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Európa iránytűje? Írország fél éves uniós elnöksége a The Ring középpontjában
E heti „The Ring” adásunkban, az Euronews heti vitaműsorában Írországba utazunk, amely nemrég átvette az Európai Unió Tanácsának soros elnökségét, hogy megtudjuk, milyen ügyek miatt nem alszanak a politikusok.
BŐVEBBEN : http://hu.euronews.com/2026/07/23/europa-iranytuje-irorszag-fel-eves-unios-elnoksege-a-the-ring-kozeppontjaban
Iratkozzon fel: Az Euronews elérhető 12 nyelven
E heti „The Ring” adásunkban, az Euronews heti vitaműsorában Írországba utazunk, amely nemrég átvette az Európai Unió Tanácsának soros elnökségét, hogy megtudjuk, milyen ügyek miatt nem alszanak a politikusok.
BŐVEBBEN : http://hu.euronews.com/2026/07/23/europa-iranytuje-irorszag-fel-eves-unios-elnoksege-a-the-ring-kozeppontjaban
Iratkozzon fel: Az Euronews elérhető 12 nyelven
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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.
27:42Euronews.
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