Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

As I address the issue of protecting the euro in this debate on the Counterfeiting Bill 2020, there is no doubt as to its importance in protecting businesses from interference by the production of counterfeit money in whatever currency, euro or otherwise. By passing the Bill, we will give effect to implementation of the EU directives as required by EU member states, with Ireland being the last to do so.

It is, without doubt, a necessity to safeguard the euro from the threat of counterfeit notes.   Protecting the euro currency, however, does not begin and end with counterfeit production. Unfair competition or unfair trade practices for businesses that damage trade within the EU also damage the euro.  I emphasise that it is necessary to state the equal importance of other factors, such as unfair competition and trade practices. These can have a monumental effect on any country and are capable of causing at least as much damage, if not far greater damage, as that caused by counterfeiting of currency.

Since 1 January, Ireland has suffered as a result of Brexit and the reintroduction of EU regulations as the transition period ended and the UK finally and fully exited the EU. The EU discussed for over four years a path to allow as near as possible a seamless transition for trade to continue from 1 January 2021. Ireland's fate was in the hands of Michel Barnier’s negotiating team. Our fishermen lost upwards of 15% of their fishing quotas and we are learning daily of the other detrimental effects as we see trade slow to 1990 levels and State agencies in constant denial that there are problems. Tell me this is not affecting the euro.   Anything that damages a member state damages the whole Union. A diminution in trade will weaken the euro as much as counterfeiting, if not more.

We laud the fact that we have received €1 billion from the EU as a consolation prize for the onslaught of the Brexit negotiations. It is incredible that while Ireland took on billions of euro in debt ten years ago to save the euro, we now get €1 billion which is expected to compensate for the fact that Ireland and its peace process was the stick used  to beat the UK, ensuring that the United States would row in and bat not just for Ireland but for the EU. The long awaited peace process was agreed in 1998. The political leaders of the day, David Trimble and John Hume, may he rest in peace, jointly received the Noble Peace Prize for their efforts and they will go down in history for bringing peace to this island. The Good Friday Agreement is revered worldwide as a template to conduct peace processes and bring war-torn countries to the table, resulting in the general population of many of these countries being able to live with their differences respectfully and, most important, peacefully.

The whole world understands the importance of dialogue. World leaders do not make brash statements or take rash actions without fully understanding the consequences. When they do, however, their decisions should not go unchallenged. In an interview last week inThe Irish Times,  Naomi O’Leary asked Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, the following question:  

Now that the European Commission has shown itself willing to use article 16, seemingly quite casually, we expect opponents of the protocol to redouble their calls for the British government to override it and for this to continue for years to come whenever a problem arises. Do you understand the scale of the damage that has been done?

In reply, President von der Leyen said:

Of course, I am fully aware of the sensitivity related to the protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland. I fought for this protocol and its implementation over the past year, and am determined to ensure it is upheld. Our sole aim in designing the export transparency and authorisation scheme is to achieve transparency on shipments of vaccines abroad, so as to make sure that this is not done to the detriment of expected deliveries in the EU.

Ursula von der Leyen's answer clearly shows that she has no understanding whatsoever of the consequences of her actions and the detrimental effect they have had on Ireland. The consideration here is not the supply of the vaccine, nor is it the year she spent fighting hard for the protocol, as she put it. It is that her unilateral decision, without consultation with the Irish Government, has put Ireland in a dire position. Less than six weeks into the life-changing process called Brexit, the President of the European Commission made a monumental mistake. As a member of the EU, this also reflects badly on us and we were not even involved in the decision process. It has set us back 20 years. It reminds us of the position adopted by the European Central Bank in 2008 when the then Governor of the ECB, Jean-Claude Trichet, forced the Irish State to guarantee the obligations of the Irish banks without any regard for the consequences. The consequences of that policy caused our State severe hardship, austerity and unemployment. We may have saved the euro but Ireland owes billions as a result.

This utter and disgraceful mess has gone without even a question being raised about the capability of Ursula von der Leyen. Have we nothing to say on behalf of Irish citizens? We had a strong fighter in Ireland's corner. An ill-judged attendance at a dinner sealed his fate. That decision, which was to Ireland's detriment, was made by those now responsible for the disastrous situation we have been plunged into.

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