Alice-Mary Higgins
National University of Ireland · Independent · Ireland
“We are signing up to be customers of liquefied natural gas - potentially fracked gas, potentially coming from a country that is busily fighting against climate action and trying to fast-track our route to destruction. We will be doing that every year in the budget and every day in the terminal.”
“We are not getting solid measures on those safeguards. The other safeguards we have, which are our planning laws and climate laws, are being either fast-tracked or suspended. We are suspending the existing safeguards and are not putting hard safeguards into this Bill, and we are being asked to go on faith.”
“Nonetheless, I have some practical questions. We need a little more on what the emergency is because it is not sufficient to say we will deal with it then. The emergency is the ground on which the Minister of State is asking for the normal planning process and the climate Act to be suspended. We need to know what the emergency is.”
“It should happen only after all relevant market-based measures have been implemented. Those market measures should include the demand-reduction strategies that are eligible under N-1, including demand reduction by large energy users, and should have been implemented, exhausted and proven insufficient.”
“Sure there is detail in it but the key issue is that what he is asking of the Oireachtas, which is to agree to it being built, is on the argument of there being an emergency. It should be very clear what the emergency is. I mentioned previously that the committee said our N-1 obligations could be met through demand management.”
“It comes from real places with real communities that are immediately and terribly impacted by fracking, as well as having an impact on the atmosphere that surrounds our beautiful planet, which we are destroying. As the Minister of State said, it impacts not just on business but on the liveability of large portions of this planet.”
The complete record
Every one of 1,900 lines we hold for Alice-Mary Higgins, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 37 of 38.
“I am again really urging action and leadership from Ireland, and for us not to hide behind the European Union, which hides behind calls for restraint when, three weeks ago, EU representatives met the Israeli trade minister and did nothing about changing the trade rules. In fact, there were calls for an acceleration and increase in our trading relationships with those who are executing such cruelties. Again, I look forward to the Minister coming to the House next week, as promised, to discuss these issues.”
“It is a reminder of why Ireland needs to start acting, with the weak, weak, weak statements coming out of the European Council calling for restraint on the part of those who have said this is just the beginning, who have told us they do not plan to be restrained, and whom we do not apparently plan to restrain. It is a reminder of what that hunger is, by Eavan Boland, just three lines, because I know my time is short: In the morning they were both found dead. Of cold. Of hunger. Of the toxins of a whole history. But her feet were held against his breastbone. The last heat of his flesh was his last gift to her. This is our history of knowing what it is to be forcibly starved, knowing what it is to be victims of what is colonisation and an acceleration of colonisation of that which remains of Palestine.”
“First is "You Were So Small in my Hands" by Mosab Abu Toha: You were so small in my hands no shrapnel could hit you, but the dust and smoke of the bomb rushed into your lungs. No need for any gauze. They just closed your eyes. No need for any shroud. You were already in your swaddle blanket. There is another poem that I want to highlight, given that a fast called the hunger for justice for Gaza is taking place this week for five days, because there is five days' worth of flour left in Gaza, given that the reports of those who have died in the bombs describe children with sunken cheeks dying in the assault, and given that there are reports of mothers who spoke about how their children cried for food all day and all night and they tried to shove the last piece of bread they had into the mouths of their children killed in the strikes.”
“In speaking today, I realise that I missed World Poetry Day last week, which is important. The theme I want to address, Gaza, which is one we have called for a debate on previously, is sometimes best addressed through poetry. I am not going to read the poem by Dr. Refaat Alareer, "If I Must Die", which is a famous one, where he speaks about "If I must die, let it bring hope" to a child, somewhere in Gaza, looking up. He talks about making his life into a kite. I find it too sad, particularly given that, after his death in an Israeli strike, his daughter and his grandchild were also killed in the following months, even though he so generously spoke of his hope for the next generation. I want to highlight two poems which are deeply relevant now.”
“Why do we not have at scale - not small pilot schemes, grants or individual initiatives - the resourcing of rewetting, which is the base point, and, where possible, the restoration of peatlands on land the State owns? Moreover, in these schemes, why do we not genuinely reward drives for rewetting? That would brings early rewards in reduction. Planting forestry might take 20 or 30 years before it will deliver in emission reduction, while rewetting has a much earlier impact. I hope the Minister will focus on peatlands and rewetting and why it is not being brought to the scale it should be, especially given that the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council and the European Court of Auditors have pointed to it. It would also benefit farmers in the west, where I am from, and other rural areas.”
“Again, Christine Schneider of the European Court of Auditors specifically noted the court's regret that there seems to be no effort to properly restore peatlands to scale. Ms Schneider referred to peatlands that have been transformed into agricultural land and the effort to restore them in order to use them as carbon sinks. She said there is not much of this in the Irish national plan. This is the easiest, shortest and quickest thing we can do to try to meet our carbon sinks goals. The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council has estimated that protecting forestry and rewetting peatlands would hold a cost of €1 billion, and potentially €11 billion in other costs, compared with the €26 billion Ireland might pay in fines for missing our climate targets.”
“With Storm Éowyn, we saw again that there are issues when one supports a monoculture approach to crop growing and cutting rather than adopting a continuous-cover approach or an approach that supports native tree planting at scale. It will be even harder for Ireland to get those schemes renewed in the future. It was claimed that we were looking for an exemption from state-aid rules at the time on the basis of the fact that our forestry plan was going to deliver on environmental targets. It is clear, however, that the approach we are taking in respect of forestry will not deliver on environmental targets. Coillte is part of that. The way we approach what we grant and what we support through the CAP will be important in that regard. I also wish to highlight peatlands.”
“In the case of Coillte, its mandate is the business of commercial forestry. That mandate is solely around the cash-generative potential of forestry rather than what I propose as a new mandate, which would involve the economically, socially and environmentally sustainable use of what is 7% of State land. With regard to forestry and the Commission, one of the reasons there were such delays a couple of years ago in any new scheme coming through was because the Commission came back and said Ireland was still taking a business-as-usual approach to forestry. We had schemes on the edges but we were failing to deliver. We still had such an emphasis on monocultures and Sitka spruce.”
“There is a concern that the proportion of the plan that is tied to rural development - approximately 40% - is insufficient in the context of rural infrastructure and service needs. We want a plan that works for those who live in rural communities and are involved in farming rather than solely for the owners of or shareholders in very large farming agribusinesses. It must deliver for communities and families whose existence is based around farming. That balance is still not there. I will highlight two areas in respect of which revision and change need to be looked at. They both relate to a Bill I have previously highlighted. It would be timely to consider them now. My mandates for nature Bill looks at the mandates of Coillte and Bord na Móna. These are outdated mandates from the 1950s or 1960s and the 1980s, respectively.”
“Doing things a little differently through ecological schemes and schemes that align with our nature restoration measures could end up shifting the balance somewhat and give greater supports to smaller farmers as opposed to those supports almost solely going to those who operate on a large, almost industrial scale. We do not really have transparency as to how the performance-based approach will be monitored or evaluated. What supports will be given to smaller farmers in the context of monitoring and evaluation? I echo the points that other Members made about young farmers. We know that the new generation of farmers coming through is very important. We also know that those who lost out on previous schemes will now lose out on the new scheme. That should be looked at.”
“It will be more complex, but if we give people the right supports, they can deliver. Many small farmers tend to be have a few different strings to their bows in the context of how they operate. They are well able to manage, but they need resources. I am concerned about some of the figures. The plan seems to heavily favour large farming operations. It will continue to distribute payments based primarily on farm sizes. I am concerned that we will again end up in a situation where a disproportionate amount - I believe it will be 80% - of the direct supports on offer will likely to go to just 20% of farmers.”
“Simplification is no longer enough when we are living through what has been referred to as the sixth great extinction. It is called that in light of the large-scale loss of nature and species, which is hugely detrimental to the well-being and survival of all, not to mention the impact on pollinators and horticulture. It is extremely important that we get to the detail and start talking about actual baseline measures required in respect of nature and biodiversity and about proactive nature restoration. It cannot simply be business as usual; we need to move into proactive mode. The challenge for the Government is to make sure that it proceeds in a way that is manageable and supportive and that it gives smaller farmers in particular the supports for managing something that is going to become more complex.”
“These were critiques of Ireland having it there on paper but failing to ensure that the way we deliver our policy plans genuinely reduces greenhouse gas emissions and has a positive and meaningful environmental effect. This is with regard to rural development funding. Christine Schneider of the European Court of Auditors noted that Ireland has kept its funding requirements very much the same as in previous schemes and has not shown enough ambition for increasing the targets and being clear about the qualitative impact that the schemes would have. There is a move towards a performance-based approach. What does that mean? It should not just be around more red tape in the sense of paperwork or more forms to complete; it should be meaningful. I challenge some of the simplification of what is involved.”
“It is really important that the environmental aspects and aspects relating to sustainable natural resources are not left on the fringes and seen as being on the fringes of the CAP. We must be fundamentally honest about land use and how it is connected. Sadly and unfortunately, Ireland's plan has attracted some valid criticism. According to report by the European Court of Auditors, the CAP plans "are greener than in the previous CAP, but do not match the EU’s ambitions for the climate and the environment". Ireland did not meet the CAP funding requirements up to 2024. The eco-scheme payments require that at least 25% of money be spent on greenhouse gas emission reductions and the 35% of rural development funding should have a meaningful environmental effect.”
“I will pick up a little where the previous speaker left off. It will be really important as we move forward that the plans around the CAP intersect and that we have intersection between the multiple plans. There is a question, which I will come to in a moment, regarding some of the critiques that have been made about Ireland's plan. It is important to ensure that this plan works in conjunction with nature restoration plans and our commitments on biodiversity, delivers social cohesion for rural communities for that purpose and common goal and that it is thought through. Some of the environmental biodiversity schemes can sometimes end up being on the fringes. Consider the model relating to forestry. We literally see a few native trees around the edges of the big Sitka monoculture.”
“Getting through meetings alone is not actually a triumph. A triumph is managing to actually say something of significance or giving leadership by actions. I would like the Taoiseach to talk to us about what he is actually saying and doing in a meaningful way to act on the human rights breaches in Gaza, next week if possible.”
“This attack had a clear gender dimension, with sexualised and gendered insults directed against Palestinian women graffitied on the centre. Of course, there have been the attacks on IVF clinics, on the most basic thing of life. As well as that, we have all seen pictures from last night's bombing of the children, some very young, killed and injured there. A discussion in this House is very long overdue, not just with the Minister for Foreign Affairs on the many issues but explicitly about what Ireland is doing to actually speak and take action in respect of human rights and international law. The Taoiseach has indicated that he is going to be raising these issues at the Council meeting this week. On his return from the European Council, I would like him to come in and explicitly talk to the Seanad.”
“I wish to add to some of the earlier discussion about the concern around the resumption of extraordinary bombing in Gaza, which is being layered on top of starvation, the denial of water and, in particular, a form of systemic violence which has been highlighted in a report to the United Nations Human Rights Council. I refer to the systemic use of sexual, reproductive and other forms of gender-based violence. The report has highlighted the genocidal nature of some of the actions. The attacks on sexual and reproductive healthcare services have impacted on 540,000 women and girls and resulted in the extraordinary loss of life of many pregnant women. There was a deliberate attack, reported in mid-November 2023, on a women's rights centre that worked with survivors of gender-based violence in Gaza city.”
“It is important for Ireland to take a stand now. What action will Ireland take? Can the Minister of State guarantee that we will not be engaging in any military co-operation with countries that have left the cluster munition treaty?”
“The kind of vocal support that is needed is not a quiet word in the ear, but vocal and visible statements from the Irish Government condemning an absolutely landmark decision to leave a convention against an unacceptable and brutal weapon. The Government must condemn it publicly and not just say "what a pity". That is what Ireland needs to do if we are to be meaningful in being vocal and taking action regarding the cluster munitions treaty. This is what the Government needs to do if it wants to dissuade other countries. It cannot simply be a case of "well you are a little nervous so you will use it; we were not planning on banning cluster munitions if you use them in wars." Of course they were designed for use in wars because they are one of the most brutal and effective weapons for mass killing.”
“Lithuania is not the only country; Poland is now considering leaving the convention as well. Frankly, the response is highly inadequate and is effectively a set of excuses. We are meant to be applauding Lithuania because rather than breaching international rules based on the rule of order, it is leaving the convention. It is like we should be saying "Well done, what a tough decision for you" but it is not a tough decision. It is a decision that has consequences in terms of human life, loss of limb and impact on civilians. Frankly, it is not enough to convey that we will agree to disagree in some private meetings. We need to see what I call for in this Commencement matter, which is action.”
“If Ireland is going to have a moral voice, we need to see right now that it is giving moral leadership, including, when necessary, to our EU allies who propose to use weapons that are unconscionable.”
“Crucially, there is no moral use of these weapons in any conflict because of the nature of the weapons and the way they target civilians. Ireland hosted the negotiations in 2008. What actions are being taken now? What leadership is Ireland giving now, in terms of its role to have, first, attempted to dissuade Lithuania from its withdrawal from this convention, to respond to the formal withdrawal of Lithuania from this convention, to discourage other states from withdrawing from the convention, and to widely discourage the production and use of cluster munitions anywhere? This is crucial because we have a time when there is somewhat of a glamorisation of what arms are and what militarisation means.”
“Often the munitions fall in unresourced and poverty-stricken conflict or post-conflict areas where access to treatment or rehabilitation is not available. The year 2022 was deadliest year on record for the use of cluster munitions since the convention was ratified in 2008. Globally, after a decade and more, when we all understood how awful these weapons are, we are now seeing their use increasing. In Ukraine, at least 809 people have been killed because of the use of cluster munitions through the increase of the intensity in 2022 of Russia's aerial campaign over Ukraine and, very sadly, because Ukraine lobbied for and received cluster munitions from the United States. Russia, the United States and Ukraine are three of the very few countries in the world which are not signatories to this convention.”
“Due to the random nature of cluster munitions, there is a no way of preventing civilian casualties when they are used. As they tend to fail to detonate on impact, they often become landmines and are particularly notorious for attracting children, leading to the loss of limbs or life for children. I met many of the amputees in Croke Park because I was there when the ban was negotiated. It was, as I said, a moment Ireland should be proud of, at a time when we were valuing our record on neutrality, disarmament and being a force for peace and humanity in the world. A total of 71% of the casualties from unexploded cluster munitions are children, with submunitions landing on farms, in streets and in playgrounds. Those who survive the blasts are often left with lost limbs and damage to their eyes.”
“On 6 March, Lithuania officially withdrew from the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions. That is the convention that bans the production and the use of cluster munitions. It is one of particular significance to Ireland because Ireland hosted the negotiations in Croke Park in 2008 that banned these horrendous weapons and got global support for their phasing out. A total of 124 states signed up to that ban. Lithuania has now withdrawn, the first state to ever withdraw from this international agreement banning this class of weaponry. As a reminder of what cluster munitions are, they are a type of weapons, often called landmines from sky, where canisters of up to hundreds of explosive devices called submunitions scatter randomly over wide areas.”
“I will quickly acknowledge some of our other native languages, the Traveller languages of Cant and Gammon, which are also a part of Ireland's cultural tapestry. It is nice to acknowledge them. This House worked very hard on the recognition of Irish Sign Language. It makes us richer when the multiple languages within our State are recognised and celebrated.”
“I spoke there about peace. Ireland has something very special. It is a very good thing for Europe to have countries with different languages and cultures that they bring to the mix. However, it is also important for Europe to have neutral countries and countries that bring different experiences, insights and perspectives that can help to build a Europe of peace, strength and security. Ireland's voice, history, understanding of peace and position of neutrality has been a strength for Europe. As with our cultural differences, our different mandates strengthen Europe as a whole and create opportunities to link better with the rest of the world. I have one last line. I do not have it in Irish but it is something I want to highlight.”
“Again, I wanted to particularly highlight Raidió Rí-Rá, a radio station run by young people. It should be given greater funding and support so that it can broadcast on FM full-time. It is exciting to see young people coming into that media space in the Irish language. Labhróidh mé faoin ngá atá le síocháin a chur chun cinn ar oileán na hÉireann agus go hidirnáisiúnta. Is féidir le hÉirinn, agus ba cheart di, leanúint de bheith ina guth ar son na síochána ar fud an domhain. Is féidir linn peirspictíocht agus smaointe atá éagsúil ó thíortha eile maidir le síocháin a thabhairt. Is rud dearfach é an tAontas Eorpach, a bhfuil go leor teangacha ann. Is rud dearfach é freisin tír a bhfuil síocháin agus neodracht ina chroí aici. Níos mó ná riamh, caithfidh Éire anois leanúint ar aghaidh ag obair ar son na síochána ar fud an domhain.”
“We all know the importance of TG4 and Raidió na Gaeltachta. The importance of both has been well highlighted. They have created great opportunities for artists and storytellers and for stories that might not otherwise have been told. However, I will highlight some of the other forms of Irish-language culture that can be neglected, some of which are new and exciting. Raidió na Life does wonderful work in Dublin. It plays great music. I know some of the Irish-speaking DJs there and it is an extremely important space. There are also things like the pop-up Gaeltachts. I want to give a particular shout-out. Is tionscnamh iontach do dhaoine óga é Raidió Rí-Rá. Ba cheart breis maoinithe agus tacaíochta a thabhairt dó ionas gur féidir leis craoladh go lánaimseartha ar FM.”
“Ligfidh mé béim freisin ar cé chomh tábhachtach atá sé tacaíocht a thabhairt do na healaíona agus don chultúr trí Ghaeilge i mbailte agus i gcathracha ar fud na tíre a chothaíonn beatha, fuinneamh agus cruthaitheacht sa Ghaeilge agus sa chultúr Gaelach. I will also highlight the importance of arts and culture and funding for them. I am a little concerned about some of the approaches we are seeing at the moment in arts and culture. Some of the dynamic seems to be focused on what can be cut and what must be left, but it is important to ask what we can strengthen. Something that can be strengthened is the support for arts and culture in the Irish language and artists who work through the Irish language. Of course, such artists are not solely confined to the Gaeltachts but are found across the country.”
“There are campaigns across Ireland to give people the choice of secondary school education in Irish but I will highlight the campaign in Dublin 2, 4, 6 and 8. This campaign has been going on for a long time. A raft of communities that have done a great deal to bring the Irish language back and to have it spoken more in our cities have been looking for that secondary school option, which should be the right of every citizen as it is our first language. Ba chóir polasaí don Ghaeilge sa chóras oideachais ón réamhscoil go dtí an tríú leibhéal a fhorbairt anois. We need a policy on education in Irish from preschool right up to third level.”
“Léiríonn an bhearna seo i soláthar an Ghaeloideachais teip ag an leibhéal pleanála, rud a chuirfidh le creimeadh na teanga i measc an phobail. Is gníomh gur féidir a dhéanamh láithreach ná Gaelcholáistí a bhunú sna ceantair ina bhfuil éileamh guthach dá leithéid d'institiúid, ina measc Baile Átha Cliath 2, 4, 6 agus 8, áit a bhfuil feachtas leanúnach ar bun ó 2019. There was no Irish-language primary option for me when I was growing up in Galway, although there was for my brothers four years later. That made a difference. They have much stronger Irish. It makes such a difference to have the option of Irish language schooling at that early point. That option is very limited for people across Ireland, especially at second level, where it is very important.”
“Others have spoken of the fact that our planning laws need to be examined to ensure that it is possible for Irish speakers to stay close to their families and that Irish-speaking communities, and new Irish speakers, can live within the Gaeltacht and thereby strengthen it. It is important. On education, ba bhreá liom aitheasc a thabhairt ar an rogha atá ag mic léinn na tíre oideachas a fháil trínár dteanga dhúchais. Tá sé dochreidte agus éadóchasach, breis is 100 bliain ó bhunú an Stáit, nach bhfuil rochtain ach ag 6.7% de dhaltaí ar Ghaeloideachas in ainneoin na díograise do Ghaelscoileanna fud fad na tíre. Diúltaíonn an easpa Gaelcholáistí i roinnt ceantar do líon mór mac léinn leanúint lena n-oideachas trí mheán na Gaeilge. Dá bharr sin, ní féidir le leanaí a thosaíonn amach ar an oideachas as Gaeilge leanúint leis sa mheánscoil.”
“One such issue to which previous speakers referred and which relates to the area in Galway very near the Connemara Gaeltacht from which I come is the importance of the Gaeltacht. Tá an Ghaeltacht mar chroílár na Gaeilge agus caithfimid gach uile shórt a dhéanamh léi lena chinntiú go gcoinneoimid an Ghaeltacht ina phobal láidir agus bríomhar. Tá a fhios againn nach bhfuil ach 23% de theaghlaigh Gaeltachta ag tógáil a gcuid teaghlach trí Ghaeilge. Caithfimid déileáil leis sin. Only 23% of Gaeltacht families are raising their children through Irish. This is something that needs to be looked at in the context of the survival of the Gaeltacht.”
“Fáiltím roimh an deis atá agam an Ghaeilge a phlé anseo inniu. Tá sé fíorthábhachtach go bhfuil Seachtain na Gaeilge againn. Tá a fhios agam go bhfuil an Ghaeilge mar chuid lárnach dár gcultúr náisiúnta. Feicimid inár gceantar féin an stair a bhaineann lenár teanga féin agus is rud fíorthábhachtach é. I welcome the opportunity to try to speak in and talk about the Irish language, recognising how important it is for us for our nation and for our culture, recognising as well that it is something that links us to the tapestry of the many other countries and languages that enrich our planet and that give us different ways to think and to live. I will try to highlight just a few issues.”
“We have all seen the reports from those who have given birth without anaesthetic by caesarean section. Some 60% of preventable maternal deaths across the world are happening in conflict zones. I would like to address that as a health and women women's rights issue. I intended to raise other issues, but I will park them for now.”
“They are now being hit by massive cuts. There has been a 50% cut to the aid budget of the United Nations family planning body, for example. Some 11.7 million women in Africa will have limited access to contraceptive care. These are some of the massive things that have happened this year. How will Ireland step in and how will the Minister work with our partnerships in terms of overseas aid to help bridge some of those terrifying gaps in women's health? Some of the greatest health threats to women come from conflict. Across the world, we have seen the use of sexual violence as a weapon in war. Crucially, we have seen the devastating impact of the disregard for civilian lives. Healthcare facilities have been made a target, which is never acceptable and is a war crime. To see all of the hospitals in Gaza that have been demolished is shocking.”
“I suggest that this is an opportunity to see how Ireland can engage with some scientific researchers who find themselves silent in the United States. It may be a time for particular resources for our health institutions and universities in terms of partnering with those who find their research blocked. Alongside this, we see cuts to the USAID's budget. A lot is made of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer being a wonderful diplomat. The cut to the UK aid budget is something that is deeply damaging to international diplomacy, alongside what has happened in the United States. It is actually mirroring what the United States is doing, bizarrely. It has a massive impact on women across the world, bearing in mind that front-line health services - women tend to be on the front line - were hit unequally in terms of Covid.”
“In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Science Foundation and the food and drug bodies are circulating lists of words that, if they appear in research, the research might need to be pulled. There are questions about whether the word "woman" appears on some of those lists, as well as the words "female", "bias" and "transition". Some of these are basic scientific terms. This is happening because priority has been given to attempts to trample on the rights of, for example, trans women. Of course, that leaves all other women by the wayside. There is a huge ideological issue affecting the scientific research we need in order to have good health outcomes. The international health research world is a community.”
“Regarding the National Maternity Hospital, I have always been clear on preferring that it be fully publicly owned but what will be vital is that the culture there is one that is fully public and accountable. We are marking International Women's Day. We are in a context of a huge roll back in respect of women's rights across the world. It is a very dangerous time. I will focus primarily on areas related to health. Recently, the attempts to disappear women are quite sinister. Some complain about the word "women" disappearing, but what we are actually seeing is that those who are against LGBTQ rights are happy to sacrifice women's rights even when it comes to things like visibility in health research.”
“There is much in the Minister's speech that I welcome, including the focus on women being heard. That has come across again and again. Where endometriosis is concerned, our services are very far behind because there is a need for a culture shift in them. There is also the question of having a voice and choice in respect of maternal health. There is huge pressure on older women to have inductions, and the pressure around inductions in maternal health is an issue. The question of when women get listened to persists because we have a long legacy of women not being listened to, in particular when it comes to issues of their reproductive health. As others have said, that is amplified for those who come from a minority community or do not speak English as a first language. A huge cultural shift is needed.”
“Will they highlight that the cutting off of water, electricity and food is a war crime and must be protested as it occurs right now? Will they highlight the fact that this is an illegal occupation? Europe needs to decide what position it will take and what it will move forward, for example, reviewing the continuation of the association agreement between Europe and Israel, something the Irish Government has called for. Will our Ministers make that case across Europe during their St. Patrick's Day visits?”
“While there has been a lot of focus on what should happen on the visit to the United States, there has not been enough focus on all of the other Ministers and Ministers of State who are travelling right across Europe. This is my Minister of State and Minister challenge: will those representing Ireland across Europe in the next week or two speak about peace and about Gaza? When the discussions come up on the questions of rights and sovereignty, will they speak about the importance of genuinely moving forward? Why is there an absence of pressure to move forward on phase two of the negotiations? People are protesting on the streets of Tel Aviv, calling for phase two, which is the withdrawal of Israeli troops and the release of all hostages. Why the silence from Europe on that?”
“Many have spoken about how we will next week see Ministers travelling across the world for St. Patrick's Day. There has been a lot of focus on, and many have spoken about, the visit of Micheál Martin to the President of the United States. There is hope that he would speak against some of the language of raw colonialism and that he would stand up for the importance of climate action. There is hope that he might advocate for the importance of a genuinely just peace, not only in Ukraine but also in Gaza for the Palestinians. One of the key things we can hope for is that he does not come back with contracts for arms or having given inappropriate guarantees on the importation of liquefied natural gas, LNG, something that is literally setting fire to our children's future.”
“Not only is it a complete misdirection in terms of what will actually give us peace and security in Europe, but it is also an open invitation to those who would seek to sow division and create the kind of climate that we saw with the austerity and lack of investment in social cohesion of the past that set the agenda for the rise of far right. We have seen the effect of these kinds of issues in the United States and many European countries. I would like to know what Ireland is doing to bring our wisdom on peace building into the discussions that are happening because it seems to be sadly absent at the moment.”
“Today, we have heard worrying reports that Commission President von der Leyen is suggesting that we should arm Europe to such an extraordinary extent that we would suspend the fiscal rules. By the way, those rules were not suspended in order to deal with the very real and pressing climate crisis to allow countries to transition rapidly to reducing their emissions and prepare for the worst effects of climate change. The really worrying part is, as reported by the media, that the Social Cohesion Fund would be redirected to weapons. The Social Cohesion Fund is exactly the kind of thing that actually and holds peace, as seen in Northern Ireland and in a Europe with a history of millennia of fighting. Who likes a lack of cohesion and of investment in social cohesion? The opposite of it is division.”
“I request that we have a debate with the Minister for the environment on a report that Ireland will face fines up to €26 billion if we fail to meet our EU climate targets. That is an extraordinary amount. It is equivalent to all of the money that we might take in corporate tax receipts for one year that we hear of. It is equivalent to the entire health budget. Those are the kinds of fines we face if we fail to produce radical and significant policies in climate change. I would like a debate on that. Perhaps the Leader will request that urgently with the Minister for the environment. I would also like to highlight something that perhaps relates to some points made earlier. For a neutral country, the work of peace is not something that just appears in war-time. It is even more important at those times when we are trying to build peace.”
“We must see that kind of investment systemically in community hubs and spaces that have proper energy resources we can access so we have a system across the country where people who need power can access it and we have individual supports in that regard in the form of backup generators. We certainly cannot intensify our fossil fuel usage and pretend that is somehow going to get us out of a hole, because it will ruin us. In particular, LNG, which will not give any resilience as it will take five or ten years to happen, will have the effect of pouring petrol on a fire because it has a higher climate impact and it has it quicker in carbon emissions terms. That would an absolute disaster both globally and nationally. I look forward to the Minister of State’s response.”
“The grants were removed in February 2022 when the microgeneration support scheme began, as if now people could sell power back to the grid we did not need to store it. It was not just about having batteries as a product to sell, however, but about having batteries as a resilience tool. That should be reintroduced. We should look again at the vehicle to load functions of electric vehicles. It should be one of the requirements so it is available as a backup. We are putting a huge amount of money into subsidising electric vehicles and it is possible to use them as a backup system.”