I am glad that Europe is still as popular as ever. I am sure the Members who are due to arrive will arrive very soon. I suppose, given the order of the Dáil, I must go ahead. I am glad to join the Ceann Comhairle and the people of Ireland to mark Europe Day 2025. This year, we mark not only Europe Day, but also a remarkable milestone in our shared history, that is, the 75th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration. Seventy-five years ago, on 9 May 1950, Robert Schuman proposed a visionary new form of political co-operation in Europe, one that would make war between European nations not merely unthinkable, but materially impossible. His words were shaped by the trauma of two world wars and gave birth to an idea that would eventually become the European Union as we know it today. Schuman’s declaration opened with a striking truth that remains just as urgent now as it was then. He stated that, "World peace cannot be safeguarded without the making of creative efforts proportionate to the dangers which threaten it". It is that creative effort, that sense of purpose and imagination, harnessed through unity, that we celebrate today. Europe was rebuilt from the ashes of destruction through reconciliation and integration, not domination or division. Today, as we reflect on the foundations of peace in Europe, we cannot ignore that war has returned to our continent. Recently, I returned from an official visit to Ukraine, where I travelled to Odesa and Kyiv with my Lithuanian colleague, Deputy Foreign Minister, Sigitas Mitkus. It was a deeply moving experience that reminded me again of the urgency and relevance of Europe’s founding ideals. Despite the relentless brutality of Russia’s illegal and unjustified war of aggression, I saw the determination, the dignity and the resilience of the Ukrainian people. They are defending not only their land, but also the European values of democracy, sovereignty and the rule of law. Ukraine sees its future as one within the European family. We in Ireland fully support that vision. Since the beginning of this war, the European Union has shown unity and leadership, providing Ukraine with unprecedented levels of financial, military and humanitarian support. Let us be clear: the threat Ukraine faces is not only existential for its people, but it is also a threat to the stability and security of Europe as a whole. We all want peace but how we achieve it matters. Any resolution must have Ukraine at its centre and any peace must be just, lasting, and one in which Ukraine is empowered to negotiate from a position of strength. Ireland supports ongoing diplomatic efforts, including recent proposals for ceasefire arrangements, and welcomes renewed US engagement in pursuit of a peaceful resolution. The situation in the Middle East also remains a central foreign policy priority for Ireland and the EU. It has been over nine weeks since food, medicines and other essential supplies have been allowed to enter Gaza. We have reports from the World Food Programme that food supplies are running out, with famine now a real risk for many in Gaza. Ireland and its EU partners have repeatedly urged Israel to comply with its obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law. Ireland and the European Union must be clear that this situation is unacceptable and that obstructing life-saving aid is a violation of Israel’s international obligations. Ireland and the EU must be unequivocal in our calls on Israel to immediately lift the blockade and allow for unimpeded access of humanitarian aid. The European Union can and should continue to do more to use the levers at its disposal to exert pressure on Israel. This remains a priority for Ireland’s continuing engagement at EU level. Russia’s aggression has transformed the European security landscape and has laid bare the vulnerabilities that we face, from conventional warfare to cyberattacks, energy coercion, and disinformation campaigns. Ireland, while a militarily neutral state, is not a neutral party when it comes to violations of international law, human rights, or the sovereignty of our neighbours. We are, and remain, an active contributor to European and international security in a manner consistent with our long-standing policy of neutrality. That neutrality must be underpinned by credibility and capability. We have already significantly increased our defence spending, with investment going towards modernising our Defence Forces and developing strategic capabilities. Maritime security has become increasingly vital because our exclusive economic zone is nearly seven times the size of our land mass. The safeguarding of critical undersea infrastructure, including telecommunications cables and energy connections, is a priority. Likewise, our defences against cyber and hybrid threats are being strengthened. Disinformation, espionage, and foreign interference are real risks to our democracy and we are working with our EU partners to counter these challenges collectively. Ireland welcomes the European Commission’s White Paper for European Defence, Readiness 2030, which is a practical step towards ensuring that member states are equipped to respond to shared threats. We support deeper co-operation but we know there will always be respect for our sovereign choices and constitutional parameters. The European Union has been an engine of peace and prosperity for over half a century. It has helped us to transform economically, socially, and politically since we joined over 50 years ago. Membership of the EU has given Ireland a platform to amplify our voice on the global stage. It has given our people the freedom to live, study, and work across 27 countries. It has opened markets for our businesses, advanced gender equality, safeguarded workers' rights, and underpinned investment in infrastructure, education, and innovation. Most importantly, the EU has helped to anchor our own democratic development and supported Ireland through some of the most challenging chapters in our history, from the global financial crisis, to Brexit, and the Covid-19 pandemic. For Ireland, membership of the European Union is an essential part of who we are as a people. It is important to remind ourselves that we are the European Union. The success of our membership has been recognised by the Irish people. According to the most recent Eurobarometer, 91% of Irish citizens believe we have benefitted from EU membership, the highest approval rating in the Union. We are one of the success stories of the EU and in return we have given back, not only as a net contributor to the European budget, but by being a reliable, constructive, and outward-looking member of the Union and working together to achieve progress for everybody, including ourselves. Ireland is an advocate of EU enlargement. We believe that all European countries that meet the Copenhagen criteria should have the opportunity to join the Union. Ukraine and Moldova are undertaking bold reforms under incredibly difficult circumstances. The countries of the western Balkans, particularly Albania and Montenegro, are advancing key legislative and institutional reforms. To support this process, Ireland will open new embassies this year in Belgrade, Chisinau, and Sarajevo. We have also established a new accession assistance fund to help candidate countries reach EU standards. These are tangible signs of our belief in the European project and our commitment to shaping its future. As we look ahead to Ireland’s EU Presidency in 2026, we intend to keep enlargement high on the agenda,not only as a political process, but as a reaffirmation of Europe’s purpose which is to bring peace, stability and democracy to all its peoples. At the heart of the EU is a community that values of democracy, equality, respect for human rights, and the rule of law. These principles are enshrined in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union. We face unprecedented geopolitical instability at this time, from Russian aggression on the doorstep of Europe, to the rise of extremism and a new transatlantic trading relationship. Standing for our values has never been so consequential. When these values are undermined, whether by attacks on judicial independence, freedom of expression, or minority rights, the credibility and cohesion of the entire Union are at risk. Ireland is firmly committed to upholding these values at home and abroad. We support strong EU mechanisms to monitor rule of law compliance and to act decisively when necessary. We owe it to our citizens and to those beyond our borders who look to the EU as a beacon of democracy to stand firm in defence of these principles. As we celebrate Europe’s achievements, we must also remain focused on building its future. In an era of intense global competition, maintaining and enhancing the EU’s competitiveness is paramount which means investing in skills, innovation, research and development. It also means removing barriers to doing business, particularly for SMEs, and completing the Single Market. We want to cut red tape for business. We want to expand the Single Market to make sure it delivers for services and digital technologies. Ireland welcomes the European Commission’s focus on competitiveness and simplification or, as I like to call it, cutting red tape. We support efforts to reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens and to create a more dynamic, flexible, and innovation-friendly internal market. We also strongly support the EU’s efforts to accelerate investment in strategic infrastructure, especially in energy and digital networks. As a country possessed of renewable resources, particularly offshore wind, Ireland has an opportunity to become a key supplier of clean energy to Europe, provided we make the necessary investments in grid infrastructure and interconnections. Europe is not just a project of states but is also a project of people. To succeed, it must resonate in the daily lives of our citizens. That is why public engagement, civic education, and cultural exchange are so important, particularly for our youth. Programmes like Erasmus+, Creative Europe, and DiscoverEU offer young people transformative experiences. They broaden horizons, build friendships, and foster a sense of shared European identity. Ireland is committed to ensuring that our young people can access these opportunities, and that our citizens are well-informed and empowered to shape the EU’s direction. In recent years, we have seen how essential public trust is to European co-operation, whether in responding to a pandemic, addressing climate change, or confronting geopolitical threats. We must maintain and strengthen that trust through transparency, inclusion, and open dialogue. As we mark Europe Day 2025, we honour a legacy built on hope and hard-won peace. The European Union was born out of catastrophe, chaos and war but built through courage. Its success lies not in perfection, because nothing is perfect, but in the capacity of its member states, parliamentary representatives and Commissioners to work together, resolve differences, and stand united in the face of adversity. Today, we recommit to that legacy and to the values of peace, solidarity, democracy, and the rule of law that underpin it. Again I say, we are the European Union. It is so important when talking about the European Union not to say "the EU did this" or "the EU did that" because we are the EU. The MEPs decide on laws, along with the member states. Nobody else is responsible for that. The Commission proposes them. We must, at all times, support, uphold and protect the institutions of the European Union because they protect us. Those institutions, whether the Parliament, Council or Commission, are populated by people who have either been democratically elected or appointed by democratically-elected people. They are valuable and have delivered for the people. If we want to influence them, we must vote and put people in that will influence them in the way we wish. As we prepare to assume the very important Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2026, we will continue to champion European values, to deepen our engagement with EU partners, and to play our full part in shaping the Europe of tomorrow.
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Yes, I smiled when Deputy Ó Laoghaire said that. It does not mean anything.
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No, the Deputy should go ahead.
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I will continue to speak if Deputy Ó Laoghaire wants. I will tell him all about Sinn Féin's European policy.
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We are not doing that.
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Hear, hear.
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Hear, hear.
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I thank all the Members for their interesting contributions. It is fitting in this House, as we represent the sovereign will of the Irish people, that we pause to reflect on the past, present and future of the European Union and Ireland's unique and valued place within it. We must never forget when we talk about the European Union that we are the European Union. The European Union is not a foreign entity. It is a union and we are all members of it. We elect the governments that make up the Council, we elect the MEPs that make up the Parliament. Any law that passes through the European Union has to be passed by both of them. When we joined the European Economic Community in 1973, we embraced Robert Schuman's idea of shared sovereignty for shared prosperity. Our membership has helped transform a country from an isolated economy on the periphery of Europe to a modern, open and globally connected State. It is no exaggeration to say that we have been transformed. One million people were working in this country in 1973 and there are 2.7 million people working here now. European Union membership has been key to that. We have shaped our society as well, reinforced our commitment to democracy, human rights and the rule of law. We have opened opportunities for citizens to live, work, study and travel across the Continent. That is why support in Ireland for the European Union and our membership of it is among the highest in the world. I did not mention the word "euroscepticism" until now but it has been mentioned on the Opposition benches. Irish support for membership is very high, and the people who support it the most are our young people. The surveys show that. It has never been solely about economics, although they are very important. We saw in the EU a political and moral project, one that places peace, reconciliation and human dignity at its core. For us Catholics, it is no coincidence that Robert Schuman is on the road to canonisation. He has been declared a Venerable by the Catholic Church for his work for peace. This man is not just a politician but a very important religious figure within the Roman Catholic Church, because of what he did for peace. We have always championed a Union in which all member states, large and small, have an equal voice. As a small nation we have benefitted enormously from this principle. We became independent in the 1920s, formed our Constitution in the 1930s and then became a Republic. The reality is that our sovereignty was very much dependent on what might happen in London, until we joined the European Economic Community. It is my contention that our sovereignty has been enhanced by joining the European Economic Community, which became the European Union. Unity has helped the European Union but we have not always been united. We are certainly not united on the situation in Gaza and Palestine. That is absolutely the case. Nor are we united on the case of Ukraine, I would have to say. There are people there who do not agree with what the European Union has done. Schuman said that Europe will not be made all at once or according to a single plan, but that it will be built through concrete achievements which first create a de facto solidarity. These words ring true today as they did in 1950, when the Venerable Robert Schuman said them. Europe Day, on 9 May, is a time to reflect on these achievements and the values that underpin them. Here in Ireland, we mark the day through public events, school programmes and of course through this annual debate in the Oireachtas. We did it in the Seanad last week. It is more than a formality to debate this and discuss it. It is a chance to reaffirm our deep commitment to the European Union and to articulate our vision for the future. People have various visions for the future. We elect our governments and MEPs to put that vision into practice. That is why they are there. On the democratic deficit, I have never seen our MEPs more engaged with constituents than they currently are and have been in the last number of parliaments. They are much more visible on the ground and much more active in public debate. The public are much more aware of them. As Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs and defence, I see every day the importance of the Union, the work we do to defend democracy and the rule of law, the steps we take to deepen our security and defence co-operation and the solidarity we show Ukraine and other partners under threat. As the European Union continues to evolve to meet new challenges, it is right that we pause both to look forward and to acknowledge the extraordinary individuals who have shaped our path quietly, courageously and with great conviction. I smiled when Sinn Féin talked about supporting Europe and mentioned the word "eurosceptic" first. In all the EU referendums held in Ireland, each time, Sinn Féin said no to the EU. I am very proud that my party, Fianna Fáil, led Ireland into the European Union. Unlike almost all the Opposition parties, we advocated a yes vote in 1972. I have to refute the euroscepticism that has been outlined by some in the Opposition. We see Ireland's place at the heart of Europe, shaping those debates, talking very strongly about the issues that matter to us, shaping the legislation, making sure Irish interests are protected. We do not double-speak. We do not fudge or remove articles from our party's website. Our answer is yes to the European Union, yes to our European Union, and yes to a Union that delivers prosperity and peace to our citizens. I will talk briefly about security and defence. It is important to remember, as some Members in fairness have acknowledged, that security and defence is always a matter for the member states. Our tradition of neutrality is very much recognised every single time there is a decision or conclusion in relation to defence. When people talk about defence, what are we talking about? We are protecting our independence. What is the difference between an independent Ireland and an Ireland under the British? It is that we can protect ourselves. We should have Defence Forces that can protect this island, ward off cyber threats and protect our economic security and our peace. We will not be joining NATO and we will not be joining any EU common defence. There are no proposals for an EU common defence. Those who rightly talk about Robert Schuman in glowing terms seem to forget or maybe do not know that he was one of the founding signatories of NATO. He saw common defence among those countries that decided to join NATO as a way of protecting the peace they built among themselves. Every country has its own nuance on defence. We must understand everybody's particular defence requirements. It is different in Greece from how it is in Lithuania, and different there from how it is in Ireland. Too frequently in this House, investment in our security has been presented as a binary choice as to whether we are in favour of military neutrality or not. We need to move away from this false dichotomy. I heard the Social Democrats' Deputy Gibney citing the use of arms on a number of occasions. She also cited the situation in the Mediterranean Sea. She is right to do so, but it would be welcome to hear Deputies recognising and commending the involvement of members of the Irish Defence Forces in Operation IRINI when comments like this are made. Members of our Defence Forces are contributing to this effectively humanitarian operation to prevent arms coming from Libya. It is contributing to a European Union military operation under the umbrella of the common security and defence policy. It is protecting us from these illegal weapons shipments but it is also very humanitarian in terms of helping some of the poorest of the poor who are found in the Mediterranean, who are on ships they should not be on, who are being trafficked and who are completely hopeless. Members of our Defence Forces over there, there are not too many of them, are doing tremendous work. We need to get real about the complexities of security and defence. It is not simply about neutrality or not, it is about protecting ourselves and making sure we can keep the peace that we all value and fight for. It is about making sure our military neutrality is respected, which it is, but that we are also living up to the commitments which we owe ourselves and nobody else. On the situation in Palestine, I am glad Deputy Lahart mentioned the Taoiseach's comments yesterday. They were extremely strong. We tend to get very strident criticism from some of the Opposition in relation to the Government's stance on Palestine. We also get strident opposition and criticism from the Government of Israel about what the Irish Government has done and said. The Irish Government has been one of the strongest advocates for the people of Palestine and for a two-state solution. We have been very clear in that regard. We have a consistent political and moral position that there must be two states. They must be allowed to coexist together where human rights are upheld. The actions the Government of Israel is taking, and its proposals to clear people out of Gaza and to remove and prevent food getting in, are war crimes. The Taoiseach has been very clear in that regard. We cannot just decide at a European level that this is our position, however. Other countries simply do not take the exact same position. There have been some references to that effect.
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This is exactly my point again. We get criticised by the Opposition and the Government of Israel.
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The actions the Irish Government has taken have been very much appreciated by the people of Palestine, not only in the context of our practical, financial and humanitarian support, but also by our recognition of their country as well. We are very much an outlier in the European Union in that regard. While we will keep talking to our European colleagues on this issue, there are different views around the European table. That is a reality we must live with. I look forward to our Presidency of the Council of the European Union. It is important. To touch on what Deputy Toole said about talking to the people, I will be engaging in a public consultation throughout the country about what our priorities should be. We will be doing our best to highlight the work we are doing within the European Union, not just in pursuing our interests, which we do day in and day out around the European table, but also in leading the European Union’s interests during that Presidency. I look forward to that whole process over the next period of time.
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