Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Push Europe to Make Housing a Priority
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, Sinn Féin MEP, challenged the Taoiseach to make housing the central task of Ireland's EU presidency and demanded the Commission deliver an Affordable Housing Act. He criticised the government's silence on housing, called for stronger workers' rights and climate action, and urged decisive measures on Gaza and sanctions related to Aughinish Alumina.
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin told the Taoiseach that none of the presidency's challenges are bigger than housing. He reminded colleagues that the S&D Group has secured a Commission commitment to bring forward an Affordable Housing Act and said the MFF must deliver for those sleeping rough and children doing homework on fire escapes.
Ó Ríordáin described his recent visit to Gardiner Street in Dublin, where he highlighted the concentration of homelessness and the everyday consequences for families and schoolchildren. He directly criticised members of the Government for voting against protections for migrants and called on Ireland to live up to its traditions of welcome.
He warned that competitiveness cannot come at the expense of workers or the environment and said the presidency should be used to end the EU-Israel association agreement. Ó Ríordáin also pledged to progress sanctions to prevent facilities such as Aughinish Alumina from fueling Russia's war, and invoked John Hume's legacy in urging unity and persuasion for the UK to rejoin the EU.
Ó Ríordáin closed by arguing that the EU and Ireland can meet today's challenges: housing children, stopping climate catastrophe, rejecting racism, backing workers, and upholding international law. He called on colleagues to work together to find another way to end the current tragedies confronting Europe and the world.
Main demand: housing as an EU priority
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin told the Taoiseach that none of the presidency's challenges are bigger than housing. He reminded colleagues that the S&D Group has secured a Commission commitment to bring forward an Affordable Housing Act and said the MFF must deliver for those sleeping rough and children doing homework on fire escapes.
Homelessness and social justice
Ó Ríordáin described his recent visit to Gardiner Street in Dublin, where he highlighted the concentration of homelessness and the everyday consequences for families and schoolchildren. He directly criticised members of the Government for voting against protections for migrants and called on Ireland to live up to its traditions of welcome.
Workers, climate and international law
He warned that competitiveness cannot come at the expense of workers or the environment and said the presidency should be used to end the EU-Israel association agreement. Ó Ríordáin also pledged to progress sanctions to prevent facilities such as Aughinish Alumina from fueling Russia's war, and invoked John Hume's legacy in urging unity and persuasion for the UK to rejoin the EU.
Consequences and appeal
Ó Ríordáin closed by arguing that the EU and Ireland can meet today's challenges: housing children, stopping climate catastrophe, rejecting racism, backing workers, and upholding international law. He called on colleagues to work together to find another way to end the current tragedies confronting Europe and the world.
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Transcript
Taoiseach, I want to start by wishing you luck. This is a presidency which has to deliver on key issues facing Ireland and Europe. None among them are bigger than housing. During this presidency, the Commission will bring forward an Affordable Housing Act because we in the S&D Group demanded it. You failed to mention housing at all in your address in Dublin Castle last week and made only a passing reference today. The Irish presidency must lead in making housing an urgent European priority. Two weeks ago, I brought my group president to Gardiner Street in Dublin where 10% of the entire homeless population of Ireland live. Service providers said schoolchildren are doing their homework on fire escapes. Taoiseach, our failure must stop here and the MFF must deliver on housing. Likewise, on workers' rights and climate action, our record is nothing to be proud of. We will not support any competitiveness agenda that comes on the backs of workers or our environment. Taoiseach, we are the country of Céide Míle Fáilte. We are not a country that shan't send them back. It angered me to see your Government colleagues voting with that poison in this chamber last month. Ireland, the country of coffin ships, undocumented in America and memories of no blacks, no dogs, no Irish must strive for better. On Gaza, I want to acknowledge that our Government has shown some leadership, and again today, in the face of abject failure from many in the EU. We have to use this presidency to end the EU-Israel association agreement once and for all. We must stand with Ukraine unequivocally. Taoiseach, the Government's position on Organish Aluma is indefensible. This week, I will vote to progress sanctions so this facility cannot fuel Putin's war. Taoiseach, as you have said, John Hume once said that the EU was the greatest peace process in history. In honour of his legacy, we should be persuaders for the UK to rejoin the EU and for greater unity on our island. John Hume also said that we cannot eat a flag. Our union has achieved so much. We can meet the challenges of today. We can house our children, stop our planet from burning, reject hate and racism, back our workers, unite the people of our island and uphold international law. If there is another way to end this tragedy, I would like to be able to do so. Thank you. We can all be able to do it together. Thank you very much. Now, Harold Wilimsky, one minute.