Ireland's EU Presidency is a significant opportunity for the country that must not be missed, but it has to be for the whole island. I was really glad to see our First Minister, Michelle O’Neill, at today's event, because we cannot talk about any of the issues we are going to talk about during the Presidency without taking an all-island approach. We have a chance to demonstrate leadership, advance Ireland’s interests, address the democratic deficit within the EU and to help shape Europe’s future at a very pivotal moment. While we must make the most of this opportunity, we must recognise that it comes with huge responsibility. The Presidency carries a substantial cost to the taxpayer, and the Government must ensure that every euro spent delivers lasting value for Ireland and for Europe. One of the Presidency’s central priorities must be to restore Europe’s competitiveness. European businesses and innovators continue to face unnecessary red tape, duplication and bureaucracy. In that context, simplification must not mean deregulation. The Minister said that earlier, but it must be meant. We do not want deregulation. We are paying a price for deregulation in the form of the almost €9 billion that it will cost to resolve the problems caused by defective concrete blocks. Those problems arose as a result of light-touch regulation. We need a Europe that supports enterprise, encourages innovation and allows businesses to compete globally, but we must protect workers' rights, consumer rights, environmental rights and human rights. This Presidency has also shone a spotlight on Ireland's own preparedness in an increasingly uncertain world. While Ireland remains militarily neutral, neutrality cannot mean vulnerability and, for decades, the Minister will know that the Defence Forces have been neglected. Despite years of warnings and ample time to prepare, we still lack basic capability to protect our own skies and seas against modern threats and we are, unfortunately, relying on others to fill the gaps.

Sentiment score: 0.11