Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Today's meeting has been organised to celebrate 50 years of our membership of the European Union. I welcome President von der Leyen for this discussion. As a representative of a fishing community in Ireland, this is a sad commemoration because that was the start of the decline of our fishing communities. It was a combination of Government incompetence and the European Union taking advantage of it that has meant we have seen the decline of our fishing across the board.

I express solidarity with the Members who have spoken about the housing crisis we are experiencing in this country. The EU has a sad role in this. It has been aided by the Government of the country.

In 1972, Ireland was a proud, neutral, unaligned country. I note President von der Leyen said Europe was once a peace project. It was probably telling that she said it was "once" a peace project. Again, with a willing government, the EU will get rid of our neutrality. This is something we should regret in this country. It is something every political Member should oppose to ensure we maintain what has been a proud tradition. It is a tradition of which we should all be very proud and we should send a message to Europe and to the world that neutrality is a way to move forward.