Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of the Civil Engagement Group I welcome President Metsola to the Oireachtas for the important discussions we are having to mark Ireland's 50 years of participation in the collective project that is the European Union. One of the reasons for the positive views of so many members of the Irish public towards that project has been the role that the European Union has historically played in supporting progress on environmental protection, workers' rights and gender equality, from the ending of the marriage bar and the introduction of the working time directive to the important affirmation of women's access to bodily autonomy, safety and reproduction rights, which are also reflected in our recent referendum, and the very welcome European Parliament vote today in favour of a strong directive on the rights of platform workers.

We cannot be complacent on either values or rights as they can be eroded as well as progressed. When it comes to the crucial issue of migrant rights the European Parliament has had moments of leadership, voting for the activation of the temporary protection directive for Ukrainians and a noble attempt to activate that protective directive in respect of Syrian refugees in 2015. There have been moments of retreat from rights, in the shameful failure to support search and rescue in the Mediterranean and the funding of walls with Syria.

President Metsola spoke about real peace and it is very important. Europe is a peace project. It is not just security. Sometimes security and peace work in different directions. Real peace comes from longer and deeper work and investment in communities and cohesion. There are the particular contributions of neutral countries such as Malta and Ireland in the important international work of disarmament, which contribute to all of our security and peace in this world, and in the application and championing of international law wherever it is breached.

It is extremely welcome that European countries have been strong and clear in their support of international law, human rights and humanitarian support for Ukraine but clear and strong positions are also needed elsewhere. The EU should not be allowing, let alone defending in the courts, trade in goods from occupied territories, be they in Palestine or Western Sahara. The targeting of front-line human rights defenders, journalists or civilians, and I know these are issues President Metsola cares about, are issues wherever they occur, including, as we have seen recently, in the Middle East.

President Metsola spoke about healthcare. When we talk of EU values if they are really values we should be wishing them for everyone. Values such as healthcare are important. The European Parliament took a position in support of a TRIPS waiver. This was important because it was an example of how parliamentarians can reflect the decency and solidarity of citizens rather than prioritising the profits of a few companies. It is to be hoped this will be reflected in the corporate sustainability due diligence directive.

I am coming to the end of my time. I was to speak on the future of Europe and I know President Metsola has a record in a former future of Europe process. The Parliament can speak to institutions and remind them that our mandate comes from the public of Europe; not from lobbyists or small interests but from the public. We can avoid the mistakes of austerity and build a Europe that genuinely cares and is social.