Ms Maria Walsh:

I appreciate the Senator's questions. Mr. Markey could not have covered corporate tax better so, if the Senator does not mind, I will focus on the Article 7 proceedings against Hungary and Poland. I speak quite a lot about both as I am a member of the bureau of the Parliament intergroup responsible for LGBTQI issues. It is the largest intergroup, with more than 150 MEPs, which is very promising. A large proportion of them come from centre-right or centre-left groups, including the EPP and the Renew Europe Group. I believe it has taken too long to address this issue. Article 7 proceedings should have happened in the previous mandate. The fact we are allowing activists and community members on the ground to feel the impact again and again is testament, as a previous point made out, that society moves a lot faster than the political system, and that is a fundamental problem. I know with both there is back and forth in terms of legal proceedings and written reports. We are certainly keeping pressure on the Commissioner for Equality, Helena Dalli, and the President of the Commission to ensure that is not dragged on any further and we will see a real move on the issue this side of Christmas.

Many of the questions in recent weeks and months regarding Article 7 have revolved around whether there will be another Brexit, but with Hungary and Poland leaving the EU. I believe that will not be the case but what I flag with regard to Article 7 is that if we reduce funding, while that slap on the wrist will hurt the purse strings, I fundamentally believe it will also hurt the people we need to protect the most. As such, some other sort of mechanism is needed, particularly in the context of women and girls as well as LGBTQI and other minority groups that are feeling the force of both the extremist Governments in question.

On the point regarding healthcare and dementia, I know our colleague, Frances Fitzgerald MEP, is working quite closely on the care package in respect of the people who support those with dementia. To go back to Mr. Markey's point, we have a body of opportunity based on what we went through and that blueprint from Covid to ensure we are working together - technologies, universities and research units across the EU - and creating that solidarity pack to protect people with and from dementia.