Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I extend a warm welcome to all of the MEPs, including our former Civil Engagement group, CEG, colleague, Ms Grace O'Sullivan. There are a few areas of interest that are very important, some of which have been covered previously by Senator Gavan, such as the TRIPS waiver. The MEPs will be aware that this House unanimously called for Ireland to support the TRIPS waiver. It was deeply disappointing to see Ireland take one of the positions against that in the summit between the European Union and the African Union last week. Cyril Ramaphosa, the South African President, spoke about the fact that if we are not able to find each other on a matter of life and death and what this would do for the relationship between Europe and Africa. The European position in that regard, as well as being a moral and human rights failure, is also a diplomatic failure and will damage trust on the key issues of climate and environment where we need co-operation.

I would welcome if the MEPs could comment a little on some of the environmental areas they mentioned such as the new regulations that are coming in. One of the key points is the move away from fossil fuel subsidies. There seems to be a real battle at European level now between, for example, green hydrogen, which Ireland is in a position to champion, and the dragging on of gas networks. In a way, when we see that Nord Stream 2 cannot proceed now, it shows the fragility of dependence on such fossil fuel infrastructure. Could the MEPs comment on the taxonomy? Ireland has been clear that we should not be putting gas into a taxonomy and labelling it as sustainable because that directs money away from the kinds of renewable energy and green hydrogen Ireland should champion.

Ms O'Sullivan has done extensive work on the oceans, including the motions on the marine protected areas when she was in the House. Whales are dying and washing up around Europe at the moment. There is a need for real enforcement of the environmental impact tools that we have regarding oceans, not just the marine protected areas, which are becoming very pertinent. They were very pertinent recently even in respect of military activity outside Ireland's waters but also across Europe. Military activity is having an impact on the oceans but it also has an impact on emissions and it is important to count and measure that because it does affect the planet.

I wish to comment on the business and human rights legislation. Senator Black and others have worked in this area. Is there an opportunity to address such issues, for example, through the due diligence legislation and the citizens' initiative calling for a prohibition on the use of supply chains involving settlement goods?

I have so many issues I wish to raise. I will make a final comment on the future of Europe process, the next steps, because I am part of the process, and in particular on the strengthening of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.