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Présidence irlandaise de l'UE: six mois au centre du débat dans The Ring
Dans "The Ring", le débat hebdo d'Euronews, cap sur l'Irlande, nouvelle présidente tournante du Conseil de l'UE, pour écouter les inquiétudes des responsables politiques.
LIRE L’ARTICLE : http://fr.euronews.com/2026/07/23/presidence-irlandaise-de-lue-six-mois-au-centre-du-debat-dans-the-ring
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Dans "The Ring", le débat hebdo d'Euronews, cap sur l'Irlande, nouvelle présidente tournante du Conseil de l'UE, pour écouter les inquiétudes des responsables politiques.
LIRE L’ARTICLE : http://fr.euronews.com/2026/07/23/presidence-irlandaise-de-lue-six-mois-au-centre-du-debat-dans-the-ring
Abonnez-vous à notre chaine. Euronews est disponible sur Dailymotion en 12 langues
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NewsTranscription
00:43An EU member since 1973, Ireland is now in the spotlight as it takes on the presidency
00:49of the Council of 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
00:58demands for greater technological and 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
01:15strategic 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
01:27most sensitive issues of its presidency.
01:31Can a small country like Ireland make a big impact and can it turn six months in the spotlight
01:36into 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
02:01EU affairs.
02:02He is firmly pro-business and pro-European, and has repeatedly challenged Ireland's long-standing
02:07policy of military neutrality, once describing it as morally degenerate in the context of
02:13Russia's war against Ukraine.
02:15Rose Conway Walsh, a far-left 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 between
02:34protecting strategic industries and jobs while remaining firm in its international commitments.
02:41Neil Richmond and Rose Conway Walsh, welcome to The Ring.
02:45Thank you.
02:46So, as you can see, Ireland is in the spotlight.
02:49Will this be a chance for the country to shine, or is it just really keeping the show on
02:52the road, Neil?
02:54Hopefully it is an opportunity to show off the best of Ireland, but there's a lot of work
02:57to be done.
02:58And making sure that we get through this six-month period as the honest broker, progressing the
03:02European agenda, it's really 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
03:41need to get that level of compromise, that level of agreement.
03:44It's vital.
03:44But secondly, there's an ongoing legislative push that Ireland has been behind in terms
03:49of the Omnidus package on simplification.
03:51We've heard what Letha has said, we'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,
04:09with President Zelensky 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
04:20Organic Illumina scandal or investigation, if 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
04:34been breached here.
04:35But has this been embarrassing for Ireland?
04:38No, I don't think so.
04:38I 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
04:46to 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
04:56international 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
05:11those jobs to assure that the markets are diversified.
05:16Because aluminium is such a product that's in such demand across the EU.
05:22It shouldn't be going to Russia.
05:24So the plant will stay open for now?
05:25Absolutely.
05:27Let's be quite clear.
05:28Illumina isn't a sanctioned project.
05:30And all through the now 21 EU sanctions packages against Russia, Ireland has backed
05:34every 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
05:41that Ireland is one of the best member states 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
06:04have nothing that is helping Russia in 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
06:18to make sure that we 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 Meyer 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
06:36is spending the least in the whole of the European Union on defence, just 0.2 of its GDP.
06:41Is that OK, do you think?
06:43Well, defence spending has been increased in Ireland and I welcome that because there have
06:48been 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?
06:54Up 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 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. No.
07:14I think our defence is sovereign and 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 because, of course, the big conversation today in Brussels is
07:30re-arming Europe,
07:31getting 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.
07:41The EU doesn't want member states to get to 5% defence spending. That's NATO, Rose.
07:44Secondly, there's no plan for an EU army. That's a concept that is regularly put out by your political party.
07:49That's on the bloc.
07:49That's what the Irish government has said consistently.
07:51We have commissioned on defence. We 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.
08:04We 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 ten years ago.
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,
08:23and 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,
08:37in sonar and radar and things that need to be done.
08:39But obviously, as a small nation, we will never be in a situation
08:43where we can be completely stand alone in terms of our defence.
08:47So I think it's important for member states to work together.
08:50But it's very important. Sovereignty is very important too.
08:53and 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
09:02that'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
09:09without drifting into the space of NATO.
09:11What is really, really clear is that Europe wants to increase levels of cooperation
09:15on security and defence and increase the levels of spending.
09:17Ireland wants to be part of that,
09:19because 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,
09:24took our health system offline.
09:26That came from Russia.
09:27We 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
09:34and something that needs to be done to reassure Irish people.
09:38There is a lack of trust.
09:40There is a lack of trust in government in this area,
09:42but there's also a lack of trust in the EU project as a whole.
09:46Rose, that's completely false.
09:48You can't just say...
09:49Just let me finish.
09:49You've just presented something that's a faction incorrect.
09:51Please let me finish my sentence.
09:52Okay, but I have to correct a faction incorrect.
09:53Finish your sentence and then we'll bring in Neil Richmond.
09:55There is a creeping militarisation.
09:57If you look at the EU spending and the EU funding that we have,
10:00people do not want funding spent on militarisation
10:05when so many people are suffering with the cost of living and going without
10:09and there's been so much neglect in areas as well.
10:11Do you agree 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
10:21and you still need to have a house alarm.
10:23Rose is there taking the decision to speak on behalf of the Irish people
10:26and said that there's a lack of trust against the EU.
10:28Whereas every Eurobarometer and European movement support shows that the...
10:32In the area of militarisation.
10:32I'm sorry, this is really important.
10:33No, because in the vast majority of Irish people, not only do they trust in the EU,
10:36but actually it's an even split between Irish people who want us to increase the level of defence and security
10:42and also those who don't agree with the policy of military neutrality.
10:45But this is a true thing.
10:46Neutrality isn't on the agenda.
10:48We don't need it inserted in the constitution.
10:49It's not a constitutional matter.
10:51That's what you should say.
10:52Because, repeat, you've just said the Irish people want us to do that.
10:55We have a very consistent policy.
10:56That's not 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.
11:04Ask them. Ask them in a referendum.
11:06OK, right. The last bill presented before the Dáil.
11:09Would you be able to say that you backed the people of Palestine over Israel under that?
11:14No, because we have to be neutral.
11:15Your version of neutrality and the one that you talk about without going into depth
11:19completely removes the ability to work with partners.
11:21We're not neutral. We're in the European Union.
11:24We are military neutral.
11:25Well, as you can see, we're just getting warmed up here on The Ring.
11:29Stay with us because we're ready for 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,
11:40the national parliaments, and as well, of course, over in Brussels and Strasbourg,
11:43in 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-Walsh, you can address your first question, Tina.
11:51Okay, well, my first question is around simplification.
11:54And some of the concerns I have around that.
11:56What outcomes would you expect to have from the simplification agenda?
12:01And would you be concerned about workers' rights, about environmental rights,
12:04and human rights, indeed, with the simplification agenda that's been pushed at EU level?
12:11The simplification agenda is vital.
12:12It's vital to ensure the European Union actually keeps pace with the United States and China
12:17in terms of creating a 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 ten 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.
12:36I was on the EBSCO Council as an enterprise minister when we worked with both Leta and Draghi
12:40to make sure that this agenda is one that does recognise the need to make sure that it is human
12:45-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 understanding me, and I fully agree with Rose,
12:56even though we come from different sides of the political spectrum,
12:58repeatedly you raise the pressures of bureaucracy on small Irish indigenous businesses.
13:02Well, that's why we need to address that at a European level with a simplification package
13:06that allows businesses to be liberated.
13:08But that's the administration burden being removed and the red tape being removed,
13:11and absolutely I agree with that, but I am very concerned about the deregulation and the push to deregulate.
13:17We see in this country alone in the defective concrete blocks,
13:20we're going to end up paying over $9 billion for 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 greed.
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.
14:15Neil Richmond, your chance now to address your question.
14:18To Rose, can we 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, in the European Parliament
14:28and in the Dáil, the €90 billion loan package that the EU worked so hard,
14:33managed to get through when the Hungarian regime changed?
14:35Is that standing with Ukraine? Do you really stand with Ukraine?
14:38We absolutely stand very firmly with Ukraine and against the war of aggression from Russia.
14:43The 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, we 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. This is the same with the European Peace Facility.
15:25It's the same with this €90 billion loan. It's the same with all the funding that Ireland has prepared,
15:30the over 250 million directly and over 250 collectively that goes to support the Ukrainian effort.
15:35It is for non-lethal supports. Radar technology surely is OK.
15:39Surely, mine clearing technology is OK, as 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. But when you put that decision to vote against the €90 million package,
15:51vociferously by your finance spokesman, and then we see Sinn Féin MEPs in the European Parliament
15:55either abstaining or voting against sanctions package, it'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. Our MEPs, Lynne Boylan and Kathleen Funchen, knew exactly what they were doing,
16:07and we worked together with them from here. But we will not. We 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. We will not.
16:18You tied together, you vote against the €90 billion loan assistance, domestically and on a European level.
16:23At the same time, your MEPs, not just from the group of the left, from the Sinn Féin MEPs,
16:27have repeatedly voted against or abstained against their 21 sanctions packages.
16:32How on earth can they do that?
16:34Because sometimes when things are all bundled in together, and you have amendments...
16:38Well, sanctions packages are sanctions packages.
16:39So the amendments weren't accepted, or the amendments weren't voted.
16:42But surely...
16:43But we're talking about Ukraine, and our stance in Ukraine, and Sinn Féin as a party stand,
16:48absolutely firmly with Ukraine.
16:51Well, should Ukraine join the European Union?
16:53Should Ukraine join the European Union?
16:54Absolutely, yes. And I think that's one of the things that the Irish presidency can do,
16:58Ukraine and Moldova, in terms of the expansion of the EU,
17:02and that needs to be quickened as quickly as possible.
17:05Well, we've heard the views from 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, the 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, I have a style, it's my style, and that's my mission, as your new leader, to
17:30bring back hope.
17:32What's your view on the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and what it would mean for Ireland-UK
17:37relations?
17:37Well, he's won in a long line of Prime Ministers in the last ten 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, obviously, we want our Irish independence.
17:52We want to be in charge of our own affairs.
17:54We want to be good neighbours with those beside us.
17:59But we would hope that he will facilitate that, as was outlined in the Good Friday Agreement.
18:05And Neil Richmond, he's been sworn in on the very week that the EU and the UK were meant to
18:09host their summit,
18:10all about getting closer together.
18:12What will all this mean now, do you think, for Brussels-London relations and, of course, for Ireland?
18:17I think directly in British-Irish relations, this is a good thing.
18:21Relations between the two countries and, indeed, relations between Britain and the European Union
18:24are so much better today than they were a number of years ago under the likes of Liz Truss or
18:28Boris Johnson.
18:28I give credit not only to Keir Starmer but, indeed, Rishi Shunak for bringing that along.
18:32But from a European point of view, there is an opportunity to get ever closer with Britain.
18:37As much as they are facing very difficult times, they're still one of the world's largest economies.
18:41They are still a very important economic as well as political partner for all of us in Europe.
18:45So the closer the relations, the better.
18:47Andy Burnham is of Irish descent.
18:49His lineage comes from Louth.
18:50His constituencies in Manchester have a really strong Irish population.
18:54His replacement as mayor of Manchester, indeed, is from the north.
18:57So it's a really positive move.
18:58But we want to see that relationship grow ever, ever closer.
19:01And perhaps maybe one day we see a British rejoin.
19:04Would you agree with that?
19:05Well, I would like a separation from Britain, never mind us joining closer together.
19:09But there are things that we need to tackle together as two islands, like climate change.
19:12And is that separation feasible? Just back to that debate on United Ireland.
19:15Yes, absolutely it is.
19:16I mean, we've seen, even in the last week, Neil's own government or party leader bring it on the whole
19:25business.
19:25I think it is, we believe, that it's possible by 2030.
19:28We're coming up to the 28th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.
19:32And I know there's an inter-parliamentary conference as well that will look at the peace agreement that we have
19:38here.
19:38I think the EU member states have a lot to learn from our peace agreement.
19:42It is the international legally binding agreement, one 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 on The Ring.
19:52Don't go anywhere.
20:01Welcome back to The Ring, EURI News' weekly debate show this week.
20:06Coming to you from Europe House in Dublin.
20:08I'm Maeve McMahon.
20:10And for this edition, I'm joined by Neil Richmond and Rose Conway-Walsh.
20:14And we're zooming in on the fact that Ireland is currently holding the rotating presidency of the Council of the
20:19European 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 to ask people what issues they wanted Ireland to focus on
20:31over the next six months.
20:33And first, if they even knew the presidency was taking place.
20:36No.
20:37No?
20:38I'm away ever till the end of the year, yep.
20:40No, I didn't know.
20:41No.
20:41I don't know anything about politics, I'll be honest.
20:44Yes, I did.
20:45I don't think there's issues that can push, but I think it should shine a spotlight onto the issues we
20:48have here in Ireland.
20:49So like the homelessness crisis, for example, I think that should cause a little bit more pressure on politicians to
20:53get it done.
20:54The one thing that is anxiety-inducing for me would be the fact that everyone is investing more in militarisation.
21:00So disarmament would be key.
21:03Divesting from that and maybe investing more in education.
21:07More support for Palestine, less Israeli products on shelves.
21:12Housing.
21:13Probably housing.
21:15100%.
21:16Rising cost of living and 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, we kind of avoid and stay out of the firing line for at least the
21:34media.
21:34We've always been a neutral country and we should stay that way.
21:37No, no.
21:37I 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, you 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 is that, you know, that democratic deficit that's there
21:56in terms of education for people are making it relevant,
21:59making the whole EU project relevant in people's everyday lives.
22:03And they outline some of them there, like the homelessness, housing, cost of living, all of those things that are
22:09impacting people.
22:10And obviously, Palestine is hugely important here in Ireland as well and support for Palestine.
22:16Your view there?
22:17I think it is a challenge, but it's also a great opportunity.
22:19In 2013, when we lasted the presidency, we launched the Blue Star Programme in partnership with the European Commission in
22:24Parliament.
22:24And it's on all of us, not just those in the government, to work with the European member states that
22:29have been twinned with our counties.
22:30Dublin's twinned with Greece, so I, the Greek ambassador out of the school, to talk about, well, how this really
22:34matters.
22:35And look, I've been working in European politics for over 20 years.
22:37The biggest issue for every EU politician, whatever the member state or where they're based or what level they're serving
22:42at, is showing the population at large how Europe works for them and how they can influence it.
22:47But as you can see, the disconnect, I mean, is huge between the capital city here and Brussels and what
22:52exactly is going on.
22:53We heard housing mentioned a lot there in 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, at the launch of the presidency, that there was going to
23:05be a housing summit here.
23:07I think it's something that certainly impacts us here.
23:10So many people cannot afford a home now, so it's affordability.
23:13But I see there's commonalities across some of the other EU member states as well.
23:17So I think, collectively, it has to be looked at.
23:21If people cannot afford a home, so many children growing up, homelessness, what price are we going to pay for
23:27that in the future?
23:27What price are these children paying for us now?
23:29That's the thing. We understand the problem.
23:30To enable more funding, obviously more funding for housing.
23:34But now with the big focus on defence is going to be in the long-term budgets, whereas housing, I
23:40mean, won't even get a look in.
23:42Well, actually, this is the first time that we have a housing commissioner.
23:44This is the first time that we have the President of the European Council talking about housing as a European
23:48issue.
23:48It has always been seen as a member state issue, and Rose is right, there isn't an EU member state
23:52that isn't having an issue with housing, just like Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom.
23:56We're coming out of the financial crash, followed by Covid, followed by Russia's war in Ukraine, that absolutely repressed the
24:04ability to build homes.
24:05We just don't have enough homes in this country.
24:07So that's how we have to work with European partners to get the finance in place and to make sure
24:11that we have regulation to allow the government.
24:13We built 25% more homes this year than last year. We want to do more of that again and
24:17find every which way to build more homes.
24:20And, of course, the main goals of the presidency are working on competitiveness and values.
24:26Does that mean anything, though, to regular people in the streets of Dublin?
24:29No, one of the values has to be that everybody has a home to live in, has somewhere to live
24:33in.
24:34So I don't think so. But values in terms of the Irish nation, as I said, support for Palestine, the
24:39value of international law,
24:41the value of people standing up for people, the value of people not ignoring a genocide that's happening,
24:47that's being played out every day on people's televisions and all of that.
24:51And yet we are so many months now after what was supposed to be a cessation of violence in Palestine,
24:56and people see that that's not happening. So there's protests in all of the EU events as well taking place.
25:01Is Ireland self-censoring slightly on that topic?
25:03Not at all. I think anyone in an EU member state capital, and I've sat around Foreign Affairs Council meetings
25:09where they've asked why is Ireland so focused on the plight of the people of Gaza, the West Bank, and
25:14indeed into Lebanon.
25:15We were the first member state with Spain, who not only recognised Palestine,
25:19but consistently have brought the motion to European Council meeting to spend the EU-Israel Trade Association Agreement.
25:26And Rose rightly talks about values when we hear about the vox swap. This matters to the Irish people.
25:29It matters to the Spanish people. I'd imagine it matters to every human. But you ask what do values mean
25:34to people?
25:34What does competitiveness mean? Competitiveness matters to every single citizen,
25:39whether they're buying a cup of coffee, trying to buy a home, or holding down a job.
25:42That's why it has to be one of the three pillars of our presidency.
25:45Okay, Neil Richmond and Rose Conway will stay with us as it's now time for our fifth and final round.
25:55So now it's time to do something a little bit different.
25:57I'm going to ask you a question and you can answer with yes or no. Is that doable?
26:03We'll try. We'll try. Come on.
26:05Is the European Union a force of good, Neil Richmond? Yes or no?
26:08Oh, 100% yes. Yes.
26:11Is Ursula von der Leyen a good President of the European Commission? Yes or no?
26:16No. Yes.
26:17Should Ireland join the Schengen area? Yes or no?
26:20No, because of our relationship with the UK. No.
26:23Should Ireland join NATO? No.
26:25Ever? No. No.
26:29Is the future of the European Union bright, yes or no?
26:32Yes, if it's done properly.
26:34Yes, very bright.
26:36And should Ireland defend its low corporate tax model? Yes or no?
26:40Yes. Tax sovereignty is very important, but obviously we have the OECD agreement now at the minimum rate of 15%.
26:47So that's more than one word. But I think that has been settled.
26:54Will you be there? Yes.
26:55Will you be there? Yes, as will the nine other EU member states whose corporate tax rates actually is lower
26:58than ours.
26:59As you can see, tricky to fit into a yes or no there. Is Ireland though too dependent on big
27:03tech companies?
27:04No. Yes, I think we need to invest more in our indigenous companies.
27:09What about the climate? Is Ireland doing enough to reach its climate targets? Yes or no?
27:13No, to be honest.
27:14No.
27:15No.
27:15You both agree on that? You agreed on a couple of things, right?
27:18Don't tell anyone.
27:20Neil Richmond and Rose Conway Walsh, that brings this edition of The Ring coming to you from the Europe House
27:25here in Dublin to a close.
27:27Thank you so much for joining us and thank you for tuning in.
27:30Any comments or any issues that you'd like to address, you can always reach out to us here on The
27:35Ring at Euronews.com for now.
27:38Thank you so much for tuning in. Take care and stay with us on Euronews.
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