Billy Kelleher
Member of the European Parliament · Renew · IE
“Madam President, fairness and burden‑sharing should be at the heart of the common fisheries policy, if we were truly to live in a European Union where we try to treat all citizens and all sectors fairly.”
“Migratory patterns of fish species are changing dramatically due to global warming and temperature rises and seas, and yet there has been no solid review of quota allocation and new quota allocation because of changing fishing patterns.”
“Mr President, humanitarian aid has been weaponised and politicised, 90 % of Gaza destroyed, 60 % of Gaza occupied, continual encroachments into the West Bank, aggressive actions by settlers being facilitated by the Netanyahu government and the Israeli Defence Forces.”
“A Uachtaráin, ar son mé féin agus fhoireann Fhianna Fáil, cuirim fáilte roimh an Taoiseach. Mar is eol do chách, is cara pearsanta é an Taoiseach. Táimid inár gcairde le beagnach 40 bliain. Guím gach rath ort, a Thaoisigh, agus tú ag tosú ar d'uachtaránacht.”
“We must get real when it comes to the budget and that means being honest about the level of funding needed to sustain a dynamic, progressive and ambitious Union. We must get real about the threats facing us and invest in our defences.”
“Mr President, this time last year, there was great uncertainty and volatility across Europe and great concern by workers and small and medium-sized businesses.”
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Every one of 165 lines we hold for Billy Kelleher, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 2 of 4.
“Mr President, at the outset, I welcome the statement by the President of the Council and the President of the Commission regarding the fact that we are determined to insist on international rules‑based order, multilateralism and the UN Charter, and ensuring that Europe plays its part in being a reliable partner in that context and in that architecture. Reference has been made to Ukraine and we have to ensure that we support Ukraine – both the European Union, NATO and its allies – to insist that the integrity and the sovereignty of Ukraine is protected. That means continual financial support, as was announced with the EUR 90 billion common European loan for Ukraine. But if we are to be genuine about international rules‑based order, it cannot be à la carte.”
“It was exploitation at its highest level because this was fundamentally about making money out of sexual exploitation in increasing hits on Grok and X. And if you want to be sure of it, just look at what Elon Musk said when it was initially brought to his attention after Christmas: he put up a smiley emoji – a smiley emoji. Dismissing child sexual abuse is a shameful thing and, unfortunately, is happening too regularly in this House as well. 2-0031-0000”
“Madam President, when there was high fives at the headquarters of X and Grok over the last number of weeks celebrating the fact that they had so many hits because of the AI-generated deepfakes of sexually explicit material, it sends a very chilling message for me as an elected public representative in this Parliament and not a faceless bureaucrat or not a faceless tycoon who sits behind the paywall of X promoting such visual, sexualised content. I find it deeply offensive that we're in a position here where we are now saying that protection of free speech requires us to allow Elon Musk and others with large social media platforms to promote soiled child sexual abuse imagery. It simply doesn't make sense from any perspective to come into this Chamber and say that Elon Musk is a defender of free speech.”
“For the record, there is no evidence that EU environmental or chemical legislation has caused a shortage of any critical medicine. The Court of Auditors have also investigated and they found that shortages actually come from geopolitical, trade or internal market issues. Even the pharmaceutical sector does not make these ludicrous claims. Repeatedly during the ENVI negotiations, we asked for empirical evidence and repeatedly we never saw any. I urge everybody to reject those amendments that are tabled for ideological purposes and oppose the environmental standards that we all advise. 1-0109-0000”
“Madam President, citizens expect results when it comes to critical medicines. They expect Europe to deliver on the basics. Making sure our citizens who are sick will have medicines they need to get better is a fairly basic requirement. The Critical Medicines Act is a good start. I believe Parliament, through its committees, has made the Commission proposal better and aligned it with the needs of citizens. In light of what is happening in the United States at present and the geopolitical risks across the globe, it is important that we decrease our reliance on third countries for vital medicines for our citizens. With the little time I have remaining, I just want to deal with some amendments that have been tabled that are not based in empirical fact, but are based on ideological fiction.”
“Let's not over-legislate and overcomplicate something to make sure it works perfectly in theory, but for it to work in practice, this regime needs to be simple, have added value and most importantly, it needs to be attractive. I strongly support Parliament's recommendations to the Commission to keep this proposal targeted and avoid areas that fall under national competences such as taxation, insolvency and employment law. Instead, the proposal should focus on having a broad scope, ensuring that it's a voluntary opt-in regime, complementing the 27 and embedding 'first digital' and the 'once-only' approach. I look forward to the publication by Commissioner McGrath bringing forward this proposal in March. 1-0067-0000”
“Madam President, the introduction of the 28th Regime for European companies could be a real catalyst for boosting competitiveness, strengthening the single market and reducing fragmentation in the EU. It could create the right conditions for the next generation of high-growth companies to stay in Europe, to start up, to innovate and to scale up, rather than seeking growth abroad. Just last week, Commissioner, the Financial Times reported that trade between Member States had dropped for the first time in a decade. This regime could reduce complexities and encourage more companies to look outside their own domestic markets. The 28th Regime is an opportunity, so let's not waste it.”
“He wants fools who will advocate and undermine the values that this House stands for, and he continually supports them. The evidence is already there, in the context of an Old Bailey trial in London, where Nathan Gill was jailed for ten and a half years for promoting Russia from those seats just there, only five and a half years ago. It is shameful that we don't do more to condemn those who advocate for a war criminal like Putin in these seats – on both sides of me, sadly. 3-0503-0000”
“There are plenty of Putin apologists and propagandists, and even useful idiots, in this House, sadly – mainly on the right, but some on the extreme left as well. And we have to acknowledge the fact that when you listen to some of the debates here from time to time, it is clear that there are people who advocate for Russia, and try to undermine the basic values of this House and what the European Union stands for. Commissioner, misinformation and disinformation is being disseminated at an alarming rate on social media platforms. It is very often healthy debate in one person's view, but overall it is sinister in trying to undermine the European Union. Let's be very clear: President Putin doesn't want a strong Europe; he doesn't want a cohesive Europe.”
“Only Europe can decide how to protect its citizens and how to regulate businesses operating here, and we should not be told how to do it by anybody else. All that being said, we must not forget that the EU-US relationship is a valuable one based on a long, shared history. We have stood arm in arm during some of the darkest times for this continent and for theirs. It is in this relationship that we should work to rebuild and protect it. That is why I am calling on the EU Member States and the Commission to organise a bilateral summit in the US to return the relationship between the EU and the United States of America to one of positivity, mutual respect and understanding, and above all, decency. 3-0026-0000”
“Russia and China have been systematically trying to cultivate resistance and undermine our democracies for the last decade through misinformation and disinformation online. Must we now fend off those threats from the West? At this week's summit, the members must decide on a robust response to the US strategy and Europe's approach going forward. As a priority, Member States must reiterate our core values and insist that we will not waver. They must challenge Trump's characterisation of these as elite-driven, anti-democratic restrictions on core liberties in Europe. Not least, the Commission and Member States must commit to implementing and applying the Digital Services Act and our rules on media pluralism, transparency without favour or exception, and we need to accelerate the work on the democracy shield.”
“Madam President, tomorrow's European Council summit is a vital opportunity for the EU to take a united and unequivocal response to President Trump's national security strategy. Europe cannot underestimate the gravity of this strategy, and that it signifies a seismic shift in norms of geopolitics. For centuries, relations between our countries have been underpinned by clear principles: sovereignty and non-intervention, reciprocity and respect. I fear that the national security strategy threatens all three. Trump has stated that Europe needs to correct its course trajectory, and that America would cultivate resistance to Europe's current trajectory within the European Union. This is exactly the approach we have come to expect from our adversaries, not our allies.”
“I think of the 'X case' in 1992: a 14-year-old girl who became pregnant from rape and was threatened that if she went to England for an abortion, she would be detained and held in custody. This is what happens when you start eroding rights, and it would be shameful for us to do that here. 2-0531-0000”
“Mr President, up until 2018, abortion was banned in Ireland. Twelve women a day travelled either to England or the Netherlands for a termination. This was not abortion tourism; these were lonely journeys – very lonely journeys – of lonely women, sometimes in very vulnerable positions, because they could no longer continue a pregnancy for whatever reason. It's fairly shameful that inside this Chamber – the bastion of democracy – we have to politicise the autonomy of a woman's body, that we have to negotiate a woman's right. A woman has a right to bodily autonomy, and she has a right to make a choice. I concur and I support 'My voice, my choice'. At these moments and these debates, I think of Savita Halappanavar, a young woman who died in Ireland in 2012 because she was refused an abortion in an Irish hospital. And she died because of it.”
“There is another area that has been referenced as well, Commissioner, and that's the whole area of inequalities geographically, but also gender-based inequalities as well. And we have a significant problem with regard to gender inequalities in research, in diagnostics and in clinical trials themselves. And I do hope that the Commission will support the recommendations that we will bring forward in our report on the issue of gender inequalities in health and the significant challenges that it is causing women and girls in terms of diagnosis and clinical research. 2-0401-0000”
“(Start of speech off mic) ... 1.7 million deaths, disability, early retirement and dependency and the huge cost to individuals and society in our economy. And if we are to address it, Commissioner, I do really welcome the Safe Hearts Plan, but we have to really insist on investment in prevention and early detection, in other words: health promotion. The biggest challenge that we have is that countries across the European Union are always firefighting with their health budgets. It is always just trying to address the immediate issues. And there simply is not the capacity to invest in longer-term strategic health promotion and prevention. And I think that would be a key area where this particular plan could encourage Member States, particularly through protocols on early checks and screening.”
“From my perspective in Ireland, one of the significant challenges we have is in our inability to go through the planning and the permitting system, not only directly for houses themselves, but for the infrastructure that is required to underpin them: water, roads and waste as well, and electricity. So clearly, from the planning and permitting perspective, Commissioner, I would urge that you would use everything possible to benchmark across the entirety of the European Union the speed at which planning and permitting are granted, and that they can flow through the process in a seamless way so we can start building houses. 2-0364-0000”
“Madam President, I welcome the publication and presentation of the European affordable housing plan. And just to say at the outset, Commissioner, we have to succeed in this. At the moment, across most of Europe, we have a housing crisis. It's fracturing society, undermining social cohesion and harmony, and undermining intergenerational solidarity, and we are now in a situation where we are in a demographic spiral as well, where people simply can't get involved in family formation. They are delaying that, and that is putting huge pressure on our demographics across Europe. Social and affordable housing is a key area, and the lifting of State aid rules to ensure that states can invest directly in housing is a critically important component.”
“Since Brexit, Commissioner, Irish fishing has lost approximately EUR 43 million per year, and next year's reduction due to overfishing by Norwegian supertrawlers is expected to cost a minimum of EUR 94 million, and possibly up to 2 300 jobs directly. The Hague Preferences would have helped soften the blow, but these four countries decided that European solidarity means nothing anymore. Undermining the solidarity framework of a Union is bad policy and only rallies people to the extremes. The countries that opposed Ireland have effectively condemned Irish coastal fishing communities to depopulation and further challenges. 1-0266-0000”
“Mr President, sadly, the Governments of France, the Netherlands, Germany and Poland ganged up last Friday to block the implementation of the Hague Preferences for 2026, which will result in a catastrophe for the Irish fishing sector. The Hague Preferences were created in the 1970s to account for Ireland's underdeveloped fishing fleet and to counter the impact of increased access to Irish waters provided to other Member States' fleets. The Hague Preferences are only applied during periods of severely depleted quotas. These four countries have acted unfairly and with avarice. They have chosen not to show solidarity with fellow Member States at a time of crisis. Irish waters are some of the most bountiful inside the Union, yet Irish fishermen are allowed to catch only the tiniest amount of quota compared to other Member States.”
“Fakty ze sprawozdania pokazują, że Arabia Saudyjska dysponuje silną gospodarką, prowadzi długofalowe planowanie i nie stoi w obliczu zapaści demograficznej. Europa tymczasem zmaga się z kryzysem energii, kryzysem dzietności, kryzysem zaufania. To nie jest obraz państwa idealnego, które mogłoby pouczać innych. Narzucanie jednej ideologii, w tym odnawialnych źródeł energii, jako uniwersalnej recepty, prowadzi do eksportu europejskich błędów zamiast realizmu i pragmatyzmu. Współpraca międzynarodowa powinna opierać się na partnerstwie albo mentorstwie. Jedno wyklucza drugie. Europa musi wybrać: być partnerem, a nie nauczycielem świata, który krytykuje innych, nie widząc własnych ograniczeń.”
“Dear President, rapporteur, honourable Members, thank you for the very fruitful debate, your contribution to the strengthening of the relationship between the EU and Saudi Arabia, and together we can boost stability and prosperity in the kingdom and in the wider region. Thank you very much for your attention. 1-0247-0000 Preşedinte. – Dezbaterea este închisă. Votul va avea loc mâine. Declarații scrise (articolul 178) 1-0247-5000 Marcin Sypniewski (ESN), na piśmie – Pani Przewodnicząca! Europa poucza dziś Arabię Saudyjską, jakby sama była wzorem do naśladowania. A nie jest. Arabia Saudyjska to państwo suwerenne. Własna kultura, własna droga, własne decyzje. Brak mandatu Europy do wychowywania świata. Każdy kraj ma prawo do wyboru własnej ścieżki rozwoju, a krytyka z zewnątrz nie może zastąpić dialogu i wzajemnego szacunku.”
“The IMEC will boost economic resilience, supply chains, digital innovation, energy transition and the geopolitical and security benefits, in particular the stabilisation of the Middle East. We appreciate Saudi Arabia's commitment to IMEC and their interest in hosting the first IMEC ministerial. Let me also mention an important goal where we count on the European Parliament's support: the upcoming negotiations for a strategic partnership agreement with Saudi Arabia. As reflected in the report, this would be a true upgrade of our bilateral relationship, and the support of this House is crucial.”
“We are very pleased with the recent dynamics within the EU‑GCC Green Transition Forum. Last week, Commissioner Šuica participated in an event with EU and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia companies, boosting cooperation also with the private sector. The European Chamber of Commerce established by the EU in Riyadh will further step up this work. We are looking forward to Saudi Arabia hosting the next EU‑GCC Summit in 2026. We are keen to step up our work with Saudi Arabia in a variety of fields. Engaging on human rights and civil society will be an integral part of this, building on our existing dialogue. I am pleased that the report also mentions the India‑Middle East‑Europe Economic Corridor – the IMEC – which is a major project of shared strategic interest.”
“The kingdom is a major international actor with an increasing role in diplomacy, sponsoring the two‑state solution and contributing to stability in the Middle East and the Red Sea regions. And let us not forget its major role within the Gulf Cooperation Council, with its strong economic footprint and investment clout. Clearly, the kingdom is a major economic partner for the EU and European businesses alike, not least in view of the domestic reform agenda of the King. Let me take this opportunity to commend the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's ambitious Vision 2030. It is a strategic framework to diversify the economy, nurture talent and encourage investment in renewable energy and sustainability. Saudi Arabia and Europe are setting a precedent for global collaboration in the green transition.”
“There are considerable opportunities of co‑investment for Saudi Arabia across the Middle East and North Africa, particularly in the energy transition or water resilience, when we think of green hydrogen or water desalination, for example. Cooperation on key challenges in the region, such as the reconstruction of Syria or Gaza, are also important. Furthermore, all sides can also benefit from closer cooperation in security, such as the prevention of radicalisation or cooperation in police and judicial matters in the fight against organised crime and terror. Honourable Members, there is no doubt about Saudi Arabia's strategic geopolitical and economic role in the region.”
“Commissioner Šuica has just been on a mission to Saudi Arabia, where she discussed the forthcoming negotiations for a strategic partnership agreement with our Saudi partners and ways to deepen the collaboration across the board, both at bilateral but also at regional level. We are keen to further upgrade our relationship and explore new avenues. Promoting triangular cooperation between the EU, the Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf countries is one of the key objectives of the Pact for the Mediterranean. The Commission adopted it on 16 October 2025, and we launched it together with the Southern Partners on 28 November in Barcelona, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the launch of the Euro‑Mediterranean process. Such cooperation can generate benefits for all sides.”
“It strikes a good balance between political, economic and social considerations. It also presents concrete proposals for enhanced cooperation. In fact, our relations are in a positive and dynamic phase. We are building on the momentum of the EU‑GCC Summit in October 2024, in the framework of the 2022 EU‑Gulf strategy. We have clearly stepped up our engagement with the Gulf. This House has a standing rapporteur for Saudi Arabia, and the Commission has created a new portfolio with the first ever Commissioner for the Mediterranean, who is also in charge of the relations with the Gulf and the Mediterranean.”
“But the one thing we can do is pretend that there isn't appalling abuse in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and we must continue to advocate for the points already raised by the Members here with regard to women's rights, vulnerable groups, rule of law, the right to fair trials, the death penalty and making sure migrants are protected and not abused. 1-0245-0000 (Încheierea intervențiilor la cerere) 1-0246-0000 Olivér Várhelyi, Member of the Commission. – Mr President, dear rapporteur, honourable Members, I deliver this set of remarks on behalf of Commissioner Šuica. The Commission welcomes the very timely presentation of this report on the relations between the EU and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is a major contribution to define our priorities for the partnership with Saudi Arabia. The report largely corresponds to our assessment.”
“Mr President, I welcome the report. And just to say that we should continue to engage in dialogue, particularly human rights dialogue between the European Union and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. And that dialogue, obviously should cover women's rights, vulnerable groups and migrants. It should also cover the rule of law, rights to a fair trial, and obviously the issue of the death penalty. Saudi Arabia is a key geopolitical partner in the Gulf region now. It has huge influence and huge resources. It is an ally very often of Israel. It is an ally of the United States in the key geopolitical decisions being made in that region. Equally, the European Union should work closely with Saudi Arabia to ensure that our views and what we would like to see happen in that particular region is reflected as well and relayed to Saudi Arabia.”
“That is the real significant barrier to ensuring that Europe has the capacity not only to innovate, but to produce – research, innovation, clinical trials and our competitiveness. On a broader issue, Commissioner, I do think we do have to look at the whole issue of procurement and reimbursement. We cannot have a situation where your access to medicine is based on a lottery code on where you live, which country you are born in. Certainly I believe that if you have a centralised procurement system under the auspices of the European Union, that that in a way would be able to stimulate greater, quicker payments to companies and further stimulate innovation. 1-0225-0000”
“Mr President, of course, we should be very concerned about the geopolitical tensions and the impact that they may have on medicine supplies in Europe. We have to ensure that we have a continuity of supply, both in terms of the production, the manufacturing, but also access to ingredients and generics. Being too dependent on a small number of countries for the large volumes of medicines that we purchase does put us in a very vulnerable position, Commissioner. We have now the pharmaceutical strategy, the Critical Medicines Act as well. But what we really need to do is to make sure that Europe becomes a hub for innovation and research, broadening clinical trials and improving our competitiveness.”
“Ireland was dealt harshly in Brexit, but we now again have a situation where the country that catches the least amount of fish in its waters is the one that's being penalised most in the context of the scientific advice. Very soon the scientific advice will be assessing the loss of fish in Irish waters, and, equally, they will be assessing the fact that we have no more fishing coastal communities on the island of Ireland. It is time that the EU acts fairly and squarely and stands behind Irish fishers in Irish waters. 3-0474-0000”
“Mr President, the scientific advice regarding the quotas for 2026 are devastating from an Irish perspective: a 70 % cut to mackerel, a 41 % cut in blue whiting and a potential loss of 2 600 jobs in coastal communities across Ireland. Norway, the Faroe Islands, Iceland, Russia: non-EU states are unilaterally pillaging Irish waters, Commissioner – pillaging our coastal communities of their ability to make a living. Norway in particular, who has access to Irish waters with super trawlers, continues to overfish at an alarming rate. As was pointed out, over the past five years, around 1 million tonnes have been fished above what is acceptable by scientific advice. We simply have to stop this pillaging of Irish waters.”
“Oleg Voloshyn was a Russian who prompted Mr Gill to make these continuous speeches, and we have to accept that some of the commentary in this House goes beyond what should be allowed with regard to defending the democracy that upholds this place, and it behoves us all to call out those who are supporting political groups and parties and governments that want to undermine the democracy in this House and the European Union, and all that we share, and the values that underpin us. It is shameful that we have this continual diatribe from over there with regard to being pro-Russian, anti‑Ukraine, and undermining the basic principles of this House. We need transparency, but we also need honesty. 3-0421-0000”
“Madam President, Nathan Gill, a former Member of the European Parliament, a member of UKIP, sat on those seats from 2014 to 2020. He was jailed for 10 years at the Old Bailey last week for taking bribes from Russia – Russian money paid by oligarchs to make speeches in this Chamber promoting Russia and denigrating Ukraine. It sounds very familiar from those benches over there.”
“With that in mind, we have encouraged the Irish Government to increase spending in defence capabilities and in observation capabilities to ensure that we play our part in making sure that Europe is safe and protected from Russian aggression and from Russian threats of sabotage to critical infrastructure in the European Union. 3-0269-0000”
“Madam President, last week, the Russian spy ship Yantar, spotted in the UK waters, was heading to the Irish exclusive economic zone. The ship is specifically built for subsurface work, and so was seen as a threat to undersea cables and energy pipelines. This is the same boat that was escorted from Irish waters last November. It also coincides with the fact that President Zelenskyy is planning to come to Ireland on 2 December. We have had consistent monitoring of the cables off the southwest coast of Ireland, where some of the largest data flows between Europe and the US flow through our waters. It is incumbent on the Irish state – our navy and defence forces – supported by the European Union, to ensure that we have the capacity to observe, in Ireland's exclusive economic zone, what is happening both on the water and underwater.”
“The InvestEU programme has previously provided up to 8 500 social housing units and renovations across the EU, and has supported Ireland's community, voluntary and social enterprise sector through its derivative social finance fund. Not only does the advancement of InvestEU efficiency make key EU objectives more attainable – reinforcing our alignment with EU priorities through green and sustainable impacts – by improving social investment for Ireland, it improves the synergy of our Union as a whole. 2-0533-0000”
“Madam President, the agreement on the simplification of the InvestEU programme is something I welcome with open arms. Increasing the guarantee by EUR 2.9 billion will strengthen the InvestEU instrument and can help boost the EU's competitiveness. According to the Draghi report, the EU is facing an EUR 800 billion investment gap annually. A strengthened InvestEU can help mobilise much-needed public and private investment into a broad range of areas. In Ireland, where 50 000 people currently remain on social housing waiting lists – with 40 000 in defined housing distress – the expansion of the financial capacity of InvestEU could allow for much-needed investment in Ireland's social housing sector. This would not be unknown territory, Commissioner. Support for social housing is clearly EU policy.”
“From that perspective, Putin having any say in the context of democracy in the European Union must be defended against at all times. So, Commissioner, I urge you to ensure that the European Centre for Democratic Resilience, and in particular the foreign information manipulation and interference and disinformation, is taken seriously both in the context of Russia, but also other actors who are willing to undermine our democracies as well. 2-0111-0000”
“Mr President, I very much welcome the announcement of the European Democracy Shield and the EU Strategy for Civil Society. We have to protect our societies as importantly as our democracies – they are intertwined. But our minds and our freedoms cannot be for sale to the highest bidders. And, in that context, I really urge the Commission to continually support and underpin the DSA to ensure that it is not unravelled or intertwined in trade agreements. We simply cannot have a situation where our DSA is decided by others, rather than the democratic institutions that put it in place in the European Union. I am really concerned at some of the tone of the debate in this particular House – the way they dismiss Russian interference and interference in elections from outside the European Union. We simply must protect our democracies.”
“And if you only want to know why, all you are trying to do is find people over there to use, to drive divisions in society, in Hungary and across Europe. But the fact of the matter is, less people are going to Hungary and more people are leaving. And you should be asking yourself that question: why are the academics, why are the young people, why are so many Hungarians leaving Hungary to go to other countries within the European Union? I'll tell you why: because of oppression and economic stagnation, because of Orbán and Fidesz and his corrupt cronies. 1-0088-0000”
“Mr President, there's a very simple principle when you join a club, a group or an organisation, or indeed our Union: you comply with the rules of law. In this case, Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union and the European Charter of Fundamental Rights. In Hungary, at the moment, we have attacks on rule of law and public institutions, freedom of media, attacks on civil society, attacks on people's sexual orientation, women and girls' reproductive rights, migration and asylum, and international justice. These are the harsh realities of life in Hungary under Orbán and Fidesz, and no amount of clapping or intimidation from over there (speaker gestures to the right of the House) will hide the fact that people in Hungary are already very concerned about the autocracy that is happening in Budapest.”
“And I believe we now need to do a complete deep dive and an assessment of all Member States to see how we can assist them in removing blockages and permitting to infrastructural developments, primarily in the area of grid connectivity and renewables. 2-0024-0000”
“If you look at the timelines, it is simply not acceptable that we are now talking about up to ten years before wind farms – from conception to completion – are delivered. That simply is putting huge costs on industry, uncertainty in investment, and undermining our capacity to deliver electricity at a reasonable cost and our support for renewables and cleaner energies. So, if the Commission is serious, we have to address every blockage, and primarily in the area of planning and permitting. I honestly believe it is not capital that is our challenge, but it is ourselves in terms of the red tape and the bureaucracy – not just at European level, but at Member State level as well.”
“Madam President, I welcome the conclusions of the European Council and its emphasis on competitiveness and decarbonisation, and the President referring to the fast, effective response that is required for the challenges ahead and some of the success that we have made in terms of the Paris Agreement, going from a projected 4°C increase to just a little over 1.5°C, and that we are bending the curve in a positive way. But the cost of electricity is causing competitive challenges across Europe, both in terms of industry but also in private homes as well. One of the most significant issues that we face in trying to address the issue of competitiveness and in ensuring that we have cheap electricity, is our planning and permitting systems across the entire European Union, Commissioner.”
“And the idea that we can have a situation where shared images are sent online, to the point where young girls are taking their lives because of this damaging harassment online – we simply have to take this seriously if we are to talk about equality and protecting girls and women, and certainly any legislation that would come forward in supporting women should also be supported by those that expose free speech. 4-0070-0000”
“Madam President, equality between men and women is a fundamental principle of our Union. Yet right across our Union, in countries, women are objectified, subjugated, exploited and commodified, and we do need to take this very seriously. In Ireland alone, in 2024, there were 41 000 cases of domestic violence. Recently, Minister Jim O'Callaghan brought forward proposals with regard to a domestic violence register, to register people who have been convicted of domestic violence. Women need to know the backgrounds of their potential partners and this is a very welcome proposal. Also, we have to accept that online is now a cesspit of violence against women and girls, and it has to be addressed. We have the Digital Services Act, and we have other pieces of legislation, but we just have simply not taken this seriously.”
“Otherwise, you will have significant challenges in this Chamber in trying to get through a work programme that is critical to the citizens of Europe. So I do hope that strong emphasis will be put on the platform and ensuring that this programme goes ahead smoothly. 2-0330-0000”