Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I join others in welcoming the Minister of State and congratulating her on the work she has done in the ongoing negotiations. She referred to the treaty-based values which are so important to Irish citizens, as highlighted by them in the series of consultations she held in recent months. Those core decent European values from the EU's treaties and its founding principles are important and still resonate with the Irish public. The Minister of State spoke of an EU based not on transactional interests but, rather, treaty-based values. I welcome that important sentiment, but we need to follow through on that logic.

In discussing the future of the EU, it is, perhaps, useful to start by looking at the past. As has been rightly stated, the EU is an extraordinary peace project. Having raised the issue of the Good Friday Agreement with all of our European partners, surely Ireland should continue to be a voice for peace and neutrality and the building of peace in the EU. A European army or the militarisation of the Continent is not the way to secure a peaceful future for all our people. As we know from our experience on this island, the work of peace goes far deeper. It is about social investment and the building of understandings, and those must be Ireland's priorities. As such, I deeply regret that Ireland has joined the PESCO military agreement and was very disappointed that we joined Operation Sophia, moving away from humanitarian search and rescue in the Mediterranean to a policing function which has resulted in the loss of many lives.

When we look to the past, we must look at what has worked and what has not. Europe is at its best when we join together to bring the best ideas of how we can do things better and stronger, create ambition for each other and have a stronger voice in the world and, indeed, change the shape of areas such as the online area by using our powers collectively. The data protection regulation is an example of working together in that way. However, the one-size-fits-all austerity measures such as those imposed on Ireland during the recession did not reflect the EU at its best. That led to the social pillar being somewhat belatedly introduced to try to repair some of the damage done during the very difficult period of austerity measures which served to push away many citizens and fray the social fabric in and between our countries.

The Minister of State referred to the new EU strategic agenda. Europe 2020 was put to the side somewhat in favour of the ten priorities of Jean-Claude Juncker, which was a regrettable decision. We have one year left to fulfil our Europe 2020 targets. What is the view of the Minister of State regarding the EU's delivery of that agenda and our delivery of the climate change targets by 2020? Does she agree that, regardless of who replaces Mr. Juncker as President of the European Commission or who will be the new Commissioners, there are issues already on the agenda which must form part of the next EU strategic agenda? Does she agree that sustainable development goals, climate targets and social commitments must be at the core of the strategic agenda? Will Ireland make those points?

The Minister of State referred to the budget of the multi-annual financial framework. Will state aid rules be loosened in order to facilitate better public investment in infrastructure such as housing, which is an issue right across the EU? Will we ensure that the voice of civil society is heard in the European semester process? That is the case to a small degree in Ireland, but we can ensure that it becomes more widespread.

The Minister of State referred to trade agreements being good for the economy. However, we need trade agreements that are good for society. We need new trade mandates. Will Ireland put forward the idea of new trade mandates without investor state dispute mechanisms which allow us to take the regulatory action we collectively need on issues such as climate change? We know that we cannot afford a chill effect. We need to be able to respond to the public. Many of those protesting on the streets and elsewhere, such as the young people protesting on climate change, are passionate Europeans, not Eurosceptics. It is deeply regrettable that those young persons were not permitted to speak in the European Parliament. It was a poor decision by the European People's Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe. We need those voices to be at the fore and to be given a platform on behalf of civil society and all of our citizens who see themselves as Europeans.