Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We all agree that the European parliamentary elections are important in light of Brexit, the rise of nationalism and the suffocation of civil society and the threat to the rule of law in some EU member states, including Poland and Hungary. While interference in and manipulation of elections is not necessarily new the methods being deployed are new. The European Parliament elections in May will take place in a different political and legal environment to that which prevailed in 2014 and so all the actors involved, in particular member states and political parties, have to assume a responsibility.

The Tánaiste will be aware of the nine conclusions adopted by the European Council in February. I would welcome an update on what has been done to ensure that we have free and fair elections and on what actions the Government has taken in recent weeks following on from the European Council conclusions in regard to this matter.

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