This week we mark Europe Day. The European Union likes to present itself as a peace project founded off the back of two World Wars in quick succession and built on the promise that never again would Europe stand by while genocide unfolded. It talks about multilateralism, co-operation, solidarity and international law - all the right words but those words ring hollow because when it matters most and when people are being slaughtered the European Union has not led; it has failed. The peace project is taking a battering. What we continue to see in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran has shattered any claims the EU has moral leadership on the world stage. In Ukraine, the EU has no plan for peace only a plan for the unlimited supply of arms and weapons that continue to slaughter innocent people, both Ukrainian and Russian. Ordinary people can see it and they are not fooled. They see a Union that lectures about human rights while turning a blind eye to genocide, or worse enabling it, when it suits. Member states continue to trade with Israel, supply arms, and give political cover and silence where there should be disgust and outrage. Ordinary people wonder why Palestinians, Lebanese and Iranian schoolgirls should be forced to pay with their lives for the crimes of the Weimar Republic 80 years later. Yet there are those, led by our Taoiseach, Deputy Micheál Martin, who want Ireland to cosy up to EU warmongers, who obsequiously agree that increased militarisation is the only way forward for Europe, who want more alignment for Ireland with military blocs, and who think we should abandon neutrality, fall into line and succumb to the war machine. The truth is that Ireland could close all its hospitals, all its schools, all its universities and pour every penny into the bloated pockets of weapon manufacturers and still we would not be able to defend ourselves from any threat, real or otherwise. International law is the only protection small countries like Ireland have and we have a unique opportunity with the EU Presidency. We can choose to go along with the hypocrisy or we can challenge it. We can stand up for what the EU was supposed to be about, peace, co-operation and solidarity, by demonstrating that international order must be upheld and international law implemented. That means looking to the future as well for our Presidency because a place where the EU did play a positive role in supporting peace was on our island. I am sure the Minister of State was pleased to note the Amárach Research poll yesterday showing the growing majority, North and South, in favour of a united Ireland within the European Union. Now is the time for this Government to get on with that preparation. Now is the time for this conversation. The demand for unity is growing stronger and louder every day and it is beyond time for the political leadership in Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to catch up with where the people of Ireland are, North and South. A united Ireland is not a far-off dream for another generation to deliver. We must have the courage to reach for it now during our Presidency, and do the work so we can finally make the dream come true. Anois an t-am don aontacht.

Sentiment score: 0.10