Ms Maria Walsh:

I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach. This has been a refreshing conversation. While I may not have given direct answers or feedback initially, I am honoured and excited by this engagement and the prospect of the next steps within the context of the building blocks we have laid down today. I am not just excited for us in Midlands-North-West, but for all the other constituencies as well. Ireland Inc. must be moving in solidarity in the European Union, right across the political spectrum.

I will run through some of the points raised and start with those from Senator Chambers. I agree with the Senator's comments concerning the committee report on Brexit. I commend her on the ongoing work and conversations she has had in that regard and on ensuring MEPs were included in that process. I refer to the blueprint to address the Covid-19 pandemic and solidarity concerning how to move forward in that regard. The Senator made the point that citizens got excited about the EU and began to listen and learn a little more about the organisation in that context. I flag my concern, however, regarding last week's state of the Union speech in respect of the line that Ursula von der Leyen took on defence. We are a country of great accord. Senator Chambers and I have experience in the Reserve Defence Force and Ireland has long experience with peacekeeping missions. Peace in the European Union and throughout the world should never be forgotten and, therefore, we will be watching that aspect with bated breath. I am looking forward to the conversation we will have in the European People's Party group next week and to seeing some more of the detail regarding the building blocks that Ms von der Leyen laid down in her state of the Union speech.

I wholeheartedly agree with Senator Kyne's point about the perception of the EU and EEC. There are many benefits. Regarding Senator Chambers's point in this regard as well, there is much greatness coming out of the European Union, but there is a question concerning how we talk about the organisation except in the contexts of CAP and Erasmus. How are we linking these elements? Energy security was mentioned as well and I completely agree with those comments. Energy security is especially important in our neck of the woods and warrants further exploration. Working together with our councillors on the ground and in the context of different programmes, the Northern and Western Regional Assembly is applying for as many opportunities as possible in that context to help to bring the regions together and, essentially, to be as ambitious as we can for our Midlands-North-West constituency. We are a region in transition, but that should mean we will have the scope to excel in the context of other funding opportunities. I refer also to working with other EU member states to ensure we are drawing down as much as we can, while equally giving back as much as we can.