already have an abundance of legislation. We keep having reports, hearings and debates. Yet still, in the Eurobarometer published this week, adolescents and parents agree that the action that would help most to improve adolescent mental health well-being online is better implementation and enforcement of existing rules and regulations. But as a parent, I would have to say the best protection for children is for as long as possible – and as long as possible, I mean it – to keep them offline. And I say that as a parent of a 23‑, a 21‑year‑old and now an 11‑year‑old. The 11‑year‑old is now getting the benefit of my experience.”
“– A bit like a heroin addict that is addicted to heroin, they need it today, but you should aim for a future where you will not be dependent on something that is not sustainable and would ultimately destroy you. We need it because you made us dependent on it. We need to find a path out of that. Otherwise, we are dependent on forces outside our control, people like Vladimir Putin. And now, your party are making us dependent on a man who holds a chainsaw as part of his political movement when it comes to supplying beef in Europe. So, I will not take any lectures from you. 2-0252-0000”
“Und es gibt ein Gesetz, das unsere Schüler in der Schule lernen. Das ist das Gesetz des steigenden Ertragszuwachses. Sie tun so, wie wenn man ohne Düngung Pflanzen erzeugen kann, Nahrung erzeugen kann. Ihnen muss aber auch bewusst sein, dass 4 Milliarden Menschen von Lebensmittelproduktion abhängig sind, die auch von mineralischen Düngern abhängig ist. Das sind Fakten, die auf dem Tisch liegen. Und ich glaube, es ist auch wichtig, dass man nicht nur mineralischen Dünger schlechtredet. Wir brauchen ihn, um Lebensmittel zu erzeugen. Ich glaube, das sind auch Fakten, die Sie wahrnehmen. Oder glauben Sie, wir schaffen das alles mit organischem Dünger? 2-0251-0000 Luke Ming Flanagan (The Left), blue-card answer.”
“Your goal of simplification is insulting and treats farmers like they are simple and incapable of carrying out practices that would free us from dependence on expensive inputs. The discussion today is focused on how to ensure adequate fertilisers to continue the 'business as usual' model of agriculture – a model that is failing both farmers and the environment. I will finish by saying this: the real discussion that must be had is how we move to a more sustainable model of producing food that respects planetary boundaries – one that respects reality. (The speaker agreed to take a blue-card question) 2-0250-0000 Alexander Bernhuber (PPE), Frage nach dem Verfahren der „blauen Karte“. – Herr Kollege, ein ehemaliger Lehrer von mir hat gesagt: Wo Mistus, da Christus; wo Kunstdünger, seine Jünger.”
“Madam President, Commissioner, the Commission's words today on a fertiliser strategy directly contradict their cumulative actions over the last three years. Under the guise of simplification, environmental actions that would have created a more resilient agriculture were gutted and torn apart to appease industrial agriculture in successive, mini‑reforms of CAP since 2022. The current model of intensive agriculture has locked farmers into dependencies on imported inputs over which they have no control – mainly feed, fuel and fertiliser. Other options exist, including organic farming, crop rotation and incorporating clover into grasslands, that we should be incentivising and transitioning toward in order to protect our food sovereignty.”
“We should also look at police brutality across Europe: people protesting against genocide brutally beaten by German police – I'm sorry to say it – acting like Nazis. We should practice what we preach. And I'd agree with previous speakers: Ireland's leader should not go and present a bowl of shamrock to Donald Trump. The man's a lunatic. He should be in prison! 3-0241-0000”
“Madam President, to the speaker who said this was a waste of time: I suggest you shouldn't have come here in the first place. No one forced you to debate. It is important to discuss this. We need to discuss what our relationship should be with the state that is shooting its citizens dead on the street. We need to discuss whether it should be 'business as usual' with a country that is rounding up EU citizens and putting them in glorified concentration camps – Seamus Culleton being an example that's been used on many occasions here today. Why wouldn't you want to discuss why your fellow EU citizens are being put in a concentration camp? It should also serve as a warning that voting for the far right will lead you to this place.”
“The EU must also demand that Israel pays for the reconstruction of Gaza, because the reality is that there will be no peace without justice, and there will be no justice until Gaza is reconstructed and Israel pays for it. 2-0053-0000”
“Madam President, so what is the role of the EU in bringing about peace in the Middle East? Firstly, we must recognise the EU's role in facilitating a genocide. We must accept that Ursula von der Leyen's unconditional support for Israel emboldened it in committing the most horrific war crimes. We must accept that the EU's refusal to suspend our trade agreement with Israel has helped it bankroll a genocide. We must accept that, in spite of Israel telling us it would do exactly what it has done, Germany continued to supply it with weapons until two months ago. So now – to make up for this – the EU must recognise the Palestinian State and end all trade with Israel until it removes its war machine from Gaza.”
“Now, in the absence of UNRWA, the people of Gaza are subject to a horror whereby if they wish to receive aid, they must run the gauntlet of being shot! You do not speak for Ireland when it comes to foreign policy. You need to end the trade deal, end all weapons sales, push for UNRWA to be given back its mandate and recognise Palestine ... (The President cut off the speaker) 2-0562-0000”
“Mr President, Commissioner Kallas, what ever happened to the peace project known as the European Union? We are, as my colleague said, watching a live-streamed genocide in Gaza. And rather than taking concrete action to stop the genocide, the so-called 'peace project' is aiding and abetting the aggressor. The EU's largest state, Germany, supplies one third of the instruments of death to Israel. The EU refuses to call a halt to the trade agreement with Israel – instead talking about a possible review. What's to review? We are trading with a psychopathic state, hell-bent on wiping out a nation. Many MEPs here had undermined UNRWA with insinuations that they were infiltrated by Hamas. You got your way with your corrosive lies.”
“The EMFAF regulation doesn't preclude funding for POs. So, people might be tempted to blame Europe for the problems of small-scale fisheries in Ireland. That's not the fact. The fact is, it's our own fault and that needs to change. 2-0119-0000”
“Madam President, the best way to protect our oceans is to support small-scale fishers over super-trawlers, and the best way to protect local fishing communities is to support small-scale fishers over super-trawlers. Is it happening? Not at the moment, no. In Ireland, 87.5 % of all fishers operate out of boats of 12 metres and less, yet they have access to less than 1 % of herring stocks and 4 % of mackerel stocks. When these fishers tried to organise into POs, they were delayed by a regime in Ireland that would prefer if they didn't exist. Now they have been recognised as POs, it is made as difficult as possible for them to access funding. This needs to change if we are serious about an ocean pact and protecting our oceans. Ireland doesn't need permission to do this, however. Article 17 allows for it and encourages it.”
“Madam President, Commissioner Lahbib spoke about anticipating risk. We should have anticipated the risk when we made ourselves dependent on Vladimir Putin for energy and fertiliser. We should now anticipate the risk in leaving ourselves 85 % dependent on the US for soya imports. What looked like a stable relationship with the US is now in tatters. But we're not learning – quite the opposite. Through Mercosur we are now slowly but surely going to make ourselves dependent on them for beef. Is it anticipating risk depending our future on President Milei? In a crisis, in a war, during a massive climate event, there will not be the case that the current policy will keep us safe. You said in your own video we may end up hungry: "You could end up very hungry". With the way the EU policy is going, you will end up hungry.”
“And if there's money, and EUR 1 billion for a compensation package, how come there's no money to increase the farmers' money that they get from the CAP, from what it was in 1991? Farmers in Ireland are facing a 60 % cut in CAP payments since that year. You're talking about a EUR 1 billion compensation package for something that's a win-win deal. There is no win-win – no win-win in science. You cannot destroy or create energy. It's rubbish. 4-0030-0000”
“Madam President, in order to properly debate the impact of this proposed agreement – proposed agreement; the title doesn't say proposed, but we haven't agreed to it yet – the proposed agreement on beef farmers in the EU, we need to compare like with like. In other words, you cannot compare carcass waste to processed premium beef waste. But that's what your spin doctors are doing. The reality is that this deal will guarantee that at least 9 % of high-value cuts sold in the EU will come from Mercosur: 209 000 tonnes in a market of 2.3 million. I hear people talk of opportunities. If you're a suckler farmer in the west of Ireland on a 30-hectare farm, where are the opportunities? If it's a win-win, as you say, why then the need for a compensation package?”