Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will speak on behalf of the Seanad Independent Group. As our visitors are aware, there are two independent groups within the Seanad. First I welcome the MEPs, Mr. Kelleher, Mr. Kelly and, in particular, Ms O'Sullivan. It is great to see her back. I remember the first time I met her was when she came out canvassing for the Seanad. We ran on the same panel. Her energy and enthusiasm were boundless. Of course, we immediately identified her as the Greenpeace Green. She was all of that and she deserved her place here. We missed her so I want to single her out in particular among her colleagues. I also acknowledge Mr. Maguire, who worked tirelessly around the building and was known. I see him down there. When they go to Europe they suddenly change somewhat but he has not. I barely recognised him there. I did not see the other half of him below the glass. He is a wonderful servant and I know Mr. Kelleher and the Fianna Fáil group in particular are exceptionally lucky to have him on their team.

I wish to say two or three things. I acknowledge the Minister of State, Senator Hackett. What I am going to talk about, very briefly, is agriculture, food and the marine. This is the area on which Oireachtas committee I am on. The ongoing challenge for us both in Ireland and in Europe is sustainable agriculture, sustainable food production, the environment, the European Green Deal, green architecture and the policies that flow within them. We are all on a journey. My concern is that we all travel at a different pace and a different time along that journey but we have to unite in terms of the rural and the urban. We must explain where we are coming from on our different perspectives. We all look to Europe as champions in terms of the European Green Deal, green architecture and the green policy and vision. The Minister of State, Senator Hackett, is working in that area and I interface with her on the committee. It is a challenge and it is difficult. At times we might appear to be at one another's throats in terms of our perspective but we are all on a journey. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, dare I say it, are on a journey too and are travelling well on that journey might I add, as someone who is on the outside looking in. My only request of the MEPs is that I would like them to look again at the Committee of the Regions. I am familiar with many of my colleagues on the Committee of the Regions and they tell me there is a disconnect between the Committee of the Regions and that very important work on subsidiarity in terms of Europe and how we relate back home in our countries. There are huge challenges and huge opportunities for the Committee of the Regions and I hear from them that there is a disconnect between it and the European Parliament and other activities, layers and levels within the Parliament and indeed with the MEPs. My one request is, can we see if we can improve and work on that area?