Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of Sinn Féin, I welcome the Commissioner. Europe Day is an opportunity to discuss the direction of travel in the European Union with regard to our social, economic and political challenges. That is admittedly a great deal to do within four minutes, or even one minute. As a 31-year-old, all I have ever known is an Ireland at the heart of the European family. Indeed, my earliest memory of the EU is probably of Ireland joining the euro in 2002. I also recall learning in primary school in 2004 about the ten European countries from central and eastern Europe who joined in what was the single biggest expansion of the Union, taking place, as it did, during Ireland’s Presidency of the European Council.

Today, a Chathaoirligh, I look forward to the further expansion of the Union to include Ukraine and Moldova, who were most recently granted candidate status for membership. I express my solidarity to the people of Ukraine who I hope are finding some belonging here in Ireland as they experience an intervening time that is surely full of very awkward disconnection. As Senator Clonan said, peace will win out and I am sure that the Ukrainian people will be free to celebrate a new life for which they have sacrificed so much.

We must also extend our principled stand to the people of Palestine.The EU is founded on six core principles: respect for human dignity; freedom; democracy; equality; the rule of law; and respect for human rights, including those of minorities. What then of Israel's brutal treatment of the Palestinian people and Israel's occupation of Palestine? Europe should be a champion, in word and deed, for the upholding of human rights, for the ending of Israel's occupation and apartheid regime, and for the building of a successful peace process in the Middle East.

Irish people are extremely positive towards the EU. Seventy-four per cent of us trust the European Union. These levels of positivity do not exist across the Continent and should not be taken for granted. In recent years, Europe has shown unwavering support to Ireland. In 2017, the European Council acknowledged that the entire territory of a new united Ireland would become part of the European Union and Irish unity pursuant to the Good Friday Agreement is a legitimate political and strategic aspiration of the European Union and member states. Of course, we need a government in Dublin which has a vision for a united Ireland but there is nothing stopping the EU from preparing for Irish unity. If you support the Good Friday Agreement, surely you cannot object to that.

Ireland is a proud and ancient European nation. I think about the monks of Ireland who set up learning centres all across this Continent and of Columbanus, who was described by Robert Schuman as having achieved "a spiritual union between the principal European countries of his time".

As Irish people, we see ourselves as equals in the Europe of today, and so we should. We should speak more honestly with our friends in Europe to mirror Europe's blind spots. This is one of the surest ways of creating change in the world. By working together, we can build a new Ireland and reinvigorate the vision of Europe as one of fairness, solidarity and equality.