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Guiding Europe? Ireland's six-month EU Presidency takes centre stage on The Ring
On this week's episode of The Ring, Euronews' weekly debate show, we travel to Ireland, which has just taken over the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, to hear what issues are keeping politicians up at night.
READ MORE : http://www.euronews.com/2026/07/22/guiding-europe-irelands-six-month-eu-presidency-takes-centre-stage-on-the-ring
Subscribe to our channel. Euronews is available on Dailymotion in 12 languages
On this week's episode of The Ring, Euronews' weekly debate show, we travel to Ireland, which has just taken over the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, to hear what issues are keeping politicians up at night.
READ MORE : http://www.euronews.com/2026/07/22/guiding-europe-irelands-six-month-eu-presidency-takes-centre-stage-on-the-ring
Subscribe to our channel. Euronews is available on Dailymotion in 12 languages
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NewsTranscript
00:08Hello there and welcome to The Ring, Euronews' weekly debate show.
00:13I'm Maeve McMahon, broadcasting from the Europe House in Dublin, the capital of Ireland.
00:18Well, as you know, each week on The Ring, politicians go face to face on some of the most pressing
00:24issues facing the continent today.
00:26Well, this week we're exceptionally in Dublin as Ireland has taken over the rotating presidency of the Council of the
00:33European Union.
00:34But what does that mean for the country?
00:36And will Ireland be able to steer the ship and have some influence over the next six months?
00:41Luis Albertus has more.
00:43An EU member since 1973, Ireland is now in the spotlight as it takes on the presidency of the Council
00:49of the EU for the next six months.
00:53With an ongoing war in Ukraine, pressure to finalize the EU's long-term budget, and growing demands for greater technological
01:00and energy independence, how will Ireland succeed?
01:05Ireland has built a thriving economic model around attracting major US tech companies.
01:10But now it will have to help steer discussions on European digital sovereignty and on reducing strategic dependencies.
01:18Europe is also under pressure to strengthen its defense capabilities.
01:22But Ireland's military neutrality and decision not to join NATO could make this one of the most sensitive issues of
01:28its presidency.
01:31Can a small country like Ireland make a big impact?
01:34And can it turn six months in the spotlight into lasting influence?
01:41Some of the questions we have for our contenders, let's meet them.
01:47Neil Richmond, Ireland's Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora.
01:52He represents the central-right Fine Gael, a member of the European People's Party.
01:56One of his party's most outspoken pro-European voices, he built his reputation on Brexit and EU affairs.
02:02He is firmly pro-business and pro-European, and has repeatedly challenged Ireland's long-standing policy of military neutrality,
02:09once describing it as morally degenerate in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine.
02:15Rose Conway-Walsh, a far-lived Sinn Féin-Doyle deputy representing the Mayo constituency,
02:21a prominent advocate for increased public spending and regional development.
02:25She is a supporter of Irish unity and a vocal critic of what she sees as years of underinvestment.
02:30She has also challenged the government by arguing that Ireland must strike a balance
02:34between protecting strategic industries and jobs while remaining firm in its international commitments.
02:41Neil Richmond and Rose Conway-Walsh, welcome to The Ring.
02:46So, as you can see, Ireland is in the spotlight.
02:48Will this be a chance for the country to shine, or is it just really keeping the show on the
02:52road, Neil?
02:54Hopefully it is an opportunity to show off the best of Ireland, but there's a lot of work to be
02:57done,
02:58and making sure that we get through this six-month period as the honest broker, progressing the European agenda, it's
03:03really important.
03:04Your view on that?
03:05I think it's really important for us to have the EU presidency.
03:07It only comes around every 13 years or so.
03:11So, this is a real opportunity for us to show what the real values of the Irish nation are,
03:16and I think peace has to be central to that.
03:19But also equality.
03:20We're very conscious of so many people being left behind in the EU.
03:23We want to make this EU very relevant for the EU population as a whole.
03:28What would be a successful presidency?
03:30Should it be focusing on EU enlargement, the budget?
03:33What do you think?
03:34I think there's two really big issues.
03:36Firstly, it is the budget.
03:37It is the key part of the negotiating of the multi-annual financial framework where we need to get that
03:42level of compromise,
03:43that level of agreement.
03:44It's vital.
03:44But, secondary, there's an ongoing legislative push that Ireland has been behind in terms of the Omnidus package on simplification.
03:51We've heard what Letha has said.
03:53We've heard what Draghi has said.
03:54Now we actually have the legislative tools to push them along.
03:57If we get those two big achievements moved along by December, I'll be very happy.
04:01And you mentioned Mario Draghi.
04:02He's, of course, meeting Ursula von der Leyen this week for talks.
04:04But let's go back to the launch of the presidency, which took place earlier this month, of course, with President
04:09Zelensky of Ukraine.
04:10He was here.
04:11We've also seen the EU foreign chief, Kaya Callas, come into town as well.
04:15But slightly coinciding with the launch of the presidency, Rose Conway Walsh, was the whole Organizh Illumina scandal, or investigation,
04:23if you like.
04:24A refinery in Limerick that was allegedly helping to fuel Putin's war in Ukraine.
04:29Now, there is an investigation that's come out by auditors saying that sanctions have not been breached here.
04:35But has this been embarrassing for Ireland?
04:38No, I don't think so.
04:39I think we're waiting for the report to come out.
04:42Whatever that report says, I think it's very important that the Irish government respond to that.
04:46But there's also a role for the EU to play in it.
04:49It is important that, obviously, companies hear that we have an ecosystem that upholds international law and human rights.
04:58And at the same time, it's very important that those jobs are protected.
05:01We're talking about 2,000 jobs, direct and indirect, in an area that has been neglected for so long.
05:07So I think it's important that the government get in there, that the EU get in there to support those
05:11jobs, to assure that the markets are diversified.
05:16Because aluminium is such a product that's in such demand across the EU, it shouldn't be going to Russia.
05:24So the plant will stay open for now?
05:26Absolutely.
05:26Let's be quite clear.
05:28Illumina isn't a sanctioned project.
05:29And all through the now 21 EU sanctions packets against Russia, Ireland has backed every single package.
05:35We've never looked for an exemption.
05:37We've never argued against it.
05:38And indeed, David O'Sullivan, former Commissioner and Secretary-General, has repeatedly said that Ireland is one of the best member
05:43states in terms of actually applying the sanctions.
05:46So we work with commission partners.
05:48We have a very detailed investigation.
05:50Very serious charges were made against where the products are going.
05:53There is a lot of confusion about that.
05:55And this Limerick refinery is front page of all the European papers?
05:59Ununderstandably so.
06:00And throughout Russia's horrible war in Ukraine, we've been quite clear that we can have nothing that is helping Russia
06:06in their effort.
06:07That's why we've been to the fore in terms of coming down against the Russian shadow fleet.
06:10Why we've pushed so hard in relation to energy capping.
06:13And why we have worked consistently within the Council, as well as across the European Parliament, to make sure that
06:19we back sanctions, that we back supports.
06:21And we challenge the likes of the former Hungarian regime under Viktor Orban.
06:25Well, of course, it's a different EU now since Peter Mayer has come into power.
06:29But of course, you mentioned the war in Ukraine.
06:31What about defence?
06:32There was a new report out this week by the European Defence Agency saying that Ireland is spending the least
06:37in the whole of the European Union on defence.
06:40Just 0.2 of its GDP.
06:42Is that OK, do you think?
06:43Well, defence spending has been increased in Ireland.
06:46And I welcome that because there have been years, if not decades, of neglect in the whole area of defence.
06:52I'm glad to see that being addressed now.
06:53So how much are we spending?
06:54But it's up to 5% is what the EU want.
06:58But I think we need to be very careful.
06:59We are not going down the path of a new European army or of the militarisation.
07:05Defence is a member state obligation and it's a member state competency.
07:11Should Ireland join NATO, do you think?
07:13No, I don't.
07:14No, I think our defence is sovereign.
07:16And I think we are a military neutral country.
07:19And I think we need to be assured in everything that we do that we remain military neutral.
07:23That is the wish of the Irish people.
07:25But will it not get awkward now during the presidency?
07:27Because, of course, the big conversation today in Brussels is rearming Europe, getting ready by 2030, pumping billions into defence.
07:35And whereas Ireland, it's the lowest spender in the bloc.
07:37And that's why it's important we talk about facts domestically as well as on a European level.
07:40The EU doesn't want member states to get to 5% defence spending.
07:43That's NATO, Rose.
07:44Secondly, there's no plan for an EU army.
07:46That's a concept that is regularly put out by your political party.
07:49That's an on-the-blocks.
07:49What the Irish government has said consistently, we have commissioned on defence.
07:53We are going to double our defence spending.
07:55It will be up to €3 billion a year in the next year or two.
07:58For when?
07:59In the next two years.
08:00We've installed new drone defence technology, new radar technologies.
08:03We know that the situation in Europe at the moment where there is literally a war on our borders
08:08and there's levels of hybrid terrorism that couldn't have been counted on 10 years ago requires it as far as.
08:13This is the question, who would protect the Irish if there was an invasion?
08:15And I'm talking as well a cyber attack, sabotage?
08:18Well, some progress has been made there.
08:20But obviously there will be cooperation with other member states as well and indeed with our nearest neighbour.
08:25But that must be done, but not our military neutrality.
08:30It's not a case of trust in the UK to save Ireland.
08:33I mean, we are increasing, as you said, our own spending in that area, in sonar and radar and things
08:38that need to be done.
08:39But obviously, as a small nation, we will never be in a situation where we can be completely stand-alone
08:45in terms of our defence.
08:47So I think it's important for member states to work together, but it's very important.
08:52Sovereignty is very important too, and making our own decisions is very important.
08:56And is there any pressure now on Ireland to join NATO?
08:58There's absolutely no pressure for us to join NATO.
09:01And I think, to be quite frank, it's never a discussion that's actually brought up around Defence Minister's tables.
09:05It's more of an obsession here.
09:06We should be able to talk about security and neutrality without drifting into the space of NATO.
09:11What is really, really clear is that Europe wants to increase levels of cooperation on security and defence and increase
09:16the levels of spending.
09:18Ireland wants to be part of that, because the day of invasions isn't what we're worried about.
09:21We had a cyber attack in this jurisdiction only a couple of years ago, took our health system offline.
09:26That came from Russia. We need that investment and cooperation.
09:28And what the people want is Irish neutrality to be enshrined in the Constitution.
09:32And I think that is something very important and something that needs to be done to reassure Irish people.
09:38There is a lack of trust. There is a lack of trust in government in this area, but there's also
09:43a lack of trust in the EU project as a whole.
09:54There is a creeping militarisation. If you look at the EU spending and the EU funding that we have, people
10:01do not want funding spent on militarisation when so many people are suffering with the cost of living and going
10:09without.
10:09And there's been so much neglect in areas as well.
10:12Would you agree with that? People actually are struggling back home and they don't want to spend on defence?
10:15But people realise that you do need to invest at home.
10:18Even when your grocery bills are tough, you still need to spend on locks on your doors and you still
10:22need to have a house alarm.
10:23Rose is there taking the decision to speak on behalf of the Irish people and said that there's a lack
10:27of trust against the EU.
10:28Whereas every Eurobarometer and European movement support shows that the vast majority of Irish people, not only do they trust
10:36in the EU, but actually it's an even split between Irish people who want us to increase the level of
10:41defence and security and also those who don't agree with the policy of military neutrality.
10:45But this is a true thing. Neutrality isn't on the agenda. We don't need it inserted in the Constitution. It's
10:49not a constitutional matter.
10:52Because, repeat, you've just said the Irish people want us to do that. We have a very consistent policy. That's
10:56not under any threat, bar the opinions of the opposition politicians.
10:59Whereas on a European scale, we're trying to prove to European partners that we're serious about defence and security.
11:03But then go to the people and ask them. Ask them in a referendum.
11:06OK, right. The last bill presented before the Dáil, would you be able to say that you back the people
11:12of Palestine over Israel under that? No, because we have to be neutral.
11:15Your version of neutrality and the one that you talk about without going into the depth completely removes the ability
11:20to work with partners.
11:21We're not neutral. We're in the European Union. We are militarily neutral.
11:25Well, as you can see, we're just getting warmed up here on The Ring. Stay with us because we're ready
11:30for the next round here on The Ring.
11:35Well, as you can see, we're getting a bit of a flavour of the debates that go on inside the
11:39Dáil, the national parliaments,
11:40and as well, of course, over in Brussels and Strasbourg in the European parliaments.
11:44And now it's time to give our viewers a real glimpse of how you actually put questions to each other.
11:49Rose Conway, whilst you can address your first question, Tina, over to me.
11:51OK, well, my first question is around simplification and some of the concerns I have around that.
11:56What outcomes would you expect to have from the simplification agenda?
12:00And would you be concerned about workers' rights, about environmental rights and human rights, indeed,
12:07with the simplification agenda that's been pushed at EU 11?
12:10The simplification agenda is vital.
12:12It's vital to ensure the European Union actually keeps pace with the United States and China in terms of creating
12:18a more competitive Europe,
12:19but also making sure that we have the future jobs and technology that workers will actually be able to have.
12:25What we have is 10 omnidust packages, three of which have gone through the stage.
12:29Another seven, at least three of those, will be pushed ahead by the Irish presidency that are vital.
12:34I have zero concerns. I was on the EBSCO Council as an enterprise minister when we worked with both Leta
12:40and Draghi to make sure that this agenda is one that does recognise the need to make sure that it
12:45is human-led,
12:46that workers' rights are protected, that our environmental responsibilities are.
12:49But also to make sure that SMEs can actually continue.
12:53Because repeatedly, and understandably, and I fully agree with Rose, even though we come from different sides of the political
12:57spectrum,
12:58repeatedly you raise the pressures of bureaucracy on small Irish indigenous businesses.
13:03Well, that's why we need to address that at a European level with a simplification package that allows businesses to
13:07be liberated.
13:08That's the administration burden being removed and the red tape being removed, and absolutely I agree with that.
13:13But I am very concerned about the deregulation and the push to deregulate.
13:17We see in this country alone in the defective concrete blocks, we're going to end up paying over $9 billion
13:23for light regulation in this country.
13:26And I don't want to see, we need to see proper regulation.
13:30We need to protect our populations from their drive towards green.
13:34Do you fear it could turn into over-deregulation?
13:37Not at all. I fully agree with Rose.
13:38There is no deregulation agenda there, and we need to knit this in the bud.
13:41This is about a simplification to make sure that when we're talking about environmental reporting,
13:45that a small business in Galway or Mayo or wherever it may be is not filling in the same form
13:49five times
13:50because it has to do at a European level, domestic level, and then at a regional level.
13:53It's about a simplification agenda to make sure that we can get finance deployed quicker,
13:58to invest in businesses, invest in workers, invest in education.
14:01This agenda is crucial, and if Europe doesn't pursue these omnidust packages,
14:05Europe will fall away and simply be a supply chain into China and America.
14:09That's, of course, the view as well of Mario Draghi, if anyone has read his very lengthy report
14:13about how we could die, quote, a slow agony.
14:16Neil Richmond, your chance now to address your question.
14:18To Rose, can I watch?
14:20Rose and I repeatedly say that we stand with Ukraine, but I've struggled to...
14:24How do we say that we stand with Ukraine when Sinn Féin voted against,
14:27in the European Parliament and in the Dáil, the €90 billion loan package
14:31that the EU worked so hard, managed to get through when the Hungarian regime changed?
14:35Is that standing with Ukraine? Do you really stand with Ukraine?
14:37We absolutely stand very firmly with Ukraine and against the war of aggression from Russia.
14:44The reason why we voted in the way that we did against that was because, again,
14:49it was impacting our military neutrality.
14:52The €20 billion of that that was going towards militarization,
14:55we didn't feel that we could support that.
14:58We 100% would support any humanitarian effort for Ukraine.
15:05But there's a difference there, and I would ask at EU level that these be separated
15:09so that we would be enabled to vote for the humanitarian effort without the militarization.
15:17I don't want us to be paying for weapons to be sent to any country.
15:22No, but they are separated.
15:24This is the same with the European Peace Facility.
15:25It's the same with this €90 billion loan.
15:27It's the same with all the funding that Ireland has prepared,
15:30the over €250 million directly and over €250 million collectively,
15:33that goes to support the Ukrainian effort.
15:35It is for non-lethal supports.
15:37Radar technology surely is OK.
15:39Surely, mine clearing technology is OK,
15:41as well as an underground school in the Donetsk,
15:43as well as providing ambulances and humanitarian equipment.
15:46The thing is, they are separated against.
15:47But when you put that decision to vote against the €90 million package,
15:51vociferously by your finance spokesman,
15:53and then we see Sinn Féin MEPs in the European Parliament
15:55either abstaining or voting against sanctions package,
15:57it's hard to believe that you stand with Ukraine.
15:59Do you think there's an understanding of what they were signing against?
16:01Oh, I certainly do, yes.
16:02Our MEPs, Lynne Boylan and Kathleen Funchen,
16:06knew exactly what they were doing,
16:07and we worked together with them from here.
16:10But we will not.
16:11We will vote.
16:12So why do they vote against sanctions packages?
16:13Because we will vote for humanitarian support.
16:16No, no, but I'm talking about sanctions packages now.
16:18You tied together,
16:19you vote against the €90 billion loan assistance,
16:21domestically and on a European level.
16:23At the same time, your MEPs,
16:25not just from the group of the left,
16:26from the Sinn Féin MEPs,
16:27have repeatedly voted against or abstained
16:30against their 21 sanctions packages.
16:32How on earth can they do that?
16:34Because sometimes when things are all bundled in together,
16:37and you have amendments...
16:38Well, sanctions packages are sanctions package.
16:39So the amendments weren't accepted,
16:41or the amendments weren't voted.
16:43But we're talking about Ukraine
16:45and our stance in Ukraine,
16:46and Sinn Féin as a party stand
16:48absolutely firmly with Ukraine.
16:51And the Jews do not try and twist it.
16:54Absolutely, yes.
16:55And I think that's one of the things
16:56that the Irish presidency can do,
16:58Ukraine and Moldova,
17:00in terms of the expansion of the EU.
17:02And that needs to be quickened
17:04as quickly as is possible.
17:05Well, we've heard the views
17:06from our politicians here.
17:07Now it's time to bring in a new voice.
17:13I'd like to bring in the voice of Andy Burnham,
17:16the brand-new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom,
17:18the fifth Prime Minister in just four years.
17:21Speaking earlier this week, he said,
17:23I have a plan.
17:24I have a style.
17:25It's my style.
17:27And that's my mission as your new leader
17:29to bring back hope.
17:32What's your view on the new Prime Minister
17:34of the United Kingdom
17:35and what it will mean for Ireland-UK relations?
17:38Well, he's won in a long line of Prime Ministers
17:41in the last 10 years.
17:42I wish him well in the job that he's doing.
17:44I think Britain has very many challenges.
17:47He has lots of challenges to sort out.
17:49But for us as a nation,
17:51obviously, we want our Irish independence.
17:52We want to be in charge of our own affairs.
17:54We want to be good neighbours
17:56with those beside us.
17:59But we would hope that he will facilitate that
18:03as was outlined in the Good Friday Agreement.
18:05And Neil Richmond, he's been sworn in
18:07on the very week that the EU and the UK
18:09were meant to host their summit,
18:10all about getting closer together.
18:12What will all this mean now, do you think,
18:14for Brussels-London relations
18:16and, of course, for Ireland?
18:17I think directly in British-Irish relations,
18:20this is a good thing.
18:21Relations between the two countries
18:22and, indeed, relations between Britain
18:23and the European Union
18:24are so much better today
18:25than they were a number of years ago
18:27under the likes of Liz Truss or Boris Johnson.
18:28I give credit not only to Keir Starmer,
18:30but, indeed, Rishi Shunak for bringing that along.
18:33But from a European point of view,
18:34there is an opportunity
18:35to get ever closer with Britain.
18:37As much as they are facing very difficult times,
18:39they're still one of the world's largest economies.
18:41They are still a very important economic
18:42as well as political partner
18:44for all of us in Europe.
18:45So the closer the relations, the better.
18:46Andy Burnham is of Irish descent.
18:49His lineage comes from Louth.
18:50His constituencies in Manchester
18:52have a really strong Irish population.
18:54His replacement as mayor of Manchester,
18:56indeed, is from the north.
18:57So it's a really positive move.
18:58But we want to see that relationship
19:00grow ever, ever closer.
19:01And perhaps maybe one day
19:02we see a British rejoin.
19:04Would you agree with that?
19:05Well, I would like a separation from Britain,
19:07never mind us joining closer together.
19:09But there are things that we need to tackle together
19:10as two islands, like climate change.
19:12And is that separation feasible?
19:13Just back to that debate on United Ireland.
19:15Yes, absolutely it is.
19:17I mean, we've seen even in the last week
19:18Neil's own government or party leader
19:22bring it on the whole business.
19:25I think it is, we believe,
19:26that it's possible by 2030.
19:28We're coming up to the 28th anniversary
19:30of the Good Friday Agreement.
19:32And I know there's an inter-parliamentary conference
19:34as well that will look at
19:36the peace agreement that we have here.
19:38I think the EU member states have a lot to learn
19:41from our peace agreement.
19:42It is the international legally binding agreement,
19:45one of the most enduring in the world.
19:47That's a view from Rose Conway-Walsh.
19:48But now it's time to take a very short break here
19:51on The Ring.
19:52Don't go anywhere.
20:01Welcome back to The Ring,
20:03Eurie News' weekly debate show this week
20:06coming to you from Europe House in Dublin.
20:09I'm Maid MacMahon and for this edition
20:10I'm joined by Neil Richmond and Rose Conway-Walsh.
20:14And we're zooming in on the fact that Ireland
20:15is currently holding the rotating presidency
20:18of the Council of the European Union.
20:20Now we've already heard some views from our politicians.
20:23Now it's time to hear from you.
20:25We took to the streets of the Irish capital
20:28to ask people what issues they wanted Ireland
20:31to focus on over the next six months.
20:33And first, if they even knew the presidency was taking place.
20:36No.
20:38I'm away ever till the end of the year, yeah.
20:40No, I didn't know.
20:41No, I don't know anything about politics,
20:43I'll be honest.
20:44Yes, I did.
20:45I don't think there's issues that can push,
20:47but I think it should shine a spotlight
20:48onto the issues we have here in Ireland.
20:49So like the homelessness crisis, for example,
20:51I think that should cause a little bit more pressure
20:52on politicians to get it done.
20:54The one thing that is anxiety-inducing for me
20:57would be the fact that everyone is investing
20:59more in militarisation.
21:00So disarmament would be key.
21:03Divesting from that and maybe investing more in education.
21:07More support for Palestine,
21:08less Israeli products on shelves.
21:12Housing.
21:13Probably housing, 100%.
21:16Rising cost of living.
21:18And a lot of people are even food insecure.
21:20People don't realise that.
21:21Food insecurity has gone way up.
21:23And just support for local businesses and stuff.
21:26A lot of people are closing down.
21:28While we're not in NATO,
21:29we kind of avoid and stay out of the firing line
21:33for at least the media.
21:34We've always been a neutral country,
21:36and we should stay that way.
21:36No, no, I think keep our neutrality for sure.
21:39Yeah, yeah.
21:40So there you go.
21:40A lot of interesting views.
21:41Many not even knowing the presidency is taking place.
21:44Does that surprise you?
21:45Well, if you're living in Dublin,
21:46you can't avoid it because of the traffic.
21:48But it doesn't surprise me, no.
21:49And I think that's one of the challenges of the presidency
21:52is that, you know,
21:53that democratic deficit that's there
21:56in terms of education for people
21:57are making it relevant,
21:59making the whole EU project relevant
22:01in people's everyday lives.
22:03And they outline some of them there,
22:04like the homelessness, housing, cost of living,
22:08all of those things that are impacting people.
22:10And obviously, Palestine is hugely important here
22:13in Ireland as well,
22:14and support for Palestine.
22:16Your view there?
22:17I think it is a challenge,
22:18but it's also a great opportunity.
22:19In 2013, when we lasted the presidency,
22:21we launched the Blue Star Programme
22:22in partnership with the European Commission and Parliament.
22:25And it's on all of us,
22:26not just those in the government,
22:27to work with the European member states
22:28that have been twinned with our counties.
22:30Dublin's twinned at Greece,
22:31so I, the Greek ambassador, out of the school,
22:32to talk about, well, how this really matters.
22:35And look, I've been working in European politics
22:36for over 20 years.
22:37The biggest issue for every EU politician,
22:40whatever the member state,
22:40or where they're based,
22:41or what level they're serving at,
22:42is showing the population at large
22:44how Europe works for them
22:45and how they can influence it.
22:47But as you can see, the disconnect, I mean,
22:49is huge between the capital city here
22:52and Brussels and what exactly is going on.
22:53We heard housing mentioned a lot there
22:55in that fox pop.
22:56What can be done here?
22:57And do you think Brussels can play a role?
22:59Because they're trying to start to play a role here.
23:00I certainly think they can,
23:02and I was glad to see at the beginning,
23:03at the launch of the presidency,
23:04that there was going to be a housing summit here.
23:07I think it's something that certainly impacts us here.
23:10So many people cannot afford a home now,
23:12so it's affordability.
23:13But I see there's commonalities
23:15across some of the other EU member states as well.
23:18So I think collectively,
23:19it has to be looked at.
23:21If people cannot afford a home,
23:22so many children growing up,
23:24homelessness,
23:25what price are we going to pay for that in the future?
23:27What price are these children paying for us now?
23:29I mean, that's the thing.
23:30We understand the problem.
23:31To enable more funding,
23:33obviously more funding for housing.
23:34But now with the big...
23:35Also planning in terms of restrictions.
23:36The big focus on defence
23:37is going to be in the long-term budgets,
23:39whereas housing, I mean,
23:40won't even get a look in.
23:42Well, actually,
23:42this is the first time
23:43that we have a housing commissioner.
23:44This is the first time
23:45that we have the president of the European Council
23:47talking about housing as a European issue.
23:49It had always been seen as a member state issue,
23:50and Rose is right.
23:51There isn't an EU member state
23:52that isn't having an issue with housing,
23:54just like Australia, Canada,
23:55and the United Kingdom
23:56were coming out of the financial crash
23:59followed by COVID,
24:00followed by Russia's war in Ukraine
24:02that absolutely repressed
24:04the ability to build homes.
24:05We just don't have enough homes in this country.
24:07So that's how we have to work
24:08with European partners
24:09to get the finance in place
24:10and to make sure that we have regulation
24:12to allow the government.
24:13We built 25% more homes this year
24:15than last year.
24:16We want to do more of that again
24:17and find every which way
24:18to build more homes.
24:20And of course,
24:21the main goals of the presidency
24:22are working on competitiveness
24:24and values.
24:26Does that mean anything, though,
24:27to regular people
24:28in the streets of Dublin?
24:29No, one of the values
24:30has to be that everybody
24:31has a home to live in,
24:33has somewhere to live in.
24:34So I don't think so.
24:35But values in terms of the Irish nation,
24:37as I said,
24:38support for Palestine,
24:39the value of international law,
24:41the value of people standing up for people,
24:43the value of people not ignoring
24:45a genocide that's happening,
24:47that's being played out every day
24:48on people's televisions
24:50and all of that.
24:51And yet we are so many months now
24:53after what was supposed to be
24:54a cessation of violence in Palestine
24:56and people see that that's not happening.
24:58So there's protests
25:00in all of the EU events
25:01as well taking place.
25:02Is Ireland still censoring
25:02slightly on that topic?
25:04Not at all.
25:04I think anyone
25:05in an EU member state capital,
25:07and I've sat around
25:08foreign affairs council meetings
25:09where they've asked
25:10why is Ireland so focused
25:11on the plight of the people
25:13of Gaza, the West Bank
25:14and indeed into Lebanon.
25:15We were the first member state
25:16with Spain
25:17who not only recognised Palestine,
25:19but consistently have brought
25:21the motion to the European Council meeting
25:22to spend the EU-Israel
25:23Trade Association Agreement.
25:26And Rose rightly talks about values
25:27when we hear about the vox pop.
25:28This matters to the Irish people,
25:30it matters to the Spanish people.
25:31I'd imagine it matters to every human.
25:33But you ask,
25:33what do values mean to people?
25:34What does competitors mean?
25:36Competitiveness matters
25:37to every single citizen,
25:39whether they're buying a cup of coffee,
25:40trying to buy a home
25:41or hold down a job.
25:42That's why it has to be
25:43one of the three pillars
25:44of our presidency.
25:45Okay, Neil Richmond and Rose Conway.
25:47Well, stay with us
25:48as it's now time
25:49for our fifth and final round.
25:55So now it's time
25:56to do something
25:56a little bit different.
25:57I'm going to ask you a question
25:59and you can answer
26:00with yes or no.
26:02Is that doable?
26:03We'll try.
26:04We'll try.
26:05Come on.
26:05Is the European Union
26:06a force of good,
26:07Neil Richmond?
26:08Yes or no?
26:09Oh, 100% yes.
26:10Yes.
26:11Is Ursula von der Leyen
26:12a good president
26:13of the European Commission?
26:14Yes or no?
26:15Yes.
26:17Should Ireland join
26:18the Schengen area?
26:19Yes or no?
26:20No, because of our relationship
26:21with the UK.
26:22No.
26:23Should Ireland join NATO?
26:25No.
26:26Ever?
26:26No.
26:28No.
26:29Is the future
26:30of the European Union
26:31bright, yes or no?
26:33Yes, if it's done properly.
26:35Yes, very bright.
26:36And should Ireland defend
26:37its low corporate tax model?
26:39Yes or no?
26:41Yes.
26:42Tax sovereignty
26:42is very important
26:43but obviously
26:44we have the OECD agreement
26:45now with the minimum rate
26:46of 15%
26:47so that's more than one word
26:49but I think
26:50that has been settled.
26:54Yes.
26:55Should we be there?
26:55Yes, as well
26:56the nine other EU member states
26:57whose corporate tax rates
26:58actually is lower than ours.
26:59As you can see,
27:00tricky to fit into
27:00a yes or no there.
27:01Is Ireland though
27:02too dependent
27:02on big tech companies?
27:04No.
27:06Yes, I think we need
27:07to invest more
27:08in our indigenous companies.
27:09What about the climate?
27:10Is Ireland doing enough
27:11to reach its climate targets?
27:12Yes or no?
27:13No, to be honest.
27:14No.
27:15You both agree on that?
27:16You agreed on a couple of things, right?
27:18Don't tell anyone.
27:20Neil Richmond
27:21and Rose Conway-Walsh
27:22that brings this edition
27:23of The Ring
27:24coming to you
27:24from the Europe House
27:25here in Dublin
27:26to a close.
27:27Thank you so much
27:28for joining us
27:29and thank you
27:29for tuning in.
27:30Any comments
27:31or any issues
27:32that you'd like to address
27:33you can always
27:34reach out to us here
27:35on The Ring
27:36at euronews.com.
27:37Thank you so much
27:38for tuning in.
27:39Take care
27:39and stay with us
27:40on Euronews.
27:41Thanks for listening.
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