Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am glad that Europe is still as popular as ever. I am sure the Members who are due to arrive will arrive very soon. I suppose, given the order of the Dáil, I must go ahead. I am glad to join the Ceann Comhairle and the people of Ireland to mark Europe Day 2025. This year, we mark not only Europe Day, but also a remarkable milestone in our shared history, that is, the 75th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration. Seventy-five years ago, on 9 May 1950, Robert Schuman proposed a visionary new form of political co-operation in Europe, one that would make war between European nations not merely unthinkable, but materially impossible. His words were shaped by the trauma of two world wars and gave birth to an idea that would eventually become the European Union as we know it today. Schuman’s declaration opened with a striking truth that remains just as urgent now as it was then. He stated that, "World peace cannot be safeguarded without the making of creative efforts proportionate to the dangers which threaten it". It is that creative effort, that sense of purpose and imagination, harnessed through unity, that we celebrate today.

Europe was rebuilt from the ashes of destruction through reconciliation and integration, not domination or division. Today, as we reflect on the foundations of peace in Europe, we cannot ignore that war has returned to our continent. Recently, I returned from an official visit to Ukraine, where I travelled to Odesa and Kyiv with my Lithuanian colleague, Deputy Foreign Minister, Sigitas Mitkus. It was a deeply moving experience that reminded me again of the urgency and relevance of Europe’s founding ideals. Despite the relentless brutality of Russia’s illegal and unjustified war of aggression, I saw the determination, the dignity and the resilience of the Ukrainian people. They are defending not only their land, but also the European values of democracy, sovereignty and the rule of law. Ukraine sees its future as one within the European family. We in Ireland fully support that vision.

Since the beginning of this war, the European Union has shown unity and leadership, providing Ukraine with unprecedented levels of financial, military and humanitarian support. Let us be clear: the threat Ukraine faces is not only existential for its people, but it is also a threat to the stability and security of Europe as a whole.

We all want peace but how we achieve it matters. Any resolution must have Ukraine at its centre and any peace must be just, lasting, and one in which Ukraine is empowered to negotiate from a position of strength. Ireland supports ongoing diplomatic efforts, including recent proposals for ceasefire arrangements, and welcomes renewed US engagement in pursuit of a peaceful resolution.

The situation in the Middle East also remains a central foreign policy priority for Ireland and the EU. It has been over nine weeks since food, medicines and other essential supplies have been allowed to enter Gaza. We have reports from the World Food Programme that food supplies are running out, with famine now a real risk for many in Gaza. Ireland and its EU partners have repeatedly urged Israel to comply with its obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law. Ireland and the European Union must be clear that this situation is unacceptable and that obstructing life-saving aid is a violation of Israel’s international obligations. Ireland and the EU must be unequivocal in our calls on Israel to immediately lift the blockade and allow for unimpeded access of humanitarian aid. The European Union can and should continue to do more to use the levers at its disposal to exert pressure on Israel. This remains a priority for Ireland’s continuing engagement at EU level.

Russia’s aggression has transformed the European security landscape and has laid bare the vulnerabilities that we face, from conventional warfare to cyberattacks, energy coercion, and disinformation campaigns. Ireland, while a militarily neutral state, is not a neutral party when it comes to violations of international law, human rights, or the sovereignty of our neighbours. We are, and remain, an active contributor to European and international security in a manner consistent with our long-standing policy of neutrality. That neutrality must be underpinned by credibility and capability. We have already significantly increased our defence spending, with investment going towards modernising our Defence Forces and developing strategic capabilities. Maritime security has become increasingly vital because our exclusive economic zone is nearly seven times the size of our land mass. The safeguarding of critical undersea infrastructure, including telecommunications cables and energy connections, is a priority. Likewise, our defences against cyber and hybrid threats are being strengthened. Disinformation, espionage, and foreign interference are real risks to our democracy and we are working with our EU partners to counter these challenges collectively. Ireland welcomes the European Commission’s White Paper for European Defence, Readiness 2030, which is a practical step towards ensuring that member states are equipped to respond to shared threats. We support deeper co-operation but we know there will always be respect for our sovereign choices and constitutional parameters.

The European Union has been an engine of peace and prosperity for over half a century. It has helped us to transform economically, socially, and politically since we joined over 50 years ago. Membership of the EU has given Ireland a platform to amplify our voice on the global stage. It has given our people the freedom to live, study, and work across 27 countries. It has opened markets for our businesses, advanced gender equality, safeguarded workers' rights, and underpinned investment in infrastructure, education, and innovation. Most importantly, the EU has helped to anchor our own democratic development and supported Ireland through some of the most challenging chapters in our history, from the global financial crisis, to Brexit, and the Covid-19 pandemic. For Ireland, membership of the European Union is an essential part of who we are as a people. It is important to remind ourselves that we are the European Union. The success of our membership has been recognised by the Irish people. According to the most recent Eurobarometer, 91% of Irish citizens believe we have benefitted from EU membership, the highest approval rating in the Union. We are one of the success stories of the EU and in return we have given back, not only as a net contributor to the European budget, but by being a reliable, constructive, and outward-looking member of the Union and working together to achieve progress for everybody, including ourselves.

Ireland is an advocate of EU enlargement. We believe that all European countries that meet the Copenhagen criteria should have the opportunity to join the Union. Ukraine and Moldova are undertaking bold reforms under incredibly difficult circumstances. The countries of the western Balkans, particularly Albania and Montenegro, are advancing key legislative and institutional reforms. To support this process, Ireland will open new embassies this year in Belgrade, Chisinau, and Sarajevo. We have also established a new accession assistance fund to help candidate countries reach EU standards. These are tangible signs of our belief in the European project and our commitment to shaping its future. As we look ahead to Ireland’s EU Presidency in 2026, we intend to keep enlargement high on the agenda,not only as a political process, but as a reaffirmation of Europe’s purpose which is to bring peace, stability and democracy to all its peoples.

At the heart of the EU is a community that values of democracy, equality, respect for human rights, and the rule of law. These principles are enshrined in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union. We face unprecedented geopolitical instability at this time, from Russian aggression on the doorstep of Europe, to the rise of extremism and a new transatlantic trading relationship. Standing for our values has never been so consequential. When these values are undermined, whether by attacks on judicial independence, freedom of expression, or minority rights, the credibility and cohesion of the entire Union are at risk. Ireland is firmly committed to upholding these values at home and abroad. We support strong EU mechanisms to monitor rule of law compliance and to act decisively when necessary. We owe it to our citizens and to those beyond our borders who look to the EU as a beacon of democracy to stand firm in defence of these principles.

As we celebrate Europe’s achievements, we must also remain focused on building its future. In an era of intense global competition, maintaining and enhancing the EU’s competitiveness is paramount which means investing in skills, innovation, research and development. It also means removing barriers to doing business, particularly for SMEs, and completing the Single Market. We want to cut red tape for business. We want to expand the Single Market to make sure it delivers for services and digital technologies. Ireland welcomes the European Commission’s focus on competitiveness and simplification or, as I like to call it, cutting red tape. We support efforts to reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens and to create a more dynamic, flexible, and innovation-friendly internal market. We also strongly support the EU’s efforts to accelerate investment in strategic infrastructure, especially in energy and digital networks. As a country possessed of renewable resources, particularly offshore wind, Ireland has an opportunity to become a key supplier of clean energy to Europe, provided we make the necessary investments in grid infrastructure and interconnections.

Europe is not just a project of states but is also a project of people. To succeed, it must resonate in the daily lives of our citizens. That is why public engagement, civic education, and cultural exchange are so important, particularly for our youth. Programmes like Erasmus+, Creative Europe, and DiscoverEU offer young people transformative experiences. They broaden horizons, build friendships, and foster a sense of shared European identity. Ireland is committed to ensuring that our young people can access these opportunities, and that our citizens are well-informed and empowered to shape the EU’s direction. In recent years, we have seen how essential public trust is to European co-operation, whether in responding to a pandemic, addressing climate change, or confronting geopolitical threats. We must maintain and strengthen that trust through transparency, inclusion, and open dialogue.

As we mark Europe Day 2025, we honour a legacy built on hope and hard-won peace. The European Union was born out of catastrophe, chaos and war but built through courage. Its success lies not in perfection, because nothing is perfect, but in the capacity of its member states, parliamentary representatives and Commissioners to work together, resolve differences, and stand united in the face of adversity. Today, we recommit to that legacy and to the values of peace, solidarity, democracy, and the rule of law that underpin it. Again I say, we are the European Union. It is so important when talking about the European Union not to say "the EU did this" or "the EU did that" because we are the EU. The MEPs decide on laws, along with the member states. Nobody else is responsible for that. The Commission proposes them. We must, at all times, support, uphold and protect the institutions of the European Union because they protect us. Those institutions, whether the Parliament, Council or Commission, are populated by people who have either been democratically elected or appointed by democratically-elected people. They are valuable and have delivered for the people. If we want to influence them, we must vote and put people in that will influence them in the way we wish. As we prepare to assume the very important Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2026, we will continue to champion European values, to deepen our engagement with EU partners, and to play our full part in shaping the Europe of tomorrow.

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