Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Today, as we mark Europe Day, it is fitting that we reflect on the huge positives that the European Union has brought to our island. I see every day, first hand, how Ireland has benefited from membership of the EU through infrastructure projects. That is not to say that we should not have critical analysis. We would not be doing our job properly if we benignly accepted every aspect of it. We need to be acutely aware of what European law is during its transposition to this country. We need to have a grown-up conversation about Europe, its benefits and also the democratic deficit across the 500 million people who want to engage with the EU but want to do it in a way which does not leave people behind. I also know how much the farmers of Ireland rely on access to the EU Common Agricultural Policy, but that is not to say the good agricultural and environmental conditions, GAEC, or the way that European law is transposed here, is always correct. As legislators and parliamentarians, we must always question that and get the best for the people who we are here to serve.

For Irish businesses, access to the EU market has brought an economic dividend and employment was created. When Ireland was negotiating its peace agreement in 1998, the EU supported and underpinned the fledgling peace process with targeted financial support which has made a real impact, particularly in the North. Following Brexit, despite voting to remain, the North was removed from the European Union. During the tumultuous period, the EU supported Ireland, protecting both our peace agreement and economic interests. In April 2017, the EU asserted that in the event of reunification, the North will automatically re-enter membership of the European Union. This is simple but profoundly important. It guarantees in economic terms that there will be no question about the status of the North. I hope that in the event of Irish unity, direct support will continue to come from the EU.

It is important to say that while we recognise and commend the positive aspects, our endorsement cannot be unequivocal. The EU has been found severely wanting in response to the ongoing slaughter in Palestine and the disgraceful human rights and international law violations Israel is perpetrating at this time. Shame on Israel and shame on this Government for failing to enact the occupied territories Bill as it had promised to do - another broken election promise. We wrote before to stop Israel's access to the Horizon project from happening. It is not right that Israel can access the EU Horizon project to do what it is doing: genocide.

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