MEP Ciaran Mullooly has challenged Taoiseach Micheál Martin to ensure Ireland’s EU Presidency defends rural Ireland, regional development, farmers, SMEs, housing and island communities.

Mullooly made the comments during a session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg this week, which hosted the Taoiseach.

Micheál Martin addressed the parliament to present Ireland’s EU Presidency priorities and outline the government’s approach to the major EU negotiations ahead, including the next long-term EU budget.

Speaking directly to the Taoiseach during the debate, MEP Mullooly said Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the EU must protect balanced regional development in terms of the discussions to take place on agreeing a budget for the EU up to 2034.

“Taoiseach, one of your priorities for Ireland's Presidency is to strengthen Europe's competitiveness while protecting balanced regional development,” Mullooly said.

“As you begin to steer the negotiations on the new long-term EU budget, will you commit that Ireland will not support a deal which sidelines cohesion and rural development funds in favour of narrowly defined competitiveness spending?”

Mullooly called on the Taoiseach to provide a "concrete" guarantee or safeguard for rural and peripheral communities particularly in Ireland.

Challenges for the Taoiseach

In the context of values and housing, Mullooly said the Taoiseach’s commitments would be tested in the months ahead: “Your values, your shared values. We will test them in the coming months.

"You know we need to work harder on this.”

Turning to the future of farming and rural life, the Independent Ireland MEP, who is part of the Renew political grouping in the EU, which also comprises the Fianna Fáil MEPs, said a properly funded Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) must be central to Ireland’s EU Presidency legacy.

“And if there is to be a right to stay in the regions of Ireland, then we need a Common Agricultural Policy which gives all of our farmers a livelihood going forward, the small farmers and the large ones," Mullooly added.

Competitiveness

Mullooly also commented that Ireland’s EU Presidency must not allow “competitiveness” to become a "narrow Brussels slogan" focused only on big industry, large cities, defence spending or capital markets.

“If Europe is serious about competitiveness, it must start with the people who keep our communities alive: farmers, small businesses, family firms, local employers, fishing communities, islanders, young workers and families trying to put a roof over their heads," he stated.

“Competitiveness means whether a young family can get a house, whether a farmer can make a living, whether an SME can survive rising costs, whether an island community can stay connected, and whether our towns and villages have a future.”

The Midlands North West MEP said the next EU budget must keep CAP, cohesion, fisheries, islands and rural development funding clearly identifiable, properly funded and regionally accountable.

“A single national plan must not become a single national excuse for taking money away from the regions,” he said.

He called for investment in the regions where food is produced, and where SMEs create jobs.

The European Parliament is currently seeking a 10% increase in overall funding for the EU Budget, while the European Commission has proposed a decrease.

It will be up to Ireland as an 'honest broker' over the next five months or so to try to bring all stakeholders to the table to agree a figure that will be passed by all institutions of the EU, including the Council of the EU, of which Micheál Martin is a member.