Dáil debates

Wednesday, 7 May 2025

5:25 pm

Photo of Peter RochePeter Roche (Galway East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Europe Day is more than a date on the calendar; it is a moment to reflect on how far we have come as a continent and indeed as a country. In an ever-changing Europe, unity remains the greatest strength. Unity is not about sameness but a shared purpose. Ireland's journey within the European Union has coincided with our transformation into a vibrant, open, knowledge-based society. As an active contributor to the European project, we have seized opportunities to connect, to grow and to assert our voice in our island nation. Our values align very well with those of the EU - democracy, human rights and solidarity - and we bring our own distinctive perspective in shaping them.

Europe has been particularly important to our young people. Programmes such as Erasmus have expanded their horizons, encouraged cultural exchange and opened the doors to educational opportunity right across the continent. Every year, thousands of Irish students take part in that programme. The benefits ripple far beyond the classroom to building lifelong links, broadening knowledge and expanding minds.

Rural Ireland too has felt the difference. Through the LEADER programme, the EU has helped to reinvigorate communities by supporting local enterprise, tourism and innovation. One such example in east Galway is a fourth generation family farm, Kylemore Cheese. With EU support, the business has diversified to include artisan cheese production. It has opened its gates to visitors, thereby not only creating jobs but also reconnecting people with food and farming. That is Europe in action: local impact supported by shared solidarity. At the same time we must recognise that EU policies, particularly in such areas as agriculture, shape the realities of everyday life in Ireland. That is why it is so important for Ireland to stay engaged, to bring our lived experience to the table and to ensure the voices of our rural and farming communities are reflected in the decisions made at European level.

Europe must be a place where no one is left behind. We should be a leading voice in that regard and we should share our vision of reality. It has been mentioned that challenges lie ahead in areas from climate change to sustainability, digital transition and unity. On this day we recommit to that vision.

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