[ParlTrack]

People are suffering and consumed with worry. Internationally, containment and isolation measures will have positive results in terms of flattening the curve on the spread of Covid-19, but we must continue with these measures and be prepared for tough times ahead of us.The actions already underway need to be matched with a mobilisation of investment in healthcare systems throughout the European Union.Compassion should, of course, be at the heart of all decisions we take. The most vulnerable should be prioritised. We’ve witnessed the suffering of refugees on the Greek borders. Behind closed doors people are suffering too. I am particularly concerned at the plight of asylum seekers and others living in large group residences, where we are hearing of wholly inadequate responses in terms of social distancing and self-isolation.These are unsettling times and we’re witnessing a new world being born in tragic circumstances, but we must give European citizens hope and confidence in our ability as parliamentarians to act in their best interests with dedication and kindness.

2020/03/26

I was happy to support the Resolution on the Annual budget 2021. The European Parliament’s reading for the 2021 budget reflects the EP priorities as set out in its July 2020 resolution concerning the volume and the priorities among them being Climate, Biodiversity and Gender issues. Therefore, the EP reading is certainly the most ambitious, progressive and Climate-friendly ever.

2020/11/12

Along with my colleagues in the Greens/EFA Group, I was pleased to vote in favour of the EU Health Action Programme 2021–2027 (EU4Health). The pandemic we are living through shows us how important it is to invest in healthcare.This programme will fund various actions in the field of public health based on three general objectives: (i) protecting people in the EU from serious cross-border health threats and improving crisis management capacity; (ii) making medicines, medical devices and other crisis-relevant products available and affordable and supporting innovation; and (iii) strengthening health systems and the healthcare workforce, including by investing in public health, for instance through health promotion and disease prevention programmes and improving access to healthcare.I am glad that the Greens/EFA Group played an active role in successfully amending the final text to include key provisions with regard to prevention, health inequalities, stress tests, health determinants and access to sexual and reproductive health services, as well as the adoption of indicators for harmful alcohol use and environmental pollution.

2020/11/13

It is regretful that the revision of the InvestEU programme to help with the negative consequences of the COVID—19 crisis was not seized as an opportunity to better align InvestEU with the objectives of the Green Deal and the EU’s climate commitments. The Greens/EFA put forward amendments that would improve the text to include better language on climate and gender which ultimately were not supported. Therefore, I could not support the final text of this file that was presented in the plenary session and accordingly voted against it.

2020/11/13

This resolution takes into account national measures to tackle COVID-19. I, along with my Green/EFA colleagues, voted in favour of this resolution because it stated that national emergency measures should be necessary, proportionate and time-limited. Freedom of media should be respected and disinformation challenged. Additionally, the resolution also called for the continued right to education as well as protection for vulnerable groups.

2020/11/13

. ‒ I voted against the objection to the ban on lead in gunshot over wetlands. Lead is a non-threshold poison, meaning no level of exposure is safe for humans or animals. Lead in shot is the single biggest source of lead emissions into the environment and around one million waterbirds die a slow and painful death from lead poisoning every year. This is unnecessary given that safe and affordable alternatives to lead shot exist.Under the African Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) there is an international legal obligation for the EU and its Member States to ban lead shot in wetlands, in place since 1999. This ban is therefore long overdue. My colleagues in the Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament have advocated for the implementation of this obligation for many years, knowing the importance of banning lead as part of the green vision for a non-toxic environment. This was an important vote for the protection of vulnerable wildlife at a time when we find ourselves in the midst of a biodiversity emergency.

2020/11/24

I was happy to support this important own-initiative report, which analyses the situation of media freedom in the EU. It includes progressive language and strong wording concerning investigative journalists and whistle-blowers and their crucial role in holding power to account and as watchdogs in society. It also echoes the importance of ensuring the safety of journalists, as well as the right to be informed and have access to information, and the transparency of media ownership.I welcome several demands included in this report, such as the need for an ambitious EU media action plan and an EU strategy on media literacy, as well as an anti-SLAPP Directive, a rapid-response mechanism for journalists requesting protection, and increased EU funding for media literacy programmes.And importantly, there are several specific paragraphs on female journalists and gender equality in the media sector, stressing that women should be granted additional safeguards due to the multiple discrimination they might experience, and that they should be able to hold creative and decision-making positions, which would enable to contribute to the reduction of gender stereotypes.

2020/11/25

I was happy to vote in favour of the report on the Situation of Fundamental Rights in the EU for the years 2018 - 2019. The aim of this report is to call attention to the areas where fundamental rights are being overlooked or threatened in the EU. It contains progressive and constructive calls for improvement in important areas such as gender equality; media freedom; the rights of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants; and prison conditions.I am pleased that through the amendments process at the committee stage, the Greens/EFA Group successfully reinforced wording on freedom of assembly, investigative journalism and whistle-blowing; rule of law including the independence of judiciary; data protection; prison conditions in the EU; equal treatment and anti-racism including structural racism; sexual health and reproductive rights; and the concerns about shrinking space for civil society.Fundamental rights are not guaranteed in the EU or anywhere in the world and violations of such rights should always be called out.

2020/11/26

It has been the position of the Greens/EFA not to support favourable trade deals with non-signatories of the Paris Agreement, which requires all parties to combat climate change and adapt to its effects. For the time being, the United States has not committed to this most fundamental promise to our planet and to future generations. I hope to see this change under the next administration, however I believe this principle should be upheld as long as the US remains out of the agreement. For this reason I have abstained on this report.In addition, it is regrettable that the Commission has moved to strike this ‘mini trade deal’ with the United States without any consultation of those citizens most impacted by the decision. Our small-scale fishers, coastal communities and hospitality sector have suffered greatly from the impact of COVID-19. This decision to reduce tariffs on US lobster threatens the market for high-quality European lobster, which supports the livelihoods of families across the Eastern Atlantic, Mediterranean and Black Sea.

2020/11/26

I voted in favour of this resolution, which condemns the systemic degradation of the rule of law in Poland, emphasises the illegitimacy of the Constitutional Tribunal and strongly condemns the denial of access to abortion and the violation of fundamental rights.My colleagues Sylwia Spurek and Terry Reintke managed to incorporate important Green demands in order to produce a comprehensive final text, including calls for the expansion of the current Article 7 procedure and for the Commission to address the latest developments in the context of the procedure, for unimpeded access to abortion care and all sexual and reproductive health care services, for inclusive language on rights of LGBTI+ persons, and for condemnation of excessive violence employed by law enforcement against protestors.

2020/11/26

I was happy to vote in favour of the report that will make 2021 the European Year of Rail. The aim of this report is to ensure that rail will be promoted within the European Union with the aim of kick-starting a ‘renaissance of rail’. I am pleased that the Greens/EFA Group successfully strengthened the scope of the report through their rapporteurship. As part of the year of rail’s activities, investments in infrastructure and night trains are to be encouraged, and the Commission should launch a study on rail connectivity index which will help guide such investments. Rail travel is one of the most environmentally friendly and energy-efficient modes of transport and support for it will be crucial if we are to achieve the modal shift targets that can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and pollution from the transport sector.

2020/12/15

. ‒ This joint resolution from the Greens/EFA, PPE, S&D and Renew Europe Groups took stock of the momentous agreements reached at EU-level this year. These include an unprecedented EUR 1.8 trillion package consisting of the long-term budget coupled with the EUR 750 billion Recovery Instrument, and a new Rule of Law Regulation. The resolution welcomes these achievements, while also making important comments on the December European Council conclusions. I was pleased to join my colleagues voting in favour of this resolution.

2020/12/16

The Dublin Regulation sets the criteria to determine a Member State responsible for every asylum application lodged in the EU. This Report stresses the issues with the Dublin regulation and calls for better implementation of existing provisions, coupled with stronger political will to ensure relocation of asylum applicants. Along with Greens/EFA colleagues, I voted in favour of this report.

2020/12/16

The Report includes an evaluation of the implementation of the Return Directive (2008/115/EC), which aims at promoting an effective return policy in line with adequate procedural safeguards and fundamental rights. I along with other Greens/EFA colleagues voted in favour of this report.

2020/12/16

I voted in favour of this resolution, which presents the Parliament’s position on the upcoming EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change, due to be published by the European Commission as part of the European Green Deal in 2021. The resolution stresses the need for a renewed focus on adaptation to come in parallel with ambitious mitigation measures in line with our obligation under the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5°C. In particular, I welcome the call for adaptation to be taken into account when building new, and renovating existing, infrastructure and in spatial planning. The clear focus on ecosystems—based solutions and green infrastructure, especially in cities, is also welcome as this can simultaneously contribute to climate mitigation, adaptation, protection of biodiversity and combating pollution. I am glad that the Greens/EFA Group managed to strengthen the text by co—tabling a successful amendment that calls for binding and quantifiable goals both at EU and MS level to be included in the upcoming Strategy.

2020/12/17

I voted against this report due to the proposal for all EU Member States to increase military and defence expenditure and to reach a defence spending target of 2% GDP. I am strongly opposed to this measure.

2021/01/20

I am delighted to support this own initiative report, which provides vital proposals for the better protection of the marine environment and more productive fish stocks. The European Union urgently needs to expand the scientific assessment of exploited fish stocks, provide more transparency in Council negotiations on fishing quotas, and establish coherent marine protected areas for 30% of EU waters.

2021/01/21

700 000 people will sleep rough in Europe tonight. In Ireland, 8000 people are without a home today. I support this report as it says this does not have to be the case. Everyone deserves decent and affordable housing. The crux of the report is that we must recognise housing as a fundamental right under EU law, end homelessness in the EU by 2030 and bring together our national strategies through the establishment of an EU framework for national homelessness strategies. The report sends a strong message that Member States must do more.

2021/01/21

I was pleased to vote in favour of this report on the gender aspect of the COVID-19 crisis. It defines the ways in which the pandemic will have a significant and long-term impact with a disproportionate effect on women and girls, in particular those who face multiple forms of discrimination. Our plans for recovering from this crisis must take into account gender equality, including intersectionality, sustainability and the wellbeing of all.

2021/01/21

The establishment of the Recovery and Resilience Facility is seminal in our path to a green COVID recovery. This agreement aims to support reforms and investments by Member States to mitigate the economic and social consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and make EU economies more sustainable. I was happy to support the green wins that came through in the negotiations such as ensuring there is a climate-focus to spending. In total, the RRF will make €672.5 billion available (€312.5 billion in grants and €360 billion in loans) for Member States to invest and rebuild after the COVID crisis. These finds will be essential in ensuring that the transition from a fossil fuel based economy to a green economy.

2021/02/09

. ‒ I voted in favour of this report outlining Parliament’s position towards the New Circular Economy Action Plan, one of the many initiatives proposed by the European Commission as part of the European Green Deal. The New Circular Economy Action Plan includes broad measures concerning product design, sustainable consumption and waste exports, as well as specific measures for key value chains such as electronics, batteries, plastics, textiles, construction and buildings, and food. I am pleased that the report includes a call for a binding target to significantly reduce the EU material and consumption footprint by 2030, as pushed by the Greens/EFA group. Other welcome aspects are the call to ensure the circular economy is toxic-free and the Commission come out with a proposal for an inclusive and comprehensive legal instrument on the ‘right to repair’.

2021/02/09

A Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) would apply a similar carbon price to both EU production and imports, a necessary step to tackle GHG emissions embedded in international trade. The Greens/EFA worked with all the political groups to define the principles on which such a carbon levy should be built. In the ENVI Committee, all major political groups supported the phasing—out of the current free allocation of emissions allowances for polluting industries under the Emissions Trading Scheme in parallel with the introduction of a CBAM. Disappointingly, these groups did not keep the same position for the final vote in plenary and so there is no clear call in this report for the crucially important phasing—out of free allowances. Instead, a slim majority of the Parliament voted to weaken the environmental integrity and WTO compatibility of a CBAM, two criteria which are necessary for its existence and proper functioning. For this reason, I abstained on this report along with my Greens/EFA colleagues. While we support the introduction of a CBAM, it must be done in such a way that results in real incentives for industry to decarbonise. This report does not do that.

2021/03/10

I was happy to vote in favour of this report. In this report, the European Parliament clearly states its support for European rules requiring companies to identify and remedy risks to human rights, health, the environment or good governance arising from their activities throughout their supply chain. The legislative initiative also proposes to increase transparency and introduce a civil liability mechanism and legal remedies for victims.In addition, the European Parliament calls for complementary measures such as the prohibition of the importation of products related to severe human rights violations such as forced labour or child labour. It is a long-standing demand of the Greens/EFA group that the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights are taken up in binding EU legislation to ensure human rights and sustainability are fully integrated into companies’ business. I believe that companies should be held liable for any damage caused to peoples’ rights, health, and the environment. They should also remedy any harm they have caused.

2021/03/10

After working for months on this file, I was disappointed in the end to have to vote against it. The Greens/EFA Group significantly improved this file in Committee and Plenary in terms of better traceability for seafood, better vessel monitoring and action against ghost fishing gear in the seas and oceans. However, ultimately I could not support the expansion of margins of tolerance, which lower our standards in fully documented fisheries and could lead to massive underreporting of catch.

2021/03/10

I was proud to join my Greens/EFA colleagues in co-signing and supporting this resolution to declare the EU an LGBTIQ Freedom Zone. This resolution confirms our commitment to fight for the safety, empowerment and equal rights of the LGBTIQ community in all Member States. That means protection from injustice and equal access to services and opportunities. The EU should be a welcoming place for people of all gender identities and sexual orientations. With this resolution, we call on the Commission and Member States to do more to fight the discrimination and harassment of the LGBTIQ community.

2021/03/11

I voted in favour of this report because it sends an important signal to the Commission on the need to ensure vehicles on EU roads are not a hazard to people. Concretely, I am pleased the report calls for, among other things: a tightening of the periodic testing regime for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles; an extension of such inspections to cover two- and three-wheeled vehicles and light trailers; ensuring that proper standardised emissions-testing is covered in the new regulatory framework.

2021/04/26

I voted in favour of granting consent to the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement. It is time to build the strongest possible relationship with the UK based on common values and a level playing field ensuring the absence of any kind of dumping and lowering of standards. We never wanted to see the UK leave the European Union, but now it is time to ensure this new relationship develops while protecting the Good Friday Agreement and the Withdrawal Agreement.

2021/04/27

Together with my Greens/EFA colleagues, I voted in favour of this resolution on soil protection which calls on the Commission to design a comprehensive EU legal framework for the protection of soil. Given that national measures to protect soil have failed to deliver, and considering the inherent transboundary effects of soil degradation, an EU-wide legal framework is required.The lack of such a framework for protecting Europe’s land and soil resources has been identified by the European Environment Agency as a key gap with regard to adequate protection of the environment. Comprehensive legal frameworks already exist in the EU for the protection of air and water, so it makes sense to also have one for soil. I was glad that the resolution’s level of ambition was not diluted by attempts from the PPE Group to delete the word ‘legal’ in this resolution. Doing so would have hollowed out the message that binding EU action is urgently needed to protect soil and combat soil degradation.

2021/04/28

I voted in support of efforts to ensure freedom of movement during the COVID-19 pandemic through EU-wide recognition of national vaccination and test certificates. As we continue to suffer the impact of the pandemic, the EU COVID-19 Certificate is designed to make travelling and visiting loved ones easier and safer. With the support of the Greens/EFA Group, the measures ensure that personal data is protected, EU citizens cannot be discriminated against on the basis of being vaccinated or not, and Member States must ensure access to COVID testing facilities for all citizens. This is just one tool in our efforts to tackle the pandemic, ultimately we must ensure vaccination is available and accessible to all and in the most timely manner.

2021/04/28

I voted in favour of amendments to the trilogue agreement on rail passenger rights because the proposed deal does not protect or advance passenger rights enough. The amendments, which were tabled by my Greens/EFA colleagues, aimed to improve the situation for those with reduced mobility; to improve the possibility for compensation for passengers in the event of significant delays; and to reduce the scope of the ‘force majeure’ clause whereby too many exemptions to the requirement to provide compensation would have been provided to railway companies. I am disappointed that a majority of MEPs in the Parliament did not stand up for passenger rights by approving the agreement as presented and not voting in favour of the amendments.

2021/04/29

I supported the motion for rejection of the Council’s position for the European Defence Fund. I share my group’s concern over allocating €7.9 Bn. to a European Defence Fund without adequate parliamentary oversight or transparency. That is why I supported amendments that would allow for better ethics check, control, exclusion within the EDF. European security and defence policy should be human-rights based, transparent, and accountable to the Parliament.

2021/04/29

. – The European Green Deal, and our Climate Law obligation to become the first climate neutral continent by 2050, means EU Member States have to make big changes to reduce their emissions. The Just Transition Fund is an essential part of this ambition. It was created to assist Member States in their transition to a sustainable economy and energy system, especially those countries most dependent on climate-polluting fossil fuels like coal. The money will be used to alleviate the social and economic impacts resulting from the transition towards a climate-neutral economy, through a wide range of activities directed mainly at diversifying economic activity and helping people to adapt to a changing labour market. Ireland is set to receive €77 million from the fund. I was pleased to join my colleagues in voting in favour of the Just Transition Fund agreement.

2021/05/18

. – Along with the vast majority of MEPs, I voted to approve this budgetary transfer of money from the EU Solidarity Fund to Ireland and a number of other Member States. Ireland will receive a little under EUR 20.5 million from the fund to assist with the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Solidarity Fund is usually triggered to provide quick support to Member States in the aftermath of a natural disaster. This is the first time it is being used to respond to a public health emergency. It is a great example of the benefits of solidarity among Member States.

2021/05/18

. – Unfortunately, I abstained on this report following the successful attempts by my colleagues in the EPP Group to remove language on providing channels for safe migration for climate-displaced persons. The amendments in question also refused to recognise climate-induced migration as a legal base for international protection. The climate crisis affects vulnerable populations first and foremost. Europe should and must express solidarity with concrete actions.

2021/05/18

. – The Commission and Member States must develop a human-rights-based approach to climate change that places the notions of climate justice, non-discrimination, gender-equality and universality at the heart of climate strategies and diplomacy. Among its many ambitious and specific demands, this progressive report calls on the EU to support recognition of the right of a healthy environment at the global level and pushes for ecocide to be considered an international crime by the International Criminal Court. Importantly, it also stresses the need to ensure the consent of indigenous peoples and local communities for any project that may affect their land, territories and natural assets. I was glad that the ambition of the report was increased by amendments tabled by the Greens/EFA group and I was happy to vote in favour of the final text.

2021/05/19

. – I was happy to vote in favour of this report, which calls on the Commission and the Member States to work with partner countries to instate compulsory comprehensive sexual education in their national education plans in order to prevent the spread of AIDS, while also calling for universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights, and access to HIV services. The resolution also calls for a temporary waiver on intellectual property rights for Covid-19 vaccines, equipment and treatments, which I was also happy to support.

2021/05/19

. – A revision of the 2006 EU Aarhus Regulation is necessary to bring the EU into compliance with the Aarhus Convention, an international agreement which lays down three important rights related to environmental matters: access to information, public participation in decision-making and access to justice. Together with my Green/EFA colleagues, I voted in favour of Parliament’s position, which broadens the scope of the regulation in order to bring it into compliance with the Aarhus Convention. In particular, I welcome the expansion of the right of access to justice for individuals (a right that the 2006 regulation limited to NGOs only) and the wider scope of decisions that can be challenged (including State aid decisions). While this report could have gone further in ensuring that access to justice in environmental matters is a smoother and less cumbersome process, the final text is balanced and progressive.

2021/05/20

. – I supported this motion as it addresses the general lack of enforcement of the GDPR by the Irish DPC. There have been virtually no fines or investigations by the DPC into the big tech companies in Ireland (where they are based). Tech companies should not get a free rein when it comes to Data Protection in Ireland and Ireland as a country needs to ensure that people's personal data is adequately being protected. By calling for infringement procedures against Ireland, we want to show that we are not soft when it comes to personal privacy and big tech.

2021/05/20

. – I voted in favour of this positive report that calls on the Commission to (1) extend the scope of the Environmental Crime Directive to take into account new types and patterns of environmental crime, and (2) transform the Environmental Liability Directive into a fully harmonised regulation that is aligned with the Paris Agreement. The report rightly acknowledges the intrinsic value of the environment and ecosystems, and their right to effective protection. I also welcome the call to the Commission to study the relevance of ecocide to EU law and EU diplomacy.

2021/05/20

. – I voted to abstain on this file as I felt that the report could be improved by removing references that can be interpreted as calls to privatisation of public services, as well as the less ambitious targets highlighted therein. The language on avoiding the fragmentation of the digital single market, and removing any existing unjustified barriers and unnecessary administrative requirements, support innovation and equal access to investment opportunities, like the general tone of the report heavily prioritises a certain category of stakeholder and could not be in line with the needs of a socially equitable Europe.

2021/05/20

I welcome the agreement to ensure freedom of movement in the pandemic by providing a common EU tool ensuring the mutual recognition of national COVID-19-related certificates. The EU Digital COVID Certificate shall not become in any circumstance precondition for exercising free movement rights, and equal weight shall be granted to any of the certificates issued under the umbrella of the COVID-19 Certificate, in order to avoid any possible discrimination based on vaccination status. Member States shall also guarantee equal opportunities to all, by ensuring universal, accessible, timely COVID-19 testing possibilities. The system will have high standards of data protection. The technical approach taken - a public-key infrastructure - ensures that no personal data has to flow across the EU, but only resides on the certificate itself, and in the patient file of the doctor or the testing or vaccination centre. No tracing of where a certificate is shown will therefore be possible. In the event that Member States decide, on the basis of a well-defined national framework, to introduce certificates for purposes other than the ones foreseen in these Regulations, they shall employ this newly EU framework including all the safeguards provided therein.

2021/06/08

. ‒ I voted in favour of the EU 2030 Biodiversity Strategy, which lays down the Parliament’s position on a very wide range of issues affecting biodiversity. I am glad that the final report maintained most elements of the balanced and progressive text that was adopted by the ENVI Committee and that attempts to weaken the wording by other groups were unsuccessful. The final text shows that a strong majority in the Parliament is serious about meeting the enormous challenge of halting biodiversity loss. We are in the midst of a severe biodiversity crisis, with one in eight species now threatened with extinction. We have far exceeded our planetary boundary when it comes to biodiversity loss and we simply cannot afford to lose any more nature. In Ireland, one third of our 98 native bee species are at risk of extinction while a quarter of native Irish birds are red listed, indicating the highest level of concern for their continued survival. Key to this report was the call for a binding EU Biodiversity Law that would serve as an overarching governance framework for action on biodiversity, similar to the EU Climate Law for climate change.

2021/06/08

I was happy to vote in favour of this joint motion for a resolution, which expresses clear support for a temporary lifting of intellectual property rights on COVID-19 vaccines and other related medical products. A key part of the resolution was the adoption of a Greens/EFA amendment calling for a TRIPS waiver on intellectual property rights (IPRs) with a broad scope beyond patents and vaccines. The amendment also asks for revisiting the global framework for intellectual property rights for future pandemics and calls on the Commission to support such a position and start proactive text-based negotiations at the TRIPS Council level. This amendment was carried by one vote, and I was disappointed that not all of my Irish colleagues supported it. In some developing countries vaccination rates are at a mere 1%. Equity of distribution is vital in this health crisis, and a temporary waiver of intellectual property rights on COVID vaccines is essential in the fight to achieve global vaccine justice. No one is safe until we are all safe.

2021/06/09

I tabled - and voted in favour of - this Objection, which calls on the Commission to block the use of the toxic neonicotinoid imidacloprid in EU salmon farms. The pesticide is already banned in the EU for certain agricultural uses on land, and has been linked to disastrous biodiversity loss. There is mounting evidence that the use of this neonicotinoid has a devastating impact on rivers and waterways and is linked to collapses of fish stocks. Despite this, the European Commission is proposing to establish a Maximum Residue Level for Imidacloprid, which will clear the way for the pesticide’s use in EU aquaculture as a treatment for sea lice.

2021/06/09

. ‒ I voted against the EU Climate Law for the simple reason that it is not aligned with the commitment in the Paris Agreement to keep global temperature rise to well below 2 degrees and do everything possible to keep it at 1.5 degrees. The 2030 target for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction in this law is set at net minus 55% compared to 1990 levels. The ‘net’ nature of the agreed 2030 target means that the real GHG emissions reduction target in this law is 52.8%. We know that if we want to stay within the Paris Agreement, we must reduce emissions by 65%.Climate scientists are clear in their message that this decade, 2020-2030, is crucial for climate action if we are to avoid catastrophic and irreversible climate breakdown and the Greens/EFA fought hard throughout negotiations to inject this sense of urgency and responsible ambition into the EU Climate Law. The Greens/EFA Group will continue to fight for high ambition in the Fit for 2030 package, with the aim of ensuring that all EU law is in line with the Paris Agreement.

2021/06/24

I was happy to support this file. The public sector loan facility under the Just Transition Mechanism will be greener and will support local municipalities to implement projects of better quality and higher impact, fully in line with the objectives of the Green Deal. It will also provide the right incentives for green projects and proper monitoring. I support priority being given to projects located in less-developed regions, to projects contributing to climate objectives and to public entities that have adopted a decarbonisation plans.

2021/06/24

Antimicrobial resistance is a top threat to global public and animal health. For this reason, the EU rightly has strict rules against the use of antimicrobials for growth promotion in farmed animals. I voted in favour of this technical proposal to ensure that the same rules prohibiting the use of antimicrobials are applied to animals and animal products imported to the EU from third countries. It is right that the EU uses its influence as a major trading block to encourage third countries to stop misusing antimicrobials in agriculture.

2021/06/24

I voted in favour of this progressive and comprehensive report containing strong language in support of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in the EU. I am glad that a majority of the Parliament supported this report, reaffirming SRHR as human rights which are intrinsically linked with gender equality and combating sexual and gender-based violence. The report addresses a wide whole range of SRHR issues from sexuality education, contraception, abortion and fertility services and takes an intersectional perspective, stressing the fact that women belonging to marginalised groups face even more obstacles to access sexual and reproductive healthcare. I voted against the two counter-motions tabled by the ECR and EPP that removed many important aspects of this report, including the call on Member States to ensure safe and legal access to abortion and to provide period products free of charge for those who need them.

2021/06/24

I voted against the interinstitutional agreement on the new European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF). Our coastal communities and fisheries are in dire need of support for the sustainable transition under the European Green Deal. The EMFAF is intended for that purpose, and yet this agreement is unlikely to provide the vital support to fishers or to marine protection efforts. A recent report from the European Court of Auditors found that only 6% of funding from the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund is used for conservation measures, while much more goes towards environmentally harmful activities. The EMFAF is likely to maintain those harmful subsidies to already profitable industrial fisheries and aquaculture and lacks any binding spending targets on climate and biodiversity. Unfortunately, the Fund constitutes a missed opportunity to support sustainable fisheries, will provide less support to small-scale fishers and is unlikely to contribute to the protection of vulnerable marine ecosystems.

2021/07/06

. ‒ I tabled and voted in favour of this rejection amendment because the Connecting Europe Facility should not finance investments in new fossil gas infrastructure, airports, roads and military mobility, as these are at odds with climate goals and commitments and related objectives on health and the environment. Co-legislators should have returned to the negotiation table and agree on an infrastructure financing facility fully aligned with climate goals, the Paris Agreement and sustainability objectives.

2021/07/06

I voted in favour of the final report on the General Union Environment Action Programme to 2030 (8th EAP), for which I was rapporteur. The 8th EAP will serve as the EU’s framework programme for environment policy during this most critical decade for climate and biodiversity action. I voted in favour of maintaining the report adopted in the ENVI Committee in its entirety, including in favour of keeping concrete deadlines for phasing out fossil fuel subsidies and other environmentally harmful subsidies. This report had strong language on the need for rapid and far reaching systemic change, including by laying down the objective for the EU to advance towards a sustainable well-being economy where the wellbeing of people and planet is put at the heart of policy and decision making and where economic progress is assessed by measuring more than just GDP growth.

2021/07/08

On this 60th anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty’s entry into force, I was delighted to table this Resolution, which will provide an important boost to international efforts to establish over 3 million square kilometres of Marine Protected Area in Antarctic waters – potentially the greatest act of marine protection in human history. With the passing of this Resolution by a significant majority, the European Institutions are not united behind this goal at the next meeting of the Commission on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). The Antarctic Ocean is a significant region for marine biodiversity and a vast carbon sink. It is now more threatened by climate change and human activity than ever before, and deserves strong international protection.

2021/07/08

On 15 June 2021, the Hungarian Parliament voted in favour of amendments proposed by Fidesz MPs that severely restrict freedom of speech and children’s rights. The Law prohibits the ‘portrayal and promotion of gender identity different from sex assigned at birth, the change of sex and homosexuality’ in schools, in television programmes and in publicly available advertisements on any platforms for persons aged under 18, even for educational purposes; the Law disqualifies such content from being considered as a public service announcement or social responsibility advertisement even if intended for adults; the Law introduces amendments to the Child Protection Act, the Family Protection Act, the Act on Business Advertising Activity, the Media Act and the Public Education Act.I consider this Law to be in breach of EU law and of the rights of LGBTIQ citizens in Hungary, in particular the freedom to provide services and freedom of movement of goods as set out in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, the Audiovisual Media Services Directive and E-commerce Directive in conjunction with the Charter of Fundamental Rights. Therefore I voted in favour of the resolution ‘Breaches of EU law and of the rights of LGBTIQ citizens in Hungary as a result of the legal changes adopted in the Hungarian Parliament’.

2021/07/08

As a proud member of the LGBTI Intergroup, I was happy to vote in favour of this resolution, which calls on the EU and its Member States to overcome the discrimination that LGBTIQ+ persons suffer and to remove the obstacles rainbow families face when exercising the fundamental right to freedom of movement within the EU.

2021/09/13

As shadow rapporteur on this file in the PECH Committee, I was happy to support this report on the updated Atlantic maritime strategy. As an Atlantic nation, it is in Ireland’s interests to build on our close ties with our Atlantic neighbours, especially in the aftermath of Brexit. Ireland is a proud member of the Atlantic Maritime Committee, which it currently chairs. Of particular interest to us is the development of maritime shipping links with the European mainland, the integration of ports into the European Green Deal, and a broad campaign of ocean literacy and education for Irish youth.

2021/09/14

This legislation extends the validity of safety certificates and licences for operators in the Channel Tunnel while we await the conclusion of negotiations between France and the United Kingdom necessitated by Brexit. I voted in favour because it is important to ensure the smooth and safe functioning of a crucial transport link and to provide clarity and certainty to operators and, ultimately, passengers.

2021/09/15

I was pleased to see the final agreement on the Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR) pass through the European Parliament with an overwhelming majority. The BAR will provide support to the Member States most affected by Brexit, and Ireland will gain a little over EUR 1 billion from this fund. I am glad that this money will now flow quickly to where it’s needed, and will not just help us to cover the administrative costs associated with Brexit, but will also be used to support businesses and communities which have been heavily affected, such as the small-scale fishing community.

2021/09/15

I voted in favour of this objection to a delegated act establishing criteria for reserving certain antimicrobials for human use because I am concerned that it will not serve the interests of human health nor those of individual animal health. It is the view of the Greens/EFA Group that the current basic regulation unduly opposes the interests of human medicine against those of veterinary medicine. Instead, we should build a bridge between them by reserving highest-priority critically-important antimicrobials for human use, while allowing their use as a last resort also for the treatment of individual animals. My specific reasons for objecting to the delegated act are as follows: (1) it sets the bar for the designation of human reserve antimicrobials unduly high; (2) it leaves important issues undefined; (3) it gives undue consideration to animal health concerns in its criteria; and (4) it significantly deviates from the WHO criteria for the designation of (highest-priority) critically-important antimicrobials for human use and the WHO guidelines on use of medically-important antimicrobials in food-producing animals. I am concerned that the delegated act as it stands will not result in a meaningful list of reserve antibiotics for human use.

2021/09/15

This crucial vote proved that there is a definitive majority in the Parliament calling for gender-based violence to be considered a serious crime under Article 83(1) TFEU. I was proud to join my Greens/EFA colleagues voting in favour of this progressive report, which covers a broad spectrum from violence against LGBTIQ+ people to that related to sexual and reproductive rights. Gender-based violence has been greatly exasperated during the pandemic, with reports of violence and pressure on emergency services rising across Europe. With this report we are a step closer to holistic, EU-level legislation on gender-based violence.

2021/09/16

I was pleased to join my colleagues voting in favour of the creation of this new delegation, which will join an important body for oversight of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. Close cooperation and dialogue are crucial for navigating our post-Brexit relationship with the UK.

2021/10/05

. ‒ Biodiversity protection is critical to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). I voted in favour of this report which expresses alarm at the fact that loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services is undermining progress in approximately 80% of the assessed targets for the SDGs. The report rightly calls for biodiversity mainstreaming in the EU’s external policies, including its trade agreement with third countries and has a strong focus on the need to recognise and respect the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities when implementing biodiversity protection and conservation measures. I was glad that attempts by the EPP and ECR groups to water down the ambitious, progressive wording in this report were not successful.

2021/10/05

I was pleased to vote on this important report regarding road safety in the EU, the first in more than 10 years. Every year around 22 700 people still lose their lives on EU roads and around 120 000 are seriously injured, figures that are completely unacceptable. Unfortunately progress in reducing EU fatality rates has stagnated in recent years, but many of the report’s recommendations will help save lives and should be implemented without delay. These include: pursuing modal shift strategies and the repurposing of public spaces away from individual motorised transport towards sustainable, safer and healthier transport modes; and a call for maximum default speed limits of 30km/h in residential areas and areas with high numbers of vulnerable road users.

2021/10/05

. ‒ The Mediterranean Sea is the most overfished basin in the European Union and little to no progress has been made to the improve the situation in recent years. Unfortunately this report did not go far enough to address the dire situation with regard to sustainable management, biodiversity protection and implementation of already existing measures in the common fisheries policy (CFP). In addition, concerns we had about the possibility of fisheries funding going to the border control agency Frontex were not addressed by the report.

2021/10/05

As a key regulator of our climate and a vulnerable place of unique biodiversity, the protection of the Arctic from human encroachment is vital. I abstained in the vote on this report on the region which, despite good language achieved by our Group on protection of the environment, ultimately focused excessively on confrontational language on defence, security and exploitation. The Arctic must not become an area of resource extraction and geopolitical conflict if we are to peacefully combat the current climate crisis and protect life in the region.

2021/10/06

I was happy to vote in favour of this resolution, initiated by my Green colleagues in the Petitions Committee following important petitions received by many EU citizens. It calls on the Commission to ensure full transparency by publishing non—redacted versions of the advance purchase agreements and the purchase agreement without further delay. The resolution also requests the Commission to disclose all details of public interest regarding future COVID—19 vaccine contracts and compliance with these contracts, as well as contracts for other purchased COVID—19 technologies, as a precondition for future negotiations with pharmaceutical companies.

2021/10/21

I was happy to vote in favour of this resolution which sets out the EP’s mandate for the COP 26 negotiations in Glasgow. While in some areas it does not go as far as we in the Greens/EFA would have wanted, we can be pleased particularly that it calls for quick phasing out of subsidies for fossil fuels ‘by 2025 at the latest’ and urges the member states to step up climate finance in this crucial decade, our last chance to try and stick to 1.5 degrees warming.

2021/10/21

. ‒ I wholeheartedly supported the Resolution on ‘The Rule of law crisis in Poland and the primacy of EU law’ alongside my colleagues in the Greens/EFA. The actions of the Polish government are a direct attack on the EU’s democratic constitutional order. The decision of the illegitimate ‘Constitutional Tribunal’ of 7 October 2021 completely undermines the primacy of EU law as one of its cornerstone principles in accordance with well-established case-law of the CJEU. For years, the Polish government has tried to erode the rights of minorities, members of the LGBTIQ community, and the rule of law. Accordingly, I support the call for the European Commission to launch infringement procedures against Poland immediately as well as to trigger the procedure provided for in Article 6(1) of the Rule of Law Conditionality Regulation for Poland. EU funds must not be allowed to be spent in any Member State that does not uphold the fundamental democratic values of the European Community.

2021/10/21

The EU is one of the largest importers of raw materials, which is an issue which must be addressed. While CRM play a crucial role in the production of batteries and other technologies needed in the energy transition, this cannot come as a severe consequence to the environment and for local communities. I was happy to support the ban on mining in Natura 2000 areas and also the recognition that that CRM sourcing/mining can lead to biodiversity loss or the contamination of air, soil and water, and potential conflicts with local communities. Although amendments were passed which weakened this ban, there was good language in the text which called for the enforcement of the rights of local communities to full participation in permit procedures for new mining projects and to ensure that local communities have the right of recourse to effective redress mechanisms as well as promoting a circular economy approach throughout the value chain. Therefore, I abstained from supporting the final report.

2021/11/24

I was pleased to vote in favour of this resolution on the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference, after an important amendment from my Greens/EFA colleague Sara Matthieu was passed. The amendment, calling on the Commission to support a TRIPS waiver on COVID-19 vaccines, was carried by just five votes. Vaccines should be regarded as a universal common good, and we must do everything we can to increase the vaccination rate of the world’s poorest countries.

2021/11/25

. ‒ I was happy to support this file, which regulates online gatekeepers. The DMA will regulate how companies are allowed to sell their services online. Currently, if you do not play by the Gatekeepers’ rules, you are excluded from selling your products online. Consumers have very little say in how the market is operated. This needs to change so that we have a fairer and more competitive market. The internal market rules must have consumer interests at heart. We need to protect online consumers and not play into the hands of big tech companies.

2021/12/15

. ‒ This is an important report from the Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) Committee taking stock of the situation of equality (or inequality) between men and women in the EU between 2018 and 2020. It highlights particularly startling figures on rising cases of gender-based violence since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the situation of the gender pay gap and denounces anti-gender and anti-feminist movements attacking women’s rights across Europe. I was pleased to vote in favour, calling on the Commission and Member States to do more to make gender equality a priority in policymaking.

2021/12/15

I was glad to support the Implementation Report on the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive which was aimed at listing out what was needed in the revision of the EPBD. There was good language in this report on energy poverty and green infrastructure and I was happy to see that the Commission took on board some of this language in its EPBD proposal.

2021/12/15

The European Union and its Member States can and should play a leading role in nuclear disarmament and arms control. I voted against this report, however, as it fails to support the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) which entered force earlier this year.The TPNW calls for unilateral disarmament, yet still the EU Council refuses to adopt a position while NATO countries continue to oppose it. Ireland is a proud party to the TPNW, and I am heartened to hear of the new German Government’s decision to become an observer. Unfortunately, this report represents a missed opportunity and a step back for global nuclear disarmament and arms control.

2021/12/15

I voted in favour of this resolution because I believe the EU institutions must lead by example and adopt a zero—tolerance approach to harassment. One of the measures I believe would be very important would be to require all Members of the European Parliament to undergo mandatory harassment prevention training.

2021/12/16

While I believe that the EU must act in solidarity with Ukraine and stand up to Russia’s increasing of tensions in the region, I cannot support language which calls for an expansion of military provisions that would effectively lead to a military build up along the Russian and Ukrainian border. I support the imposition of financial and economic sanctions but cannot support provisions which call for increased NATO cooperation with the EU given that there are several EU Member States that have a strict policy of neutrality. Therefore, I abstained from the final vote.

2021/12/16

I was happy to support my group in voting for the Digital Services Act. The Parliament voted for a ban of surveillance advertising for minors and for all online advertising based on sensitive data like political or religious affiliation, sexual orientation or ethnic origin. This will help protect citizens’ right to privacy online. I believe that the vote struck a good balance between privacy, anonymity, users’ rights and law enforcement. As a result of the votes, online platforms must ensure that users who declined to be tracked could still have alternative options to access the services, meaning that they cannot oblige users to be tracked to view posts on their platforms. Unfortunately, an amendment to get platforms to inform media organizations of content moderation decisions based on their terms and conditions, and give them a chance to challenge those decisions, did not make it through. However, we did manage to pass an amendment to ensure online platforms must respect the freedom and pluralism of media. Platforms will also be obliged to share their data sets if requested by NGOs which will to more transparency across the internet. This vote will lead to a fairer internet with less power in the hands of tech giants. The DSA is the EU’s answer to the fact that a few large online platforms (such as Meta, Google, Apple, Amazon and Microsoft) control the digital ecosystem and I hope that this new, rights-based standard will be become the global benchmark for digital rights.

2022/01/20

I voted in favour of the Committee of Inquiry on the Protection of Animals during Transport (ANIT)’s recommendations to the Council and the Commission ahead of an upcoming revision of legislation concerning the welfare of animals during transport. While the final text is not as ambitious as the committee report, it is a step in the right direction in many areas. The Parliament calls for shorter journey times, a centralised system for approval of sea vessels and better cooperation among Member States, among other recommendations. It is unacceptable that current EU legislation aiming to protect animals during transport (Regulation 1/2005) is insufficient, inefficient and is systematically breached. The revision of this piece of legislation must ensure long-overdue improvements in animal welfare standards across the EU.

2022/01/20

I voted in favour of this report which expresses the Parliament’s strong support for the work of the EU Ombudsman. The report, which was led by a Greens/EFA Rapporteur, draws attention to several cases relating to transparency and procedural shortcomings in the EU institutions in 2020. By opening inquiries in cases of procedural shortcomings, the Ombudsman plays an important role in holding the EU Institutions to account. I was glad that attempts by the EPP Group to water down the call for transparency around negotiations between the European Commission and pharmaceutical companies were defeated, and that the report voted in the PETI Committee was maintained.

2022/02/15

Increasing our offshore renewable energy will help the EU meet its climate obligations and would lead to job creation. Therefore, I was happy to vote in favour of the INI on the EU’s Offshore Renewable Strategy. The report contains some very positive elements, notably on several key issues such as biodiversity, Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP), offshore hybrids, banning the burial of waste blades and floating wind turbines. We need to maintain our ambition levels to ensure that we are equipped to make offshore wind a viable energy source that will bring us into the green transition while also adopting an ecosystem-based approach that respects and preserves the maritime environment.

2022/02/15

. – I voted in favour of this report. Lengthy negotiations turned this good initial report into a solid and comprehensive document on the global picture of human rights and what the EU should do to further them. I was glad to see that many of the amendments tabled by the Greens/EFA group were accepted, including strong, actionable language on transparency, protection of human rights defenders and citizen’s privacy is present throughout.

2022/02/16

. ‒ I voted with my group, the Greens/EFA, in favour of this objection, which aimed to reject the PCI (Projects of Common Interest) list. This list is a selection of energy infrastructure projects – such as electricity lines, gas pipelines, LNG terminals or smart grid projects – eligible for EU funding and faster permitting procedures. We voted to reject this PCI list as it contains many gas infrastructure projects that would lock us into a fossil fuel future. Now is the time when we should focus funding on renewables and energy efficiency, and alleviate our dependency on energy imports. Unfortunately, the objection was unsuccessful.

2022/03/09

. ‒ This report was based on one and a half years of work by Parliament’s Special Committee on Foreign Interference in all Democratic Processes in the European Union, including Disinformation (INGE), set up to examine foreign interference in EU democratic processes. The report makes recommendations for how we can tackle the harmful effects of interference and disinformation on elections, social media, public institutions, cybersecurity, etc. The recommendations include setting up a sanctions regime against disinformation. Our Group was also particularly pleased with the strong wording on tackling disinformation and hate speech on issues related to gender, LGBTIQ+ people, minorities and refugees.

2022/03/09

I voted in favour of the final agreement reached between Parliament and the Council on the EU’s 8th Environment Action Programme. As the Parliament’s Rapporteur for this legislation, I was very glad that this Environment Action Programme to 2030 includes a commitments to ending environmentally harmful subsidies, advancing towards a Wellbeing Economy, setting a reduction target for consumption footprint and improving how EU laws are made by ensuring the cost of inaction is taken into account when measuring the impact of new EU legislation. The legislation recognises the need for far-reaching systemic change and includes the overall goal of bringing the EU back within the planetary boundaries.

2022/03/09

I was happy to vote in favour of this annual report from the FEMM Committee, which both assesses Parliament’s functioning regarding gender equality and makes recommendations for improvement. The report explores five different areas, both at the administrative and political levels, namely: opportunities to enter Parliament; opportunities to influence parliament’s working procedures; prominence of the gender perspective in parliamentary activities; delivering legislation with a gender perspective; and gender equality and diversity in the symbolic function of Parliament. I was glad to see ambition in this report, including provisions to call for zipped lists in the electoral law and calls to recognise maternity, paternity, and parental leave for members.

2022/03/09

I voted in favour of this report, which outlines Parliament’s reaction to the EU Gender Action Plan III, the Commission’s plan to improve gender equality throughout the EU’s external action as part of its goal of a Feminist Foreign Policy. In particular, I welcome the strong language in this report on the importance of promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights and the need to recognise intersectional discrimination.

2022/03/09

I voted in favour of this resolution, which welcomes the European Court of Justice’s recent judgement dismissing the actions by Hungary and Poland against the Rule of Law Conditionality Regulation. We call on the European Commission to protect the EU budget from violations of rule of law and to immediately apply the rule of law conditionality mechanism by notifying the Member States concerned in writing. The Commission must fulfil its duties as the guardian of the EU Treaties and act on the ongoing violations of the principles of the rule of law in some EU Member States.

2022/03/09

I was happy to vote in favour of this progressive report from the ENVI Committee that further strengthened the already very good proposal from the European Commission to revise EU rules concerning batteries. Some of the key improvements made by the Parliament include: expanding the scope of the Regulation so that rules apply to all batteries; laying down a right to repair (for the first time in a legislative act); ensuring due diligence conditions along the entire battery supply chain; and increasing the recycling rates of substances like lithium. I am glad that the attempts by the EPP, ECR and ID groups to dilute the ambition of the report did not succeed and that the Parliament will now enter interinstitutional negotiations with a strong mandate.

2022/03/10

This report marks a significant step forward for the European Parliament’s position on bottom trawling, deep-sea mining, small-scale fisheries and ocean conservation in general, which is needed to align the ‘blue economy’ with the ambitions of the European Green Deal.On bottom trawling, we succeeded in including key language on tackling ‘the detrimental impacts on the climate, seabed integrity, fish populations and sensitive species (as by-catch) of fishing techniques such as bottom-contacting gear, drift nets, demersal seines or fish-aggregating devices, including by limiting their use’. Due to the intense carbon emissions of bottom trawling, we also managed to insert language on using ‘carbon-rich marine habitats’ as a basis for establishing new marine protected areas (MPAs). However, I was dismayed that many MEPs are still unwilling to establish MPAs that are effectively protected.

2022/05/03

. ‒ I voted for this resolution, which is critical about some major inefficiencies and lack of action on the part of the Commission regarding the management of the EU budget in 2020. The resolution rightly demands that the Commission acts decisively in cases where rule of law is being breached by Member States and points out how ineffective the Commission is in fighting conflicts of interests, misuse of EU funds, and the growing oligarch structures drawing on EU funds in some Member States. The resolution also clearly demands the Commission sets up a system that will allow the general public to see the final beneficiaries of EU funds, an important step in improving transparency.Regrettably, the PPE Group, supported by ECR and ID, took advantage of this resolution to push for inaccurate and damaging language about Palestinian textbooks inciting hatred, allegations that have been disproved but that continue to draw the EU’s attention away from the real oppression Palestinians are suffering every day under Israeli occupation. I voted to remove this wording but it was unfortunately unsuccessful. I also voted in favour of amendments condemning Horizon 2020 funds going to entities complicit in developing illegal Israeli settlements.

2022/05/04

Along with my group I voted in favour of this resolution from the FEMM Committee, which details the myriad and appalling ways that Putin’s war in Ukraine is affecting women, and their specific needs as a result. It highlights incidences of gender—based violence and discrimination, including trafficking, and the horrifying reports of the use of rape as a weapon of war. The European Parliament strongly condemns these abhorrent acts, and calls for access to gender—based violence support services, and for sexual and reproductive health and rights to be upheld, for all women and girls fleeing Ukraine.

2022/05/05

Around 40% of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions fall under the rules of the Emissions Trading System, making it one of the EU’s core instruments in reducing emissions and fighting climate change. By forcing big polluters, like factories and power stations, to buy greenhouse gas certificates to match their emissions, the ETS is the EU’s framework to significantly reduce industrial emissions. It is therefore critical that the revision of the ETS is ambitious and reflects the urgency of the need to limit global warming to 1.5C. It is also imperative that major polluters play their part and pay their fair share for the emissions they produce. I voted against the final text of the ETS revision after an alliance of EPP, ECR and ID voted to weaken key provisions, including the deadline by when major polluters can no longer emit GHGs for free. In doing so, I was part of an alliance of progressive groups that insisted on renegotiating the text at committee level rather than rubber-stamping a text that had been significantly watered down by groups that are failing to treat climate change as the emergency this Parliament has declared it to be.

2022/06/08

I was pleased to vote in favour of this proposed legislation because it includes some important changes to the existing Emissions Trading System for aviation. Some of the most important proposed changes are: the extension of scope to all departing flights, and the possibility to cover all arriving flights in future; a Monitoring, Reporting and Verification scheme for the non-CO2 impact of aviation given its significant contribution to the global warming impact of aviation; and the phase out of free allowances for aviation from 2025. Aviation is one of the hardest sectors to decarbonise but has long been exempted from the changes necessary to reduce its environmental impact. I’m pleased that these proposals will start to change this, although more needs to be done.

2022/06/08

I voted in favour of this revision of the EU’s rules related to the role that land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) play in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Our land help decrease our emissions by acting as a carbon sink that draws CO2 back down from the atmosphere, but it can also be a source of greenhouse gas emissions. This revision of the LULUCF sets new emissions removal targets by the EU’s carbon sinks. While this may be challenging for many Member States, it is important to increase the EU’s natural sink targets because the EU is going in the wrong direction: Due primarily to record high harvests in the EU’s forests and intensive agricultural practices, the EU’s natural sink is shrinking and forest biodiversity is declining. The revision brings existing LULUCF rules in line with the EU’s 2030 legally binding obligation to reduce emissions by net 55%, as enshrined in the EU Climate Law. The strong emphasis on the need for new LULUCF rules to work in tandem with our biodiversity goals is reflective of the files rapporteur, my Greens/EFA colleague MEP Ville Niinistö.

2022/06/08

In solidarity with Ukraine and Ukrainians facing the onslaught of the Russian invasion, I supported this resolution. The resolution contains strong wording of support for the Ukrainian people and the ways in which EU foreign policy can react to this crisis. However, the Resolution is not without fault. I do not support language equating EU and NATO policies, nor do I support the increased militarisation of the EU and implications that we should make it easier for arms manufacturers to obtain easy access to public funding while many continue to fuel bloodshed in other parts of the world such as Yemen and Palestine. I supported amendments to improve the text in this regard.

2022/06/08

. ‒ I voted in favour of this progressive resolution on global threats to abortion rights. The resolution condemns the backsliding in women’s rights and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) taking place globally, including in the US and in some EU Member States. The resolution also rightly details how bans and other restrictions on abortion disproportionately affect the most vulnerable and marginalised women. As a Parliament, I believe it is important that we take a strong stance on promoting and defending SRHR globally.

2022/06/09

I voted in favour of this resolution calling for the Commission to ban products made or transported with forced labour from the EU market. The resolution states that a trade instrument blocking products at the border would be the most effective way to achieve this, and would be complementary to the future Due Diligence directive as it would help address cases where due diligence efforts have proven ineffective or are unlikely to deliver such as in cases of state-imposed forced labour. In such a globalised world, it is important that the EU use its power as a major trading block to stand up against exploitation and forced labour in third countries, while also adopting measures to tackle forced labour within the EU.

2022/06/09

I voted in favour of this revision of the Emissions Trading System because the text is an improvement to the text that failed to be adopted in the last plenary session and it goes further than what the Commission has proposed. Regarding the overall ambition, the text means 100 million tonnes more CO2 reduction by 2030 compared with the Commission’s proposal. Furthermore, the deadline for ending free pollution permits for industry (‘free allowances’) is set at 2032, which is also an improvement on the Commission’s proposal. These improvements would not have been possible without pressure from the Greens.Nonetheless, the text only ensures the very minimum level of climate protection by keeping the Paris Agreement’s upper limit of 2C of warming within reach. We can and must do better: the Greens/EFA Group will continue to push for increased climate ambition to try and keep EU emissions within the limit of 1.5C of warming, as we committed to doing at COP27 in Glasgow.

2022/06/22

My group and I were pleased to vote in favour of Parliament’s position on the Social Climate Fund (SCF) – a real European fund for a just transition! The SCF will help to fund things like sustainable public transport infrastructure and the energy efficiency renovation of homes. We are glad that the extension of the ETS II will only concern commercial buildings and commercial vehicles, and are pleased with the progressive text we have so far on the SCF. This includes a clear definition of energy and mobility poverty, more detailed social climate plans and a larger share of the Fund dedicated to structural investments in line with the relevant taxonomy criteria. These investments will help to ensure a real strategy to effectively try to lift the households who need the most support out of poverty.

2022/06/22

I voted in favour of Parliament’s mandate for negotiations on the carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM), the EU’s first legislative instrument designed to tackle carbon leakage by placing a levy on imports from non-EU countries with lower environmental rules. The CBAM is a way for the EU to encourage third countries to increase their ambition when it comes to decarbonising industry. An important success in the text is that, from 2030, the CBAM will cover all sectors that fall under the Emissions Trading System. While the Greens pushed for much more ambition in negotiations, we voted in favour of the text because it represents an important building block of the European Green Deal.

2022/06/22

I welcomed the approval of candidate status of Ukraine and Moldova for membership of the European Union by the Parliament. Unfortunately, however, the same decision was not granted to Georgia, which has been partially occupied by Russia since 2008. We look forward to welcoming these two countries into our European family with the benefits it brings. This membership process is also the EU’s strongest tool to encourage our friends and neighbours to align with EU values and principles and gives us the opportunity to aid them in anti-corruption and human rights initiatives.

2022/06/23

I was happy to vote in favour of this report calling on the Commission to adopt a high-level EU 2030 Agenda Implementation Strategy. With only eight years to go to achieve the SDGs, and with the EU on track to meet only 15% of our SDG targets, a renewed political impetus is needed to ensure that the SDGs are put back at the top of the political agenda. This report outlines how the EU must improve its implementation of the SDGs by taking a whole of government approach and establishing robust governance, monitoring and financing structures as well as through strengthened multilateral cooperation. This text adopted will serve as the mandate for the European Parliament’s Delegation to this year’s High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. I will represent Greens/EFA Group on this Delegation and will push the EU to take on board the report’s recommendations.

2022/06/23

I voted in favour of this objection to the inclusion of gas and nuclear in the EU Taxonomy Regulation. The Taxonomy was supposed to be a science-based tool to encourage private investment in sustainable activities, given that the transition to a low-carbon and ecologically resilient economy will require large amounts of private funding. Instead, the Commission bowed to heavy political and industrial lobbying and proposed that gas and nuclear infrastructure get the EU’s green investment label, thus undermining the scientific basis for the Taxonomy. I am deeply disappointed that a majority of MEPs did not veto such institutionalised greenwashing and I welcome the announcement by the governments of Austria and Luxembourg after the vote that they will challenge the decision in the courts.

2022/07/06

I voted in favour of this resolution which sends a strong message to Hungary, where Victor Orbán is using the national veto at Council level to hold up implementation of the OECD/G20 global tax deal on a minimum corporation tax rate. Hungary had already agreed to the deal at previous Council meetings, but is now vetoing its final adoption. Orbán’s anti-democratic regime is blackmailing and holding the rest of the EU hostage, while all other Member States are ready and waiting to implement this historic global agreement. Further, the resolution calls on the Commission and Council not to approve Hungary’s national Recovery and Resilience Plan (thereby withholding access to the Recovery and Resilience Fund) until it has complied with the recommended measures to address its deficiencies in terms of rule of law, judicial independence, press freedom and corruption.

2022/07/06

I was very happy to vote in favour of this new law to halt and reverse global deforestation and forest degradation driven by EU consumption. The EU is one of the main importers of commodities that are the main drivers of global deforestation, so this new regulation is critical in addressing the environmental concerns surrounding our consumption footprint.In particular, I am pleased that the Parliament’s position widens the scope to include financial institutions despite efforts by ECR and EPP not to include banks in this regulation. I also welcome the review after two years to possibly include other biodiversity-rich ecosystems such as savannahs, wetlands and mangroves.

2022/09/13

I was pleased to approve the European Parliament’s position on this important Fit for 55 package proposal, as it is the key piece of legislation for energy savings across the EU. In particular, I am pleased that the Parliament improved the Commission’s proposal and has opted for, among other things, a higher overall EU energy efficiency target and binding national targets, as well as the application of the energy efficiency first principle when it comes to major investment and policy decisions.

2022/09/14

I was pleased to vote in favour of this important new piece of EU legislation that should bring many benefits to workers across the EU. I am particularly pleased that the directive will oblige Member States to factor the rising cost of living into the calculation of minimum wage levels and to ensure that wages are sufficient to combat in-work poverty and ensure that workers can afford a decent standard of living. This will benefit most workers at the bottom of the labour market working for low wages and protect them from poverty, particularly when there are increases in the cost of living. Around two thirds of Member States are expected to gradually increase their minimum wage levels.

2022/09/14

Ramping up renewable energy production is essential for achieving climate targets, the EU’s geopolitical independence, and spurring green jobs and development. The revision of the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) sets higher shares of renewables in various sectors: transport, heating and cooling, buildings and industry with a mix of binding/voluntary targets. As Greens, we were instrumental in increasing the EU target to ‘at least 45%’ as well as overcoming attempts to include fossil- or nuclear- based fuels, which would have watered down the entire directive. The Commission proposal has been improved throughout, including with wording on pushing for the phase out of fossil fuels in low-temperature industrial heat applications by 2027, which is key to incentivising renewable electrification, industrial heat pumps and e-boilers in a sector that consumes roughly 8% of the overall consumption of fossil gas. On eliminating incentives for the burning of primary woody biomass for energy, whilst still a step in the right direction, the level of ambition was below what is needed for climate and biodiversity. The Green group voted in favour to ensure that it would not be rejected altogether, and so that the issue remains on the table in upcoming negotiations with Member States.

2022/09/14

I was pleased to vote in favour of the INI on the New European Bauhaus, which seeks to harness the power of design and community for our transition to a greener future. From rooftop gardens, to circular building materials and community festivals, NEB projects so far have shown us the power of grassroots activity. Next we need a clear funding plan from the Commission, and greater communication so the NEB can reach and involve people from all across Europe, in all kinds of regions, cities and rural areas.

2022/09/14

I was pleased to join my colleagues voting in favour of this directive for a common charger - a crucial piece of legislation to cut down on electronic waste. Thanks to this final vote, in a couple of years, all mobile phones, tablets and cameras sold in the EU will use the same USB Type-C charger. This means people will be able to use the same charger for all of their devices; with laptops to be included in 2026. It is a great step forward for the environment as it will reduce e-waste in Europe by up to 1 000 tonnes every year. It will also cut costs for consumers. The Parliament was successful in amending the legislation so that consumers will have the choice to buy a new device and its cable separately.

2022/10/04

I voted in favour of this agreement to adopt stricter limits on harmful chemicals in waste. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are harmful chemicals that are no longer permitted in new products but can still be found in waste and can therefore pose a threat to human health and the environment. POPs have been linked to abnormalities in a number of wildlife species, while they have also been linked with adverse health effects in people, including reproductive, developmental, behavioural, neurologic, endocrine, and immunologic disorders. These new EU rules mean that waste containing high levels of POPs must be destroyed or incinerated and cannot be recycled. This helps to ensure the EU’s compliance with the Stockholm Convention on POPs and represents an important step towards a non-toxic circular economy, where toxic substances are removed from the entire value chain, including the waste chain.While I welcome the fact that this agreement sets stronger limits of POPs in waste as well as the commitment to lower them further in future through a review process, the Greens/EFA Group would have preferred to go further with these restrictions to achieve a non-toxic circular economy faster.

2022/10/04

. ‒ I voted against this resolution as it fails to provide adequate social protections for EU citizens or the long-term vision necessary for the EU to reach energy security and independence.I am strongly in favour of a windfall tax on the profits of energy providers – and there is scope to extend this tax to other sectors profiting unjustly from the current crisis in order to safeguard European households and invest massively in renewables. Parliament did not support the Greens/EFA amendment calling for such a tax, or on banning evictions and disconnections or increasing minimum wages in line with the cost of living. We are calling for an EU Solidarity Fund that has the potential to ensure funding for these green investments, speeding-up the energy transition and achieving energy autonomy. This resolution also puts fossil fuel subsidies front and centre – a short-sighted solution that threatens to undermine the Green Deal and the regulatory and environmental progress made thus far, while also locking us into fossil fuel dependency. A lack of social protections and the emphasis on financing new fossil fuel projects in Europe make this resolution a misguided response to the energy crisis.

2022/10/05

I wholeheartedly support this resolution condemning the death of Mahsa Jina Amini and of those victims of the subsequent brutal crackdown by the Iranian security forces. Through this resolution, the Parliament implores Iran to end the indiscriminate violence against peaceful protestors and human rights defenders, while ensuring internet access remains available to all Iranians. Iranian women are justified in their protest against the compulsory hijab and continual violations of their human rights. The resolution condemns the morality police and other practices that deprive women of their rightful autonomy, and reminds that respect for human rights must be a core tenet for progression in EU-Iran relations moving forward.

2022/10/06

Delighted to see this Resolution pass with the strong support of the European Parliament, which I negotiated on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group. This Resolution sets out a strong Parliament position on Ocean Governance ahead of upcoming COP15 and COP27 events, as well as establishing a democratic mandate for ambitious ocean protection measures going forward.Our key demands in negotiations were a ban on oil and gas drilling in the Arctic, support for a global network of Marine Protected Areas covering 30% of the world’s oceans, and limitations on bottom-trawling gear in vulnerable marine ecosystems.

2022/10/06

I voted to refuse discharge for Frontex, due to serious misconduct of this EU agency. Despite repeated reports of human rights abuses, illegal pushbacks of migrants and troubling harassment in the workplace, Frontex continues to receive more public funding than any single EU agency. A recent OLAF report also revealed the Agency was responsible for covering up evidence of illegal behaviour. Frontex completely lacks democratic oversight and with refusing this discharge we call for immediate reform of the Border and Coast Guard Agency and a reassessment of its budget and activities. Frontex’s statement following the vote was not satisfactory, and failed to address its own human rights abuses against some of the most vulnerable people in the European Union.

2022/10/18

Unfortunately, the text agreed on sustainable maritime fuels fails to meet the level of ambition required on greenhouse gas emissions targets, on targets for renewable fuels of non-biological origin and on scope, which is why I voted against it. With this low level of ambition, we have failed to ensure shipping industry cleans up its act at the required pace and level, a position that even some in the shipping industry share. This will put us back decades.

2022/10/19

I’m glad to have voted in favour of the European Parliament’s position on the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation proposal, which will help reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector. I am pleased that the proposal is ambitious on electric charging infrastructure rollout, particularly in road transport and associated consumer and safety provisions. I am, however, disappointed that the proposal still foresees a role for LNG, a fossil fuel with no place in our future transport system, as well as the incorrect application of hydrogen. I hope for an ambitious agreement after trilogues.

2022/10/19

I voted in favour of this important resolution addressing the rise in LGBTIQ+ hate crimes across the EU, paying particular attention to the deadly attack that took place during Bratislava Pride when two people were killed. The Parliament calls on the Commission and the Member States to do better when it comes to tackling disinformation, hate speech and hate campaigns against the LGBTIQ+ community, which plant the seeds for discrimination in our societies. We need awareness-raising, greater support for civil society, better methods for dealing with LGBTIQ+ hate crimes and hate speech, and to secure equal rights for LGBTIQ+ people across Europe, including Slovakia and including legal recognition of same-sex couples.

2022/10/20

. ‒ I voted in favour of this resolution, which sets out the mandate for the European Parliament’s Delegation to COP27 in Egypt in November 2022. As the resolution makes clear, there is a widening gap between the ambition laid down in the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5C and the targets and policies countries have set to achieve this. Urgent climate action must be taken in this critical decade before 2030 and so I welcome the call on countries to revisit and strengthen their 2030 climate targets. I also strongly agree with the emphasis in this resolution on climate justice and the need for supportive global action in areas especially vulnerable to climate change impacts such as coastal areas and islands, and where adaptive capacity is limited. Finally, it is right that the Parliament expresses concern about the marginalisation of civil society at the COP in Egypt and the barriers to protests and civil society participation and calls on the Egyptian authorities to use the momentum from COP27 to improve the human rights situation in the country and to uphold fundamental freedoms throughout and beyond COP27.

2022/10/20

Together with my Greens/EFA colleagues, I voted against this agreement on the cross-border provision of services for several reasons. First, certain provisions in the agreement weaken a government’s right to regulate. For example, the need for authorisation requirements to be ‘objective and impartial’ could prevent legitimate policy objectives, such as the economic empowerment of disadvantaged communities. Furthermore, the agreement is not a very inclusive one, given that it is supported by only 70 out of 160 WTO members. We are concerned that this process sets a dangerous precedent for other on-going WTO negotiations which are being pushed by large high-income countries, but for which there is no consensus among WTO membership. Finally, my vote against this agreement also took into consideration the position of the European Federation of Public Service Unions, which called on MEPs to reject it.

2022/11/10

I was delighted to vote in favour of the European Parliament giving consent to the participation of Palestine in European Union programmes. This agreement has been provisionally in place, pending consent of the European Parliament to fully enter into force, and I was delighted to see it pass with a broad majority.

2022/11/22

I welcomed this vote condemning the terrorist acts of Russia in Ukraine. Putin’s Russia continues to terrorise an entire nation as we speak. Solidarity with the people of Ukraine and condemnation of Russia’s horrific atrocities is massively important. However, even more important now is getting actual help to Ukraine in concrete terms of funding, debt forgiveness and humanitarian aid. ‘State Sponsor of Terrorism’ is an American term that does not exist in EU or international law. It is even more significant to me that we voted this week for an EUR 18 billion package and a fundamental shift in how EU funding is granted to Ukraine.

2022/11/23

Concrete help for Ukraine in the face of invasion is vital. This measure aims to plug some of the gap in Ukraine’s balance of payments, including €18bn in favourable loans to help Ukraine pay for basic services and payroll. Importantly it also changes the EU’s processes so that financial support to Ukraine is more efficient and long-term, rather than a piecemeal donation here and there. It is also now vital that we are not just adding to Ukraine’s long-term debt in an unsustainable manner, but supporting her institutions and people.

2022/11/24

I voted in favour of this resolution calling on the Commission to immediately initiate the process towards a coordinated exit of the EU from the Energy Charter Treaty. The Energy Charter Treaty is an international agreement to which the EU and all Member States are party. The Treaty contains outdated investment protection provisions including an ISDS (investor-state dispute settlement) mechanism which allows private companies to sue governments that introduce environmental or public health regulations that may be seen as harming a company’s profits. In practice, this means that fossil fuel projects enjoy strong legal protection, which can make it costly and difficult for Member States to implement climate policies. Despite efforts to modernise the Treaty, it remains problematic. The Greens have long called for the end of the Energy Charter Treaty and this resolution was spearheaded by my Greens/EFA Group, with my colleague MEP Anna Cavazzini leading negotiations on this historic call by the European Parliament.

2022/11/24

With this resolution the Parliament welcomed the triggering of the Rule of Law Conditionality Mechanism against Hungary, and called on the Commission to keep up the pressure against Orbán’s government. With my Greens/EFA colleagues we call for freezing of EU money to Hungary, as we cannot be sure the EU’s budget is protected while the corruption, and attacks on rule of law and democracy, continue.

2022/11/24

I voted against this resolution because it calls on the Commission to remove the protection status of some wild animals in Europe. The final text undermines the protection of Europe’s large carnivores such as wolves, bears and lynxes, and contains a call to downgrade the conservation status of the wolf under the Bern Convention. The Greens/EFA Group negotiated a draft text that constructively focussed on implementing measures to achieve co-existence between protected wildlife and farm animals, and to ensure that farmers are supported and compensated. However, the EPP Group tabled amendments which instead focus on weakening the legal protection status of wolves and other wildlife, an unacceptable call in the midst of a biodiversity crisis.

2022/11/24

I voted in favour of this resolution. I support the call for a comprehensive compensation fund for victims of human rights violations in Qatar in the lead up and during the FIFA World Cup. The Qatari government should compensate all victims of wage abuse, including the families of workers who died during the construction of world cup infrastructure. I also support the language deploring the reports of abuses to the LGBTQ+ community by Qatari state forces and calling out rampant, systemic and deep-rooted corruption within FIFA.

2022/11/24

This own-initiative report on a long-term vision for the EU’s rural areas was the Parliament’s response to a Commission communication. It sets out priorities on how best to support rural areas and tackle the specific social and economic problems faced by these regions. The Parliament’s report contains a lot of good text, including on the European Green Deal as an opportunity for rural areas, and on women’s rights and workers’ rights, including migrant workers. For these reasons I was in favour of the final report. However, I was very disappointed to see that language remained in the text about amending the large carnivores’ protection status, which I do not support.

2022/12/13

Given the energy and climate crisis, it is important that we move quicker in rolling out renewable energy. While I support many elements of the approved text, I abstained on the final vote on this proposal because the text was weakened on a very crucial point, namely the role of biomass combustion plants in ‘renewables acceleration areas’– areas that a Member State has prioritised as particularly suitable for the accelerated installation of renewable energy projects. At committee stage, it was agreed that biomass combustion plants would not be eligible as renewable energy projects in these ‘renewable acceleration areas’ because of the high environmental and air pollution costs associated with such plants, and because they will squeeze out more environmentally—sound projects in wind, solar and geothermal energy. I hope that in the negotiations with Member States we will see a more ambitious deal when it comes to such aspects.

2022/12/14

I welcome the fact that the resolution calls for the immediate end of Israel’s illegal policy of settlement expansion, as well as the practice of administrative detentions of Palestinians and the demolition of their homes. Nonetheless, I believe it does not go far enough in terms of addressing the lack of accountability and impunity for Israel’s ongoing violations of international law. Given the importance of supporting a swift and negotiated end to this conflict, I supported the negotiated text, albeit with serious reservations.

2022/12/14

In the wake of shocking revelations about corruption in the European Parliament, this resolution was an important first step to improving transparency and accountability in this House. It calls for tightening the obligations to register lobby meetings, and for the establishment of an independent ethics body, among other measures. I was pleased that all of the Greens/EFA amendments passed, which greatly strengthened the text for example regarding whistleblower protection and preventing the ‘revolving doors’ phenomenon. There is no time to lose in strengthening the Parliament’s safeguards against corruption, and it is a positive sign that this resolution was approved by a vast majority of MEPs (541).

2022/12/15

I abstained on this non-binding annual report by the Parliament on the EU’s common foreign and security policy. While I support language in the report urging the UK to ensure implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol and calling on the new Israeli government to actively and credibly show its commitment to the two-state solution, I do not support the report’s calls for the EU to achieve a genuine military and defence union or for the swift adoption of the Mercosur Trade Agreement. Furthermore, I am not in favour of switching as soon as possible to qualified majority voting for decisions in all areas of the CFSP, given the challenges this may pose for Ireland’s neutrality.

2023/01/18

I abstained on this non-binding annual report by Parliament on the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy. While I support some of the language in the report, for example the call for more investment in regional and global arms control, non-proliferation and disarmament, as well as more transparency on arms exports, I do not support the call on the EU to switch from unanimity to qualified majority voting for Council decisions with military implications as I believe this would not be in line with Ireland’s position as a neutral country.

2023/01/18

I abstained on this non-binding report by the European Parliament on the situation of small-scale fisheries in the EU. Although the report correctly calls for more supports for small-scale fisheries in the EU, I do not agree that the definition of small-scale fisheries should be altered, potentially diverting small-scale fisheries funding to larger vessels and more destructive fishing practices. We call for the full implementation of Article 17 of the Common Fisheries Policy and better funding and fishing opportunities for low impact fisheries.

2023/01/19

I was pleased to vote in favour of this law that will see the first regional phase-out of the internal combustion engine for passenger cars and vans. As of 2035, these will no longer be sold on EU markets. Electricity is the most efficient fuel source for these vehicles and by setting this deadline we give a clear signal to industry that electrification is the way to go. The benefits for people and planet in terms of reduced air pollution and emissions are enormous given road transport’s huge contribution to both.

2023/02/14

I was happy to support this motion alongside my Greens/EFA colleagues which calls for the EU to strengthen its own industrial and trade resources in order to boost its industrial competiveness. The call for a new European Sovereignty Fund would be essential in supporting the growth of European industry as well as the implementation of the European Green Deal. In particular, I supported the call for increased funding in cross-border energy infrastructure, that would avoid lock-in effects on fossil fuels, as well as funding in renewable energy production and energy efficiency, thereby strengthening the path towards the European Green Deal’s implementation. The EU’s industrial plan must be aligned with our climate goals if we are to become climate neutral by 2050.

2023/02/16

I was pleased to vote with the vast majority of MEPs who supported this resolution calling for various measures to be introduced to improve the transparency and integrity of the European Parliament. In the wake of recent scandals, it is crucial that we take action to prevent corruption and rebuild trust in the EU institutions. Firstly, we must insist that existing rules are fully implemented and complied with, such as the public recording of meetings. In addition, we need to improve protection for whistleblowers and the declarations of financial interests, and to establish an independent and effective ethics body. We call on the Commission to come forward with a proposal for such a body as soon as possible.

2023/02/16

The establishment of the body is essential in the EU institutions as it would demonstrate the importance that all institutions attach to high ethical standards for their members. If citizens are to keep faith in the EU and its institutions, then the EU must adhere to the highest possible levels of integrity and transparency. An independent EU ethics body would strengthen trust in the EU and ensure a level of oversight that would combat corruption. Therefore I supported this motion.

2023/02/16

Together with the Greens/EFA Group, I voted in support of this resolution which marks one year since the brutal invasion of Ukraine by the Putin regime. The EU must maintain solidarity with the people of Ukraine as the war carries on. I strongly support Ukraine’s candidature for EU membership, while noting that the terms of accession must be met in full. I could not, however, support the language calling for ‘all types’ of weapons ‘without exception’ being sent to the conflict. I do not agree that all weapons types, including nuclear and cluster munitions, should ever be considered for modern conflict. The EU should continue its role as a leader in nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament as well as continue to implement the terms of the Dublin Convention on Cluster Munitions.

2023/02/16

I was pleased to vote in favour of the European Parliament’s first resolution on cycling. While cycling is a cheap, sustainable, efficient and healthy way to travel and carry goods, it has long been ignored in EU transport policy. This is why the resolution calls for the first ever EU cycling strategy. This will be the first step in ensuring that cycling is taken seriously at EU level as a transport mode that can deliver huge benefits in terms of mobility, jobs, health, environmental goals and more.

2023/02/16

I had a number of concerns in relation to this motion for resolution. Greens/EFA group is concerned by the calls for increased spending for energy intensive and soil-damaging synthetic fertilisers. Furthermore, the resolution calls for amendments to the Nitrates Directive which will only increase levels of water pollution across the EU. The current framework under the Nitrates Directive is already insufficient in relation to reducing water pollution. We believe that this would send the wrong message to Member States and therefore, I could not support this resolution.

2023/02/16

I voted in favour of the revision of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), which is one of the European Union’s core instruments to protect the climate. The ETS ensures that the biggest polluters have to buy greenhouse certificates to match their emissions. The current version of the ETS was not sufficiently restrictive, and did not adequately lower overall CO2 emissions from industry. Though this ETS revision was not ambitious as I had hoped, I believe that this agreement will help us further decarbonise our economies and put us on track to achieve our climate obligations. Crucially, this agreement will finally put an end to ‘free allowances’, which permit industries to pollute for free and which completely contradict the polluter pays principle.

2023/04/18

I was pleased to vote in favour of this technical revision which will allow the maritime sector to be brought under the scope of the Emissions Trading System (ETS). It is right that the shipping sector should pay for its pollution, and it will serve as an incentive to reduce maritime emissions.

2023/04/18

I was happy to vote with the vast majority of MEPs to support the adoption of the regulation on the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). This new regulation will complement the EU Emissions Trading System by pricing the emissions of the most carbon-intensive imported goods. Therefore, in addition to the efforts made to decarbonise our own European industries, we are also encouraging other countries to reduce their carbon footprints, while avoiding carbon leakage.

2023/04/18

As I believe climate action must go hand in hand with social justice, I support the creation of a Social Climate Fund. It was important to create this fund in order to mitigate the expected increase in energy prices linked to the new Emissions Trading System for buildings and road transport. However, it must be acknowledged that the amount allocated to the Social Climate Fund is not sufficient to fully attain this goal. I therefore call on Member States to ensure that all of the funds received are used to support the most vulnerable households from rising energy prices, both with direct income support and with structural investments like deep retrofitting and affordable public transport to lift people out of energy and mobility poverty.

2023/04/18

Together with the Greens/EFA, I was happy to vote in favour of the revision of the EU Trading System (ETS) for aviation. Thus far, the scope of the current ETS for aviation was not broad enough to fully reflect the climate impact of aviation, as it only covered intra-EU flights. This is why I support the extension of the scope to international flights if no action is taken at a global level before 2025. Thanks to this piece of legislation, the aviation sector will be held accountable for its CO2 emissions, but also non-CO2 emissions, which can be even more detrimental to the environment.

2023/04/18

I was happy to vote in favour of the Bischoff report, which I believe will change Parliament’s Rules of Procedure for the better, as well as making plenary debates more interactive. Furthermore, I welcome the technical alignment of the Rules to the Interinstitutional Agreement on the transparency register, which will foster more transparency within Parliament. I also support the changes in the procedure to elect the Ombudsman, which will promote transparency and prevent irregularities in the electoral process.

2023/04/19

I was pleased to join a broad majority of my colleagues voting in favour of this resolution. I deplore the position of the Member States blocking the adoption of the Horizontal anti-discrimination Directive, as it is a crucially important piece of legislation. This directive would allow all EU citizens protection against discrimination on the grounds of age, disability, religion or belief and sexual orientation beyond the labour market. Together with a majority of MEPs I called on the Council to intensify efforts to unblock this much needed Horizontal anti-discrimination Directive.

2023/04/19

I was pleased these changes passed with large majorities in the European Parliament, confirming the desire for quick implementation of the Windsor Framework agreement. Now that these practical challenges are overcome, the EU—UK relationship can move past this milestone into a new era of cooperation.

2023/05/09

I was pleased these changes passed with large majorities in the European Parliament, confirming the desire for quick implementation of the Windsor Framework agreement. Now that these practical challenges are overcome, the EU—UK relationship can move past this milestone into a new era of cooperation.

2023/05/09

I was pleased these changes passed with large majorities in the European Parliament, confirming the desire for quick implementation of the Windsor Framework agreement. Now that these practical challenges are overcome, the EU-UK relationship can move past this milestone into a new era of cooperation.

2023/05/09

Together with my Greens/EFA colleagues, I was happy to vote in favour of this regulation, which will finally regulate methane emissions in the energy sector. The European Parliament voted for an ambitious piece of legislation that will cut down no less than 75% of the total methane emissions in the energy sector. The adoption of this regulation is a key step in our fight against climate change, as methane is about 80 times more potent than CO2 at warming our atmosphere – making it one of the most harmful gases to our environment.

2023/05/09

I was pleased to join the broad majority of my colleagues voting in favour of the adoption of this report.As a member of the Greens/EFA, I fully support the switch from a car—centred urban planning to pedestrian- and cycle—friendly urban frameworks. I was happy to support this report, as it recognises the benefits of cycling and active mobility, as well as their role in achieving climate neutrality. However, I would have wished for the report to further emphasise the importance of micro-mobility in urban planning.

2023/05/09

I have a number of concerns over the practices of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency. In addition to the internal mismanagement of the agency, my biggest concern revolves around the lack of observation of human rights. Indeed, as revealed by OLAF in 2022, the operatives of the agency have persistently committed violations on human rights. FRONTEX must take measures to hold its officers accountable, and cease illegal pushbacks immediately.

2023/05/10

Along with my Greens/EFA colleagues, I was proud to vote in favour of the EU’s ratification of the Istanbul Convention. This is something our group in the Parliament has pushed for many years. One in three women has experienced some kind of gender-based violence since the age of 15: eliminating this violence must be a priority for the European Union. The long-awaited full accession to the Istanbul Convention is a major step in the EU’s fight against gender-based violence and discrimination. This tool puts in place much-needed legally binding standards to address violence against women and domestic violence.

2023/05/10

Along with my Greens/EFA colleagues, I was proud to vote in favour of the EU’s ratification of the Istanbul Convention. This is something our group in Parliament has pushed for many years. One in three women has experienced some kind of gender-based violence since the age of 15: eliminating this violence must be a priority for the European Union. The long-awaited full accession to the Istanbul Convention is a major step in the EU’s fight against gender-based violence and discrimination. This tool puts in place much-needed legally binding standards to address violence against women and domestic violence.

2023/05/10

I was happy to vote in favour of this report, as today, Parliament took a firm stance against greenwashing. Indeed, the new labelling requirements that we voted in favour of will ensure manufacturers produce higher quality products that last longer, and can be more easily repaired. It introduces a much-need ‘right to repair’ for European consumers. Moreover, Parliament is also clamping down on unsubstantiated green claims: companies will no longer be able to mislead customers in this way.

2023/05/11

Together with my Greens/EFA colleagues, I was happy to vote in favour of this resolution. As a member of the Greens/EFA Group, I believe that the Porto Forum was an important place to put forward ambitious social policies. Indeed, this forum can help us ensure that the green transition is also fair to all. In that regard, I welcome the measures in favour of green and affordable social housing, as well as the proposal for a European action plan for social protection.

2023/05/11

I was happy to vote in favour of this report on the EP’s position on the Corporate Sustainability and Due Diligence Directive. It gives a strong and progressive mandate to the rapporteur to take with her to trilogue negotiations with the Council. This decisive piece of legislation will ensure that human rights and sustainability are fully integrated into companies’ business policies and activities. Through this directive, the European Union will be able to hold companies accountable when they infringe on human rights or harm the environment in their value chains. This directive will make the European Union a leading norm-setter for human rights protection.

2023/06/01

As I believe we must urgently tackle the harmful environmental effects of fast fashion, I happily voted in favour of this report. The textile industry’s environmental footprint goes way beyond our planetary boundaries. Textiles should be sustainable, circular and fair: we must immediately reduce our material and consumption footprints if we are to respect our 2050 climate commitments.

2023/06/01

More should be done to tackle sexual harassment in the European Union and within its institutions. Everyone should be able to live their lives and go to work without fear of harassment or violence. As I support the introduction of better reporting procedures and support for victims within the European Parliament, I was happy to vote in favour of this report.

2023/06/01

The European Union needs to properly address any interference in European democratic processes, including and especially regarding disinformation. That is why, whilst I did not fully agree with some of the language used in this report, I voted in favour of its adoption. The structural shortcomings facilitating manipulation through online platforms must be tackled by the European Union.

2023/06/01

Together with the wide majority of my colleagues, I was happy to vote in favour of the Artificial Intelligence Act, the first ever legislation to regulate artificial intelligence (AI). This report will improve protections for not only fundamental rights, but also societal justice and the environment – which I consider to be major developments in the field of AI.

2023/06/14

Together with my Greens/EFA colleagues, I opposed the adoption of this report which aims to reverse progress on climate action and halting biodiversity loss. This text threatens our long-term food security by opening the door to the circumvention of environmental regulations which underpin our agricultural systems. Contrary to the rapporteur, I believe that to secure the long-term resilience of EU agriculture, we need to put in place strong regulations to protect our environment.

2023/06/14

Nobody can afford to work for free! Together with my Greens/EFA colleagues, I voted in favour of this report to ensure that all trainees are taking part in a quality traineeship. That means that traineeships should be decently paid and have a strong learning component to them, and that, later on, they should be recognised as working experience.

2023/06/14

I was happy to vote in favour of the creation of an EU day for the victims of the global climate crisis. As climate change intensifies, it is crucial to commemorate its victims but also raise awareness on the growing impact of the climate crisis on our livelihoods.

2023/06/15

The European Union has less than seven years to reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) it pledged to attain. As we are still lagging behind our commitments, I was happy to vote in favour of this report, which makes concrete recommendations on how the European Union can achieve all of the SDGs by 2030. In addition, in line with the rapporteurs, I firmly believe that the SDGs must be achieved in a social and climate-just way. Social and climate justice must go hand in hand!

2023/06/15

I was pleased to vote in favour of the revision to this law, which will put binding targets on Member States for the deployment of electric recharging points. While there are some elements we are less happy about, we are also happy that the Parliament secured requirements on the rail sector in order to move away from diesel-powered trains.

2023/07/11

I was pleased to vote in favour of the first law of its kind in the EU when it comes to the maritime sector, which will require ships to progressively switch to more sustainable fuels over the coming decades. The sector is a difficult one to decarbonise and this law begins the long process of weaning ships off their dependence on fossil fuels.

2023/07/11

I voted against the rejection amendment and in favour of the Nature Restoration Law. While it was extremely disappointing to see some severe weakening of the Commission’s proposal, I am nonetheless very glad that a majority of MEPs voted to adopt a position of the Parliament after severe attacks on the law and a real possibility of it not being adopted. At a time when 81% of the EU’s eco-systems are in either a ‘poor’ or ‘bad’ state, a new EU Nature Restoration Law will be a vital tool to help us reverse this trend and reach our international obligations, in particular the UN Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

2023/07/12

I supported this important resolution, which is the European Parliament’s first report on EU relations with the Palestinian Authority (PA). It addresses the PA’s deficiencies in the field of democracy, governance, human rights and the rule of law, while contextualising the PA’s role and competences in the reality of Israel’s occupation and de facto annexation of the occupied Palestinian territories (oPt). Despite attempts to undermine the negotiated text, the final report acknowledges that Israel’s occupation deprives the PA of key competences that are at the core of statehood, and that this is not only a flagrant violation of international law, but also a major obstacle to the achievement of the two-state solution.

2023/07/12

I welcomed this annual report from the ECON Committee assessing the performance of the European Investment Bank for 2022, as well as the CONT Committee report on the same subject.Both reports contained a lot of positive wording, including strong language on the EIB’s role in financing for climate change measures and social infrastructure, support for Ukraine and development finance outside the EU, as well as reiterating long-standing calls for improvements to the Bank’s governance and accountability.However, I am not in favour of calls for mobilising the EIB to invest in the defence industry. Despite this wording, I decided to vote in favour of the final text of both reports. As the report states, the annual investment gap to reach the EU’s climate goals is €1 trillion. It’s crucial the EIB retains its role as the EU’s ‘climate bank’.

2023/07/12

I co-signed and voted in favour of this important resolution following the recent Pylos shipwreck, which led to the loss of several hundred lives in the Mediterranean, the world’s deadliest migration route. Our Greens/EFA Group has long called for an EU-led search and rescue mission in the Med, and for an end to the criminalisation of those who provide assistance to people in need.EU Member states need to urgently assume their responsibilities to prevent people dying in the Mediterranean. The EU has a humanitarian responsibility and a moral duty to rescue people in danger, and needs to urgently establish, coordinate and fund a state-led EU Search and Rescue mission to ensure that lives are no longer lost at sea. The criminalisation of NGOs saving lives must also end.

2023/07/13

I voted in favour of this important law that concerns the protection of workers from asbestos in the EU. This recast would lower the occupational exposure limit value to better protect workers – this determines how much asbestos per cubic metre is allowed in a workplace without dedicated protection measures. The current occupational exposure limit is very high and outdated and leaves workers at risk of health complications due to asbestos exposure. I voted in favour of this recast to introduce better protection for workers’ health, and I am pleased to have seen it pass in Parliament.

2023/10/03

I voted in favour of this report that calls for the introduction of more concrete measures to ensure the safety, availability, accessibility, and affordability of transport services, as well as employment opportunities and working conditions, for women and for people facing intersectional discrimination in the transport sector.This report is a crucial step in ensuring gender parity in the EU and equal opportunities for employment, along with equal treatment for all in the transport sector. This report passed in Parliament.

2023/10/03

I voted in favour of this resolution on harmonising the rights of autistic persons in the EU. This resolution calls for including people with autism under the benefits of the new European Disability Card, and ensuring that autistic persons enjoy equal access to both physical and psychological healthcare throughout the EU.The text also outlines ways to make employment more accessible and inclusive for people with autism, and highlights problems with diagnosis in some Member States. I am pleased to have seen this resolution pass in the European Parliament.

2023/10/04

I abstained in the vote on the European Green Bond Regulation, along with my colleagues from the Greens/EFA Group. The regulation seeks to set out the minimum requirements a bond must meet in order to be considered green. This regulation should create strict rules on how companies and governments could use European green bonds to finance large scale investments while following strict sustainability requirements. However, this regulation would only introduce a voluntary standard, and so bonds could be marketed as ‘green’ without complying with the provisions of the regulation. I regret that this final outcome does not seek to scale up the environmental ambition of the EU green bond market sufficiently, and that the transparency requirements were watered down from Parliament’s position. For these reasons, I chose to abstain.

2023/10/05

I voted in favour of the recast of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive, which introduces a new requirement to remove micro-pollutants from water. This revision introduces a polluter pays principle for the pharma and cosmetics industry, who are responsible for 92% of the micro-pollutants found in water. While Greens/EFA wanted industry to fully cover the costs of removing micro-pollutants, a majority of groups unfortunately voted to reduce this obligation to 80% of the cost, with Member States obliged to cover the rest. I welcome provisions on the right to sanitation and the requirement for wastewater treatment plants to be climate neutral by 2040, while also acknowledging that the latter provision is weaker than it could have been. Overall, the text adopted by the Parliament is a big improvement to the status quo and will ensure stronger protection of the health of citizens and the environment.

2023/10/05

I voted in favour of this report on allegations of Russian interference in the democratic processes of the European Union. Of particular concern are Russia’s efforts to undermine European democracy by providing specific narratives to far-right political parties in Europe, causing divisions amongst citizens. This is a matter of extreme gravity and we must not be complacent.

2024/02/08

The European Parliament voted overwhelmingly in favour of this new facility for Ukraine as part of the mid-term review of the EU’s long-term budget, the MFF. The financial support will be of vital help to the Ukrainian people and the Ukrainian economy as they suffer the ongoing Russian war of aggression.

2024/02/27

I was happy to vote in favour of this report, which included a commitment to banning the export of plastic waste to third countries, a demand that our group put forward and gained cross-party support. The final deal includes a ban to non-OECD countries under specific conditions, and active scrutiny by the Commission in the implementation process.

2024/02/27

I was very happy to vote in favour of the deal reached between Member States, MEPs and the European Commission on the Nature Restoration Law. This piece of legislation aims to restore the majority of Europe’s degraded ecosystems by 2050. It will help bring back nature, protect people from extreme weather events, and secure food production in Europe. While it is not perfect, I welcome this landmark decision and hope that in the steps to come, all actors involved can work together to develop a plan that delivers for all.

2024/02/27

I was pleased to vote in favour of this revised law on the protection of the environment through criminal law, which represents a major milestone in investigating environmental crimes and sentencing offenders. The text broadens the list of environmental offences and will allow for stricter sanctioning of damages, such as those comparable to ecocide, like events of widespread pollution.

2024/02/27

This report contained excellent language on the role of the European Investment Bank (EIB) as the EU’s ‘climate bank’, with calls for increased ambition in the bank’s climate and transport policy, as well as positive points on improving the bank’s due diligence considerations, and transparency in its operations.I voted in favour of the final text of this report, despite the fact that an amendment (which I voted against) inserted wording calling for the EIB to reform its eligibility list so that it could finance ammunition and military equipment that go beyond dual-use application. Aside from this sentence, which I do not support, I was in favour of the text overall.

2024/02/28

I was pleased to vote in favour of this report on short-term rental accommodation. This new law will mean that platforms such as Airbnb are obliged to share their data with authorities, in a regular and harmonised way. This is a first step in tackling the negative side effects that we have seen with the growth of short-term accommodation services throughout the EU.

2024/02/29

I am delighted to have voted in favour of the ecodesign regulation. This regulation will serve as an ambitious and achievable framework to make more sustainable products the norm.The improved text also considers other factors like the environmental impact of materials throughout the product’s lifecycle, rather than solely focusing on energy consumption.Furthermore, new products will have a digital product passport, containing information on a product’s origin, composition and repair capabilities. Advances like this are essential in our pursuit of carbon neutrality.

2024/04/23

Along with my group, I voted in favour of the prevention of plastic pellet losses to reduce microplastic pollution. This new regulation recognises that plastic pellet losses are both detrimental to the environment and potentially harmful to human health. The text broadens the scope of the Commission proposal, with the introduction of marine transport and the labelling of plastic pellets. Minimising plastic pellet losses will also contribute to our EU nature restoration goals.

2024/04/23

This was an important vote on a new law prohibiting products made with forced labour in the Union market. It is estimated that 50 million people are living in modern slavery at any given time. Of this figure, 27 million are trapped in forced labour. This is an issue that the Greens/EFA have been fighting against for years, and we are glad that the final agreement will also address cases of state-imposed forced labour. With this regulation, we are finally taking steps to eradicate modern slavery products coming into the EU market.

2024/04/23

I was happy to vote in favour of amendments to Parliament’s Rules of Procedure concerning the training on preventing conflict and harassment in the workplace. This training will now be mandatory for every MEP. If an MEP does not partake in the training within the first six months of their mandate, they may not be elected as office holders of Parliament. I fully support these changes; everyone should be able to come to work and expect a sense of safety and respect. As MEPs, it is our responsibility to ensure a safe environment, where everyone is well versed on the impact of workplace harassment.

2024/04/24

After long negotiations, I am delighted that we could pass this historic vote on the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). For the first time, in accordance with UN guiding principles, it will now be mandatory for businesses operating in the EU to adhere to environmental and human rights due diligence in their value chains. This directive is a huge step forward in combating modern slavery and the millions of people that are affected by it every day. The CSDDD also fosters engagement from companies in the fight against climate change.

2024/04/24

I voted in favour of establishing the European Disability Card and the European Parking Card for persons with disabilities. We welcome the introduction of these cards as a step forward in combatting discrimination, and in ensuring people with disabilities in the EU are able to exercise their right to freedom of movement. It is also positive that the scope will extend to Third Country Nationals resident in a Member State.

2024/04/24

I voted in favour of this agreement on a first ever piece of EU-level legislation on combating violence against women and domestic violence. This directive constitutes a real step forward in tackling gender-based violence, including protecting victims of female genital mutilation, forced marriage and cyber harassment. The file does establish clear minimum standards, which will protect and enhance the lives of millions of women across EU Member States. However, the work is not complete: it is important that we strive to do more to prevent gender-based violence in our society.

2024/04/24

191 Written explanations of Grace O'SULLIVAN

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