Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail)
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It is a real privilege to welcome the Commissioner to Dublin and to Ireland at a time when there is no doubt that the EU faces very profound challenges. However, there are extraordinary opportunities for us as well. As the Commissioner knows, Ireland is a very proactive and constructive voice within Europe. We are very proud of being pro-Europe and pro-enterprise. With all of the global instability we have around us, that is important.

We seek assurance that future UK divergence will not undermine the peace we have on the island of Ireland since the Good Friday Agreement.

From an energy perspective, it is important to highlight Ireland’s leadership in terms of offshore wind and the potential offered by green hydrogen. We need to see how we can progress that within the European network.

Coming from the small rural village of Rathangan, County Kildare, I know that the most important thing, as we hear time after time, is to advocate on behalf of the agricultural market and rural Ireland. The just transition is hugely important. Is there any room for further funding in relation to this? Due to some of the decisions made in the last just transition programme, some key geographical areas were left out. I am interested in knowing if there is any possibility of expanding the targeted funding.

County Kildare is a hub for farming and medtech, as indeed is the country as a whole. Naturally we are very concerned about the tariffs. I agree with my colleague Senator Daly, who thanked the Commissioner for the incredible work he has done on behalf of all of us in Ireland and across Europe. Does he have any ongoing concerns that things could change for us in the near future?