Regina Doherty (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Commissioner McGuinness to the Seanad. We all know, and it is testament to her career, that the Commissioner is a very proud European. She has had a long and successful career in the European Parliament and now in the Commission. It is testament to her dedication and commitment to the European project. It is also a testament to her authenticity. I wish her continued success.

This year is particularly special because we are celebrating 50 years, practically my whole life, as a member of the European Economic Community. As with others, I do not know any different. I know and enjoy the successes of that membership. Being part of this European project has genuinely transformed our country economically and socially. The Ireland of 1973 would be completely unrecognisable to somebody in the Ireland of 2023, with so many positive and progressive changes coming from our membership. Today is a day to celebrate all that is good and all of the achievements since the signing of the Schuman Declaration more than 70 years ago.

We should reflect on the great diversity and the cultures, languages and traditions we enjoy across Europe. Decade after decade, we have seen how Europeans at all levels benefit from the European Union. Our citizens travel more freely, businesses have expanded easily into new markets and governments and policymakers engage, thankfully, in greater co-operation.

While we have been, for the most part, united in our diversity, as the EU motto goes, the ongoing war in Ukraine shows that the EU objective of working for peace and prosperity is as important today as it was when it was when it was founded all those years ago. Despite our many differences across the Continent, the EU has stood united in its unwavering support for Ukraine and has firmly condemned Russia’s war of aggression. We have seen hundreds of thousands - millions – of Ukrainians fleeing their homeland. They have been welcomed by families across Europe, which is lovely to see. We have tens of thousands of them living in Ireland, in every county, and they are very welcome. The support shown in acting to help our Ukrainian friends is a clear example of Irish people’s support for other Europeans. It shows that even though support for the European Union can wane from time to time, the EU is fundamentally worthwhile.

President Zelenskyy announced last week that he submitted a Bill to his Parliament to mark 9 May as an official day, Europe Day, in Ukraine. That is welcome.

I will finish by congratulating our colleague, Frances Fitzgerald, on her achievement yesterday of being announced as the 19th most effective parliamentarian in the European Parliament. I wish her continued success as well.