Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Micheál MARTIN, Irish Taoiseach hold a joint press point before a "This is Europe" debate, in the hemicycle in Strasbourg.

Strasbourg

press point

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

EU - Ireland (T)

MARTIN, Micheál (IE)

president's agenda

This is Europe Debate (T)

Press point by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Micheál MARTIN, Irish Taoiseach

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/40395511/1654675265381_I226445Chapters%5BSD-EN%5D.srt

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, Let me officially and warmly welcome Taoiseach Michel Martin to Strasbourg. We are very, very glad to have you here with us today for the next chapter of our This is Europe Debates. I very much look forward to our plenary debate that is due to start, as you can hear by the bell in a few minutes. This is an important year for Europe and Ireland for many reasons.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, This year marks 50 years since the Irish referendum to join the then named European Economic Community, now the European Union. And moreover, it brings me great joy to see the continued Irish high approval for their involvement in our United European project in this difficult year. Ireland and the European Union have always shown collectively our dedication to our common values, sending humanitarian and political support to Ukraine and welcoming those fleeing. And for this, I thank you. And I now give you the floor.

SOUNDBITE (English), Micheál MARTIN, Irish Prime Minister (Taoiseach), Can I take the opportunity in the beginning to express my appreciation to you, President Metsola, for inviting me to address the plenary session of the European Parliament this morning and to say, Roberta, that your timing is impeccable, as you have said. Ireland celebrates 50 years of the of joining and acceding to the then European Economic Community.

SOUNDBITE (English), Micheál MARTIN, Irish Prime Minister (Taoiseach), And to say that that was the most transformative decision taken by the Irish people in our 100 years of independence. And it has transformed transformed Ireland, but economically, socially and also, I think, fulfilled the aspirations of the founding fathers of our country in terms of being internationalist in our outlook and embracing the fundamental concepts of democracy, human rights and freedom of expression.

SOUNDBITE (English), Micheál MARTIN, Irish Prime Minister (Taoiseach), And yesterday, I think we took we both had the opportunity to unveil a bust of John HUME, a person who in many ways encapsulated that European ideal and whose experience here at the European Parliament was extremely effective and transformative in terms of the approach he brought to politics and to bringing peace to the island of Ireland.

SOUNDBITE (English), Micheál MARTIN, Irish Prime Minister (Taoiseach), And it's those values that have us now in solidarity with the people of Ukraine in terms of the values that they are defending against an imperialist regime that is wreaking havoc and destruction on the people of Ukraine itself. And it's to the to Europe that the people of Ukraine are looking in terms of inspiration and wanting to be involved again and sharing those those fundamental values and with us.

SOUNDBITE (English), Micheál MARTIN, Irish Prime Minister (Taoiseach), And finally, also, of course, we are particularly grateful to the solidarity of the European Parliament, to the European institutions more generally in respect of the impact of Brexit, particularly in the context of Northern Ireland and the steadfast support we have received in terms of working out the implications of Brexit and the protocol and so forth, in terms of the unique circumstances that apply to Northern Ireland and the European Union and particularly the Parliament has shown a great understanding and great solidarity as we work to resolve outstanding issues.