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NewsTranscript
00:08Υπότιτλοι AUTHORWAVE
00:30Υπότιτλοι AUTHORWAVE
01:00Υπότιτλοι AUTHORWAVE
01:01Υπότιτλοι AUTHORWAVE
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 Finnegale, 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-left Sinn Féin-Doyle deputy representing the Mayo constituency,
02:21a prominent advocate for increased public spending and regional development.
02:25She's a supporter of Irish unity and a vocal critic of what she sees as years of underinvestment.
02:30She's 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.
02:45Thank you.
02:45So, 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 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,
03:01progressing the European 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, so this is a real opportunity for us to show
03:13what the real values of the Irish nation are, and I think peace has to be central to that.
03:19But also equality, we'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,
03:40where we need 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
03:48in terms of the Omnidus package on simplification.
03:51We've heard what Lefa 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,
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,
04:19was the whole Organisio Lumina 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 been 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 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,
05:12to 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.
05:27Illumina isn't a sanctioned project.
05:30And 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,
05:41has repeatedly said that 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 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,
06:18to make sure that we back sanctions, that we back supports, and we challenge the likes of the former Hungarian
06:24regime 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 is spending the least
06:37in the whole of the European Union on defence,
06:39just 0.2 of its GDP.
06:42Is that OK, do you think?
06:43Well, defence spending has been increased in Ireland, and I welcome that because there have been years, if not decades,
06:49of 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, 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?
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.
08:13This is the question.
08:13Who 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, but obviously there will be cooperation with
08:22other member states as well, and indeed with our nearest neighbour.
08:25But that must be done, but not our military neutrality.
08:28Do you trust in the UK to save Ireland now when they've so much on their hands?
08:31Well, it'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,
08:36in 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 standalone in terms of our defence.
08:47So I think it's important for member states to work together.
08:50But 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
09:03around defence ministers' 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 and something that needs to be done
09:36to 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.
09:47Rose, that's completely false.
09:48You can't just say...
09:49Sorry, just 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 system.
09:53Finish your sentence and then we bring in the enrichment.
09:55There is a creeping militarisation.
09:56If 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.
10:12People 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,
10:20you 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...
10:32In the area of militarisation.
10:32I'm sorry, this is really important.
10:33No, because in the vast majority of Irish people,
10:35not only do they trust in the EU,
10:36but actually it's an even split between Irish people
10:39who 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.
10:51Because, 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,
10:57bar the opinions of the opposition politicians.
10:59Whereas, on a European scale,
11:01we're trying to prove to European partners
11:03that we're serious about defense and security.
11:03Well, then go to the people and ask them.
11:05Ask them in a referendum.
11:06OK, right.
11:07The last bill presented before the Dáil,
11:09would you be able to say
11:11that you backed the people of Palestine over Israel under that?
11:14No, because we have to be neutral.
11:15Your version of neutrality,
11:17and the one that you talk about without going into the depth,
11:19completely removes the ability to work with partners.
11:21We're not neutral.
11:22We're in the European Union.
11:23We are militarily neutral.
11:25Well, as you can see,
11:26we're just getting warmed up here on The Ring.
11:29Stay with us,
11:29because we're ready for the next round here on The Ring.
11:35Well, as you can see,
11:36we're getting a bit of a flavor of the debates
11:38that go on inside the Dáil,
11:40the national parliaments,
11:40and as well, of course,
11:41over in Brussels and Strasbourg,
11:43in the European parliaments.
11:44And now it's time to give our viewers
11:45a real glimpse
11:46of how you actually put questions to each other.
11:49Rose Conway-Walsh,
11:49you can address your first question.
11:51Tina, over to me.
11:51OK, 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
11:58from the simplification agenda?
12:00And would you be concerned about workers' rights,
12:03about environmental rights,
12:04and human rights, indeed,
12:07with the simplification agenda
12:09that's been pushed at EU 11?
12:10The simplification agenda is vital.
12:12It's vital to ensure the European Union
12:15actually keeps pace with the United States and China
12:17in terms of creating a more competitive Europe,
12:19but also making sure
12:20that we have the future jobs and technology
12:23that workers will actually be able to have.
12:25What we have is 10 Omnidus packages,
12:27three of which have gone through the stage,
12:29another seven, at least three of those
12:31will be pushed ahead by the Irish presidency
12:33that are vital.
12:34I have zero concerns.
12:36I was on the EBSCO Council
12:37as an enterprise minister
12:38when we worked with both Letta and Draghi
12:40to make sure that this agenda
12:42is one that does recognise
12:44the need to make sure
12:45that it is human-led,
12:46that workers' rights are protected,
12:47that our environmental responsibilities are.
12:49But also to make sure
12:51that SMEs can actually continue,
12:53because repeatedly,
12:54and understanding me,
12:55and I fully agree with Rose,
12:56even though we come from
12:57from different sides of the political spectrum,
12:58repeatedly raise the pressures of bureaucracy
13:01on small Irish indigenous businesses.
13:02Well, that's why we need to address that
13:04at a European level
13:04with a simplification package
13:06that allows businesses to be liberated.
13:08That's the administration burden being removed
13:10and the red tape being removed,
13:11and absolutely I agree with that,
13:13but I am very concerned about
13:14the deregulation
13:15and the push to deregulate.
13:17We see in this country alone
13:19in the defective concrete blocks,
13:21we're going to end up paying
13:22over 9 billion
13:23for light regulation
13:25in this country,
13:26and I don't want to see,
13:27and we need to see proper regulation.
13:30We need to protect our populations
13:32from their drive towards greed.
13:34Do you fear it could turn into over-deregulation?
13:37Not at all.
13:37I fully agree with Rose.
13:38There is no deregulation agenda there,
13:40and we need to knit this in the bud.
13:41This is about a simplification
13:42to make sure that
13:43when we're talking about
13:44environmental reporting,
13:45that a small business
13:46in Galway or Mayo
13:47or wherever it may be
13:48is not filling in the same form five times
13:50because it has to do
13:51at a European level,
13:51domestic level,
13:52and then at a regional level.
13:53It's about a simplification agenda
13:55to make sure that
13:56we can get finance
13:57deployed quicker,
13:58to invest in businesses,
13:59invest in workers,
14:00invest in education.
14:01This agenda is crucial,
14:02and if Europe doesn't pursue
14:04these omnidust packages,
14:05Europe will fall away
14:06and simply be a supply chain
14:08into China and America.
14:09That's, of course,
14:09the view as well of Mario Draghi,
14:11if anyone has read his
14:12very lengthy report
14:13about how we could die,
14:14quote,
14:14a slow agony.
14:16Neil Richmond,
14:16your chance now
14:17to address your question.
14:18To Rose,
14:19can we watch?
14:20Rose and I repeatedly say
14:21that we stand with Ukraine,
14:22but I've struggled to,
14:24how do we say
14:25that we stand with Ukraine
14:26when Sinn Féin voted against,
14:27in the European Parliament
14:28and in the Dáil,
14:30the 90 billion euro loan package
14:31that the EU worked so hard,
14:33managed to get through
14:33when the Hungarian regime changed.
14:35Is that standing with Ukraine?
14:36Do you really stand with Ukraine?
14:38We absolutely stand
14:39very firmly with Ukraine
14:40and against the war
14:42of aggression from Russia.
14:44The reason why we voted
14:45in the way that we did
14:47against that
14:48was because,
14:48was, again,
14:49it was impacting
14:50our military neutrality.
14:52The 20 billion of that
14:53that was going towards militarization,
14:55we didn't feel
14:56that we could support that.
14:58We 100% would support
15:01any humanitarian effort
15:04for Ukraine,
15:05but there's a difference there.
15:06And I would ask at EU level
15:08that these be separated
15:09so that we would be enabled
15:11to vote for the humanitarian effort
15:15without the militarization.
15:17I don't want us to be paying
15:19for weapons to be sent to any country.
15:22No, but they are separated.
15:24This is the same
15:24with the European Peace Facility.
15:25It's the same
15:26with this 90 billion euro loan.
15:27It's the same
15:28with all the funding
15:29that Ireland has prepared,
15:30the over 250 million directly
15:32and over 250 collectively
15:33that goes to support
15:34the Ukrainian effort.
15:35It is for non-lethal supports.
15:37Radar technology surely is okay.
15:39Surely,
15:39mine clearing technology is okay,
15:41as well as an underground school
15:42in the Donetsk,
15:43as well as providing
15:44ambulances
15:45and humanitarian equipment.
15:46The thing is,
15:46they are separated against.
15:48But when you put that decision
15:49to vote against
15:49the 90 million euro package,
15:51vociferously by your finance spokesman,
15:53and then we see Sinn Féin MEPs
15:54in the European Parliament
15:55either abstaining
15:56or voting against sanctions package,
15:58it's hard to believe
15:58that you stand with Ukraine.
15:59Do you have any understanding
15:59of what they were signing against?
16:01Oh, I certainly do, yes.
16:02Our MEPs,
16:04Lynne Boylan
16:04and Kathleen Funcion
16:05knew exactly what they were doing
16:07and we work together
16:08with them from here.
16:10But we will not.
16:11We will vote.
16:12So why do they vote
16:12against sanctions packages?
16:13Because we will vote
16:14for humanitarian support.
16:16No, no,
16:16I'm talking about
16:17sanctions packages now.
16:18You tie it together,
16:19you vote against
16:20the 90 billion euro loan assistance,
16:21domestically
16:22and on a European level.
16:23At the same time,
16:24your MEPs,
16:25not just from the group
16:26of the left,
16:26from the Sinn Féin MEPs,
16:27have repeatedly voted
16:29against or abstained
16:30against the 21 sanctions packages.
16:32How on earth
16:33can they do that?
16:34Because sometimes
16:35when things are all
16:36bundled in together
16:37and you have amendments
16:38and amendments
16:39so the amendments
16:40weren't accepted
16:40or the amendments
16:41weren't voted
16:42but we're talking
16:44about Ukraine
16:45and our stance
16:46in Ukraine
16:46and Sinn Féin
16:47as a party
16:48stand absolutely firmly
16:50with Ukraine.
16:51Should Ukraine
16:51join the European Union?
16:54Absolutely, yes
16:55and I think
16:55that's one of the things
16:56that the Irish presidency
16:58can do
16:58to Ukraine
16:59and Moldova
17:00in terms of
17:01the expansion
17:01of the EU
17:02and that needs
17:02to be quickened
17:04as quickly
17:04as is possible.
17:05Well we've heard
17:06the views
17:06from our politicians
17:07here
17:07now it's time
17:08to bring in
17:08a new voice.
17:13I'd like to bring in
17:14the voice
17:15of Andy Burnham
17:16the brand new
17:16Prime Minister
17:17of the United Kingdom
17:18the fifth Prime Minister
17:20in just four years.
17:21Speaking earlier
17:22this week
17:22he said
17:23I have a plan
17:24I have a style
17:25it's my style
17:27and that's my mission
17:28as your new leader
17:29to bring back hope.
17:32What's your view
17:33on the new Prime Minister
17:34of the United Kingdom
17:35and what it will mean
17:36for Ireland-UK relations?
17:38Well he's won
17:38in a long line
17:39of Prime Ministers
17:41in the last ten years
17:42I wish him well
17:43in the job
17:43that he's doing
17:44I think Britain
17:45is in
17:46has very many challenges
17:47he has lots of challenges
17:48to sort out
17:49but for us
17:50as a nation
17:51obviously
17:51we want our Irish independence
17:52we want to be in charge
17:53of our own affairs
17:54we want to be good neighbours
17:56with those
17:57with those beside us
17:59but
18:00we would hope
18:01that he will
18:03facilitate that
18:03as was outlined
18:04in the Good Friday Agreement.
18:05And Neil Richmond
18:06he's been sworn in
18:07on the very week
18:08that the EU
18:08and the UK
18:09were meant to host
18:10their summit
18:10all about getting
18:11closer together
18:12what will all this mean
18:13now do you think
18:14for Brussels
18:15London relations
18:16and of course
18:16for Ireland?
18:17I think directly
18:18in British-Irish relations
18:19this is a good thing
18:20relations between
18:21the two countries
18:22and indeed relations
18:23between Britain
18:23and the European Union
18:24are so much better today
18:25than they were
18:26a number of years ago
18:27under the likes
18:27of Liz Truss
18:28or Boris Johnson
18:28and I give credit
18:29not only to Keir Starmer
18:30but indeed
18:31Rishi Shunak
18:32for bringing that along
18:32but from a European point of view
18:34there is an opportunity
18:35to get ever closer
18:36with Britain
18:37as much as they are facing
18:38very difficult times
18:39they're still one of the world's
18:40largest economies
18:41they are still
18:41a very important economic
18:42as well as political partner
18:44for all of us in Europe
18:45so the closer the relations
18:46the better
18:46Andy Burnham
18:47is of Irish descent
18:48his lineage
18:49comes from Louth
18:50his constituencies
18:51in Manchester
18:52have a really strong
18:53Irish population
18:54his replacement
18:55as Mayor of Manchester
18:56indeed is from the north
18:57so it's a really positive move
18:58but we want to see
18:59that relationship
19:00grow ever ever closer
19:01and perhaps
19:02maybe one day
19:02we see a British rejoin
19:03would you agree with that
19:04well I would like a separation
19:06from Britain
19:07never mind us joining
19:08closer together
19:08but there are things
19:09that we need to tackle
19:10together as two islands
19:11like climate change
19:12and is that separation feasible
19:13just back to that debate
19:14on United Ireland
19:15yes
19:15absolutely it is
19:16I mean we've seen
19:17even in the last week
19:18Neil's own government
19:20or a party leader
19:22bring it to the
19:23bring it on the whole business
19:25I think it is
19:26we believe that it's possible
19:27by 2030
19:28we're coming up to
19:29the 28th anniversary
19:30of the Good Friday Agreement
19:31and I know there's an
19:32inter-parliamentary
19:33conference as well
19:34that will look at
19:36the peace agreement
19:37that we have here
19:38I think the EU member states
19:39have a lot to learn
19:41from our peace agreement
19:42it is the international
19:43legally binding agreement
19:45one of the most
19:46enduring in the world
19:47that's a view from
19:48Rose Conway-Walsh
19:48but now it's time to take
19:50a very short break
19:51here on The Ring
19:52don't go anywhere
20:01Welcome back to The Ring
20:03Eury News' weekly debate show
20:05this week coming to you
20:06from Europe House
20:07in Dublin
20:08I'm Maeve MacMahon
20:10and for this edition
20:10I'm joined by
20:11Neil Richmond
20:12and Rose Conway-Walsh
20:14and we're zooming in
20:14on the fact that
20:15Ireland is currently
20:16holding the rotating
20:18presidency of the
20:19Council of the European Union
20:20now we've already
20:21heard some views
20:21from our politicians
20:23now it's time
20:24to hear from you
20:25we took to the streets
20:26of the Irish capital
20:28to ask people
20:28what issues
20:29they wanted Ireland
20:31to focus on
20:31over the next six months
20:33and first
20:33if they even knew
20:34the presidency
20:35was taking place
20:36no
20:38I'm aware
20:38until the end of the year
20:39yep
20:40no I didn't know
20:41no
20:41I don't know anything
20:42about politics
20:43I'll be honest
20:44yes I did
20:45I don't think there's
20:46issues that can push
20:47but I think it should
20:47shine a spotlight
20:48onto the issues
20:48we have here in Ireland
20:49so like the
20:50homelessness crisis
20:50for example
20:51I think that should
20:52cause a little bit
20:52more pressure on
20:53politicians to get it done
20:54the one thing
20:54that is anxiety
20:56do you think for me
20:57would be the fact
20:58that everyone is
20:58investing more in
20:59militarisation
21:00so disarmament
21:01would be key
21:03divesting from that
21:04and maybe
21:05investing more in education
21:07more support for Palestine
21:08less Israeli products
21:11on shelves
21:12housing
21:13probably housing
21:14100%
21:16rising cost of
21:17living
21:18and a lot of people
21:19are even food insecure
21:20people don't realise that
21:21food insecurity
21:22has gone way up
21:23and just support
21:24for like local businesses
21:25and stuff
21:26you know
21:26a lot of people
21:27closing down
21:27while we're not in
21:29we kind of avoid
21:30and stay out of the
21:31stay 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
21:38for sure
21:39yeah yeah
21:39so there you go
21:40a lot of interesting views
21:41many not even knowing
21:42the presidency
21:43is taking place
21:44does that surprise you?
21:45well if you're living in Dublin
21:46you can't avoid it
21:47because of the traffic
21:48but it doesn't surprise me
21:49no and I think that's one
21:50of the challenges
21:51of the presidency
21:51is that
21:52you know
21:53that that democratic deficit
21:55that's there
21:56in terms of education
21:57for people
21:57are making it relevant
21:59making the whole EU project
22:01relevant in people's everyday lives
22:03and they outline
22:04some of them there
22:04like the homelessness
22:06housing
22:06cost of living
22:08all of those things
22:09that are impacting people
22:10and obviously Palestine
22:11is hugely important here
22:13in Ireland as well
22:14and support for Palestine
22:16your view there?
22:16I think it is a challenge
22:18but it's also a great opportunity
22:19in 2013
22:20when we lasted the presidency
22:21we launched the Blue Star Programme
22:22in partnership
22:23with the European Commission
22:24and Parliament
22:24and it's on all of us
22:26not just those in the government
22:26to work with the European member states
22:28that have been twinned
22:29with our counties
22:30Dublin's twinned at Greece
22:31so I'm the Greek ambassador
22:32out of the school
22:32to talk about
22:33well how this really matters
22:34and look I've been working
22:35in European politics
22:36for over 20 years
22:37the biggest issue
22:38for every EU politician
22:39whatever the member state
22:40or where they're based
22:41or what level they're serving at
22:42is showing the population large
22:44how Europe works for them
22:45and how they can influence it
22:47but as you can see
22:47the disconnect I mean
22:49is huge between
22:50the capital city here
22:52and Brussels
22:52and what exactly is going on
22:53we heard housing
22:54mentioned a lot there
22:55in that Fox Pop
22:56what can be done here
22:57and do you think Brussels
22:58can play a role
22:59because they're trying to start
23:00to play a role here
23:00I certainly think they can
23:01and I was glad to see
23:02at the beginning
23:03at the launch of the presidency
23:04that there was going to be
23:05a housing summit here
23:07I think it's something
23:08that certainly impacts us here
23:10so many people
23:11cannot afford a home now
23:12so it's affordability
23:13but I see there's commonalities
23:15across some of the other
23:16EU member states as well
23:17so I think collectively
23:19it has to be looked at
23:20if people cannot afford a home
23:22so many children
23:23growing up homelessness
23:24what price are we going to pay
23:26for that in the future
23:27what price are these children
23:29paying for us now
23:29that's the thing
23:29we understand the problem
23:30to enable more funding
23:32obviously more funding
23:34for housing
23:34the funding
23:35also planning
23:36in terms of restrictions
23:37the big focus on defence
23:37is going to be
23:38in the long term budgets
23:39whereas housing
23:40I mean
23:40won't even get a look in
23:41well 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
23:46of the European Council
23:47talking about housing
23:47as a European issue
23:48it had always been seen
23:49as a member state issue
23:50and Rose is right
23:51there isn't an EU member state
23:52that isn't having an issue
23:53with housing
23:54just like Australia
23:55Canada
23:55and the United Kingdom
23:56we're coming out
23:57of the financial crash
23:59followed by Covid
24:00followed by Russia's war
24:02in Ukraine
24:02that absolutely
24:04repressed the ability
24:05to build homes
24:05we just don't have
24:06enough homes in this country
24:07so that's how we have to
24:08work with European partners
24:09to get the finance in place
24:10and to make sure
24:11that we have regulation
24:12to allow the government
24:13we built 25% more homes
24:15this year
24:15than last year
24:16we want to do more
24:16of that again
24:17and find every which way
24:18to build more homes
24:19and of course
24:20the main goals
24:22of the presidency
24:22are working on
24:24competitiveness
24:24and values
24:26does that mean anything
24:27though to regular people
24:28in the streets of Dublin
24:28no one of the values
24:30has to be
24:31that everybody
24:31has a home to live in
24:33has somewhere to live in
24:34so I don't think so
24:35but values
24:35in terms of the Irish nation
24:37as I said
24:38support for Palestine
24:39the value of
24:40international law
24:41the value of people
24:42standing up for people
24:43the value of people
24:44not ignoring a genocide
24:46that's happening
24:47that's being played out
24:48every day
24:48on people's televisions
24:50and all of that
24:51and yet we are
24:51so many months now
24:53after what was supposed
24:54to be a cessation
24:55of violence in Palestine
24:56and people see
24:57that that's not happening
24:58so there's protests
24:59in 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
25:07capital
25:07and I've sat around
25:08foreign affairs
25:08council meetings
25:09where they've asked
25:10why is Ireland
25:11so focused
25:11on the plight
25:12of the people of Gaza
25:13the West Bank
25:14and indeed into Lebanon
25:15we were the first
25:16member state
25:16with Spain
25:17who not only
25:18recognised Palestine
25:19but consistently
25:19have brought
25:20the motion
25:21to European council meeting
25:22to spend the EU-Israel
25:23trade association agreement
25:25and Rose rightly
25:26talks about values
25:27when we hear
25:27about the vox swap
25:28this matters to the Irish people
25:29it matters to the Spanish people
25:31I'd imagine
25:31it matters to every human
25:33but you ask
25:33what do values mean to people
25:34what does competitiveness mean
25:36competitiveness matters
25:37to every single citizen
25:38whether they're buying
25:39a 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
25:45OK
25:46Neil Richmond
25:46and Rose Conway
25:47well stay with us
25:48as it's now time
25:49for our fifth
25:50and final round
25:55So now it's time
25:56to do something
25:56a little bit different
25:57I'm going to ask you
25:59a question
25:59and you can answer
26:00with yes or no
26:02is that doable?
26:03We'll try
26:04we'll try
26:04Is the European Union
26:06a force of good
26:07Neil Richmond
26:08yes or no?
26:08Oh 100% yes
26:10yes
26:10Is Ursula von der Leyen
26:12a good president
26:13of the European Commission
26:14yes or no?
26:16Yes
26:16Should Ireland join
26:18the Schengen area
26:18yes or no?
26:20No
26:20because of our relationship
26:21with the UK
26:22no
26:23Should Ireland join NATO?
26:25No
26:25Ever?
26:26No
26:28No
26:29Is the future
26:30of the European Union
26:31bright
26:32yes or no?
26:33Yes
26:33if it's done properly
26:34Yes
26:35very bright
26:35And should Ireland
26:36defend its low
26:37corporate tax model
26:39yes or no?
26:41Yes
26:41tax sovereignty
26:42is very important
26:43but obviously
26:44we have the OECD agreement
26:45now with the minimum
26:46rate of 15%
26:47so
26:48it's more than one word
26:49but
26:49I think that has
26:51that has been settled
26:54Yes
26:55as will the nine other
26:56EU member states
26:57whose corporate tax rates
26:58actually is lower than ours
26:59As you can see
26:59tricky 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
27:06I think we need to
27:07invest 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
27:13to be honest
27:14No
27:15You both agree on that?
27:16You agreed on a couple of things
27:18right?
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
27:37for now
27:38Thank you so much
27:38for tuning in
27:39Take care
27:39and stay with us
27:40on Euronews
27:48We'll see you next time
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