Europe Day: Statements Seanad Éireann — 2026-05-07 ============================================================ Jerry Buttimer (FG), Cork South-Central How do I follow that commendation of Senator O'Reilly? I genuinely thank him for his work. Is cúis bhróid é a bheith i láthair na Seanadóirí. Gabhaim míle buíochas le gach Ball a ghlac páirt sa díospóireacht an-tábhachtach seo ar Lá na hEorpa. Tá an Rialtas agus go mórmhór an tAire Stáit, an Teachta Byrne, ag aontú go bhfuil sé ag obair, go cothrom le gach ballstát eile, as ucht méadú na hEorpa. In congratulating every Member of the House who spoke today, I am conscious, as Senator Conway said, that we are ten years on from Brexit, which reshaped the European project and gave rise to the single biggest challenge we face. The debate we have had this afternoon has brought forward myriad perspectives on values, security, the European Union's relationship with its citizens and with us, as a country. We have a responsibility, as we approach the Presidency in July, to ensure that this debate today, which is a reflection of all of us who have contributed being pro-European, recognises that we have a journey to continue. To Senator Stephenson, I say that, for me, human rights and multilateralism are quintessentially very important parts of our foreign affairs policy now and will be in the future. I was in China for St. Patrick's Day. I never demurred from raising the issue of human rights. At the same time, multilateralism is very important. We must always engage in it. The world is better because of it. One of the criticisms of Europe is that it is over-democratised at one level. The important point for us is there is a breadth of accountability and engagement across the European family, in particular the Houses of the Oireachtas, which shows that we are deeply committed to the European project. We could be navel-gazing forever about where Europe is going. What we have to do, and what we have done very successfully here this afternoon, is to articulate what Europe stands for - what it should, did and continues to represent for all of its citizens, encapsulating the daily concerns of citizens but also posing that question about the gap between Brussels and the communities. I hope that gap does not grow but, rather, narrows. In the European Movement Ireland poll, which we saw this week, 45% believe Europe is going the right way while 35% feel they are only being adequately represented at European level. I heard what Senators Lynch and Andrews had to say in that regard. What we need to continue to do here is what Senator Lynch does, which is to continue that representation at European level, to be that voice and that advocate, to bring it back to ordinary, everyday life events for people in terms of how it works. Europe does matter. It has had a tangible benefit. I am not quite as old as Senator O'Reilly. I do not necessarily remember pre-Europe Ireland but I remember we had the begging bowl out. As Europeans we were very much beholden to Europe to develop and, in particular, to advance our capital infrastructure. I think Senator Stephenson mentioned the safety thing. Due to Europe we now have very strong safety guidelines, which are welcome. As Members of the Oireachtas, we do have a responsibility. Our voices do matter. We are leaders in this House and in the Lower House, and it is by our actions and words that we bring people with us. If we choose to be negative about Europe and to propagate misinformation and falsehoods, that has a serious implication. I commend the Members present in the Chamber on their work in their roles. I know the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, and previous Ministers with responsibility for Europe have taken their role very seriously in building that connection between Europe, the decisions we make and the lives of people. Senator Lynch spoke about the values and the collaboration piece. Again, that is critically important. Our Presidency will place the defence of EU values, democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights at the centre of its work because without these we are talking about window dressing. These are core values we have as a foundation. If Europe loses that stream of values, then it is nothing; it has lost its meaning, going back to Schuman and what the European movement was founded from. I know the Cathaoirleach chairs the Seanad Select Committee on EU Scrutiny and Transparency and that is an example of where we can see a further connection between the Houses of the Oireachtas, working with the Chair of the Joint Committee on European Affairs, Deputy Barry Ward, and the foreign affairs committee. That public conversation needs to continue on Europe and what benefits it can bring, but also as a forum for deliberate engagement. EU scrutiny is important. As I said earlier, that depth of debate we bring to European questions is and can only be positive to all of us. The Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, has indicated his commitment to deepening engagement with the House during the Presidency. From a Government perspective that commitment is real. As we take the chair of the Council, the work of both Houses of the Oireachtas will matter, in scrutinising the programme and holding the Government to account but also in giving voice to the concerns of citizens that formal EU processes do not always reach. It is also important that we use our Presidency to bring people with us, particularly young people who will help shape Europe's future. Like Senator Stephenson, I recognise the need for civil society to be part of every conversation. Senator Higgins spoke about that as well in terms of the reflection. I know that as Europe Day approaches we will all be engaging. To make a point about China, it does offer opportunity that we should not dismiss, while at the same time not pulling back from our right to uphold human rights around the world. We have a very strong role to play in that as a country. We can reflect on, as we come to Europe Day on 9 May, that what Schuman proposed was not just a treaty or institution. It was an idea - which has grown, developed and evolved - that European nations, having spent a generation destroying each other, could again choose to build something different together - le chéile. That choice was made. It has been renewed in each generation. It needs to be done again. Never before have we more strongly needed a Europe that stands on the side of Ukraine and on the side of the people we support in this Chamber. Senator Andrews raised the issue of Israel and Palestine. The Government is very clear on that. That matter of the football match is one I know he is very exercised about, and rightly so. Personally, I have never been a supporter of boycotts. RTÉ has boycotted the Eurovision Song Contest, for example, and I think the FAI has made clear its position in terms of the implications for its organisation. I do not think any of us support what Israel is doing----- --- Source: Houses of the Oireachtas. Licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). The Official Report is revised after first publication; the fetch timestamp below identifies the version quoted. Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-05-07/debate/main Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:54+00:00 Sitting date: 2026-05-07