Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We are all in agreement that the European Union is one of the greatest peace projects of all time. We only need to take a very quick run through European history to see the benefits it has brought. Like a number of others, I was very lucky to be part of the Conference on the Future of Europe. While it was a privilege, I will be only too delighted not to see the hemicycle in Strasbourg for quite a while. I agree with the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, that the citizens, especially Irish citizens, have played a huge role in it. A number of people really stepped up to the mark. I make the argument that the conference started rather chaotically. It was constrained by time to suit the French Presidency. It probably took it a period of time to bed down and find where exactly it was going and how it was going to construct itself. There were many issues regarding plenary sessions and working groups. At the end of it we know what could be done better.

It is vital for the survival of the European Union that there is consistent and constant engagement with the citizens. The Conference on the Future of Europe was not sufficiently representative of Irish society never mind of European society. There has to be a greater level of engagement, particularly with communities and those at the periphery. If people go through the proposals, they will see some very good ones. They will also be shocked at some of what is not there. We dealt with proposals on health. There were some progressive proposals on people's right to universal healthcare, but there was no mention of the drug addiction issue we have throughout the European Continent. We know communities here especially are suffering.

We all know everything changed because of Russia's criminal invasion of Ukraine and we know about the ongoing campaign by Vladimir Putin's regime. Regarding war crimes, we will only know at the end of this just what the people have had to endure. It has been necessary for solidarity and European co-operation.

I have a difficulty in the sense that some citizens probably worried about the likes of Hungary, rule of law issues and almost wanting to move from unanimity to qualified majority voting. We need to make the argument that unanimity is a necessity, particularly around foreign policy, defence and security issues. Throughout the pandemic and in dealing with the Ukrainian crisis, we have shown we can co-operate. I agree with the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, when he said democracy is the best option. From time to time, there will be difficulties in coming to arrangements but the alternative is we have one guy with a big table making all the decisions. We have seen how this works out and it is not great for anybody.

If we are serious about climate change and the environment, and there are many great proposals, we need to deal with the fiscal constraints foisted on us by the EU. I know we are in especially constrained times but we will have to learn from the pandemic in the sense there is a necessity for the State to do the heavy lifting. That is a requirement. I have seen really brilliant proposals around social justice, particularly regarding trade and where climate change crosses social and human rights. This is a necessity so that Europe does not become a protectionist set-up. However, there are still significant difficulties. We need to get to absolute terms in respect of rule of law issues. We know we are all dealing with significant issues relating to hybrid and cyber issues, difficulties we never looked at previously. We all look back on recent events and see them through the prism of the changed world.

The other reality is that accession must be facilitated for countries in the western Balkans and for the likes of Moldova and Ukraine. We must facilitate them and they need to step up to the mark. I would put Scottish independence in that equation. Irish unity needs to be prepared for. I still think that not only is there a failing at European level, there is a failing here. In particular, we need to do it following the historic result in the northern elections recently.

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