Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas, a Leas-Chathaoirligh. I welcome Ms Walsh and Mr. Markey to the Chamber. As someone involved in representational politics as we all are, and as a former Deputy and county councillor, I do not know how anyone copes with the geographical size of our guests’ constituencies and the challenge of such diverse areas and how to represent them; I know that they are doing exceptional jobs in that regard.

I will pick up on some of the points and I also agree that the perception of the European Union, going back to the EEC, was to ask what we could get out of it by way of direct transfers through Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, money for roads, cohesion funds, and all that was there. That is understandable but it gave very high favourability and support ratings for the European Union, the EEC and the European Community at the time. We still have those high figures but it has changed. It has changed, whether that is the free movement, the Erasmus programme, opportunities that the EU provides, the Single Market, and CAP, which is still of great importance for our rural communities and particularly for the farming community. I will pick up on two areas.

Brexit, despite the atrocity that it is, has been very positive for the European programme and for people’s perception of it in this country because the solidarity that was shown to Ireland, not just within the European Community but across every parliament, Prime Minister or Head of State over that period, was very impressive. This solidarity was brought home to Irish people. Sometimes whether it is Angela Merkel or whoever elses - not everyone can differentiate people sometimes - but people see European leaders standing up for Ireland and they see that solidarity, whether that is in the European Parliament or the European Commission. That has been of great importance. When Prime Ministers were talking about the Good Friday Agreement or the Irish Border, because of the work done by former Taoiseach Enda Kenny, the then Minister, Deputy Charlie Flanagan, and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Simon Coveney, or our teams from the Department of Foreign Affairs or our ambassadors, they brought this message home. The vaccination programme, as covered by Senator Chambers, has also been of great importance.

Both MEPs have mentioned the Conference on the Future of Europe and the possibilities that holds for engagement with our citizens, and in particular, with our young people, in particular as this year is the International Year of Youth which is also of great importance. Collectively as a Parliament and individually, I am sure our guests have plans to harness and promote that.

Energy security is also an issue of great importance whether, as Mr. Markey has mentioned, it is the offshore potential - which is something I spoke about here yesterday - the Celtic interconnector. which is of great importance to France in the provision of energy security into the future, or the gas pipelines that will still provide needed energy for us. It is something that needs to be further developed and explored because it is of such importance. We have this continuing debate about data centres and they are important in respect of everything we do but energy security is also important.

I compliment Ms Walsh on the humanitarian work that she is engaging in and I acknowledge its great importance.

The west and north-west region was downgraded a number of years ago to an area in transition, down from a developed area which is a worrying and retrograde step. What is or can the European Commission or the European Parliament do with supports to bring us back to the level that we desire and need to be in? Innovation and research is happening but is happening perhaps at a faster pace in other areas in other countries. We have potential as to the technological university, which has been supported across all parties in the Houses of the Oireachtas, which may be a driver. Great work is also being done by the Western Development Commission and the Northern and Western Regional Assembly which is important. Partnering with other countries and other regions is also important.

The CAP has been negotiated and I will not say that it has been put to bed because I am sure there is a great deal to do yet in the nitty-gritty of this policy. Convergence is not an easy aspect of this within a constituency or a country, never mind within a county, in getting agreement on what is the best approach.

Finally, I will mention the Trans-European Transport Network, TEN-T, which has been a concern over a number of years in terms of the opportunities there for investment. It is not as clear-cut as some people would make it out to be in matching funds, or the large portion of funds that are required to draw down money under TEN-T, but perhaps our guests might comment on the opportunities there as well, please?