Regina DOHERTY

Member of the European Parliament · Ireland · EPP · Fine Gael Party

Policy topics Regina DOHERTY is active on

Child poverty policyDigital platforms liability for harmful and illegal contentTrade relations with Mercosur

What Regina DOHERTY has said (59)

2026-07-15 “(15:05:14 - 15:06:15): Parliament Europa, Tanishka, 1 of our principles, and I know this has been touched on, obviously, by yourself and colleagues today, is to deepen the European capital markets and give wider access to both citizens and businesses the financial, you know, resources that they need. And the financial sector, obviously, is vital in Europe, for our growth and needs a framework that incentivizes investment, and innovation. You have set a really important but really ambitious goal of achieving a council general approach on MISP by October. Now given the political differences that we all know exist, can I ask how magically you think you're going to actually achieve that? Particularly, it's it's like, I know it's really ambitious, but it is genuinely such a short time. Do you think the goodwill is there? Do you think the engagement you will see? I hear the 16 meetings that you're gonna have between now and October is obviously very, very welcome. But how do you approach that agreement of that general approach given the political differences that we currently see visible?”
Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID)
2026-07-07 “(12:03:41 - 12:04:36): Thank you, president . Said that joining Europe completed Ireland's journey to independence, and history has proven him to be so right. Every generation inherits moments that define the nation. And for Ireland, one of those moments was in 1973, and Ireland chose Europe. It was a choice about the kind of country that we wanted to become: open to the world, confident and engaged, and at the table instead of on the sidelines. As we begin our 8th presidency at the Council of the European Union, the challenges that we face today are very different, but we will not be found wanting. We will give more options to build long-term financial security for the people and their families. We must find solutions for businesses struggling to grow, our young people, options to buy homes, and really importantly, our children online. And, vitally, we will stand by Ukraine and the defense of Europe even if that means having to make difficult decisions when they're not the easiest.”
EU-Ukraine relations
2026-02-26 “Answer given by Ms Zaharieva on behalf of the European Commission 2.6.2026 Written question The proposal for the European Competitiveness Fund [1] (ECF) and the proposed Framework Programme for research [2] (FP10) will have closely coordinated programming of activities. In particular, certain actions under FP10 (those collaborative research actions under the ‘Competitiveness’ part of the FP10 Pillar II falling in a policy area also covered by an ECF policy window) will be programmed in specific dedicated parts of single work programmes. Moreover, the specific programme on defence research is integrated with the policy window covering defence as part of the ECF proposal (thus also mirroring the current setup of the European Defence Fund [3] in that window). However, there is no legal issue as regards funding of the programmes as both ECF and FP10 have separate budgetary envelopes; ECF actions will be financed from ECF budget and FP10 actions will be financed from FP10 budget. Where an action contributes to objectives of both the ECF and FP10, it could be financed from both envelopes taking the form of, for example, a synergy call. The architecture proposed by the Commission for the ECF indeed foresees four policy windows. To ensure a seamless investment journey — from research to manufacturing and market deployment — the Commission has proposed to mirror the same policy windows within Pillar II of Horizon Europe (2028- 2034) [4] , under its ‘Competitiveness’ component. Horizon Europe will fund the research and innovation activities of the policy windows, while the ECF will focus on later stages of the investment journey, including scale-up manufacturing and market deployment. A tight connection between the two programmes will be ensured through single work programmes, in line with the proposed regulations. [1] https://commission.europa.eu/publications/european-competitiveness-fund_en. [2] See the proposal for Horizon Europe 2028-2034 — https://commission.europa.eu/publications/horizon-europe_en. [3] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32021R0697. [4] https://commission.europa.eu/publications/horizon-europe_en.”
EU research funding · EU industrial funding
2026-02-26 “E-000815/2026 Answer given by Ms Lahbib on behalf of the European Commission The Commission proposal for a Directive establishing the European Disability Card (EDC) and the European Parking Card for persons with disabilities (EPC) 1 provided for a photo of the cardholder on the reverse side of the EPC. However, during the negotiations of the proposal, the European Parliament and Council decided not to retain the photo on the EPC for privacy reasons. The agreed Directive (EU) 2024/2841 2 establishes common formats for the EDC and the EPC, which must be respected. The format of the EPC does not provide for additional information to be added by the Member States other than the data fields in Annex II of the Directive. The EPC will be issued in a physical version, which may be complemented by a digital version, if a Member State so decides. The physical version of the EPC will be placed inside the parked vehicle. As to enforcement checks, it should be noted that the card will be equipped with an interoperable QR code (quick response code), which will allow for verification of the card across borders by the relevant authorities. The Commission is preparing a delegated act to be adopted in accordance with Articles 7(7) and 8(7) of the Directive, which will, inter alia, lay down technical specifications for the QR codes and will provide for interoperability. 1 COM (2023) 512 final: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legalcontent/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52023PC0512&qid=1773841937378. 2 Directive (EU) 2024/2841 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2024 establishing the European Disability Card and the European Parking Card for persons with disabilities: https://eurlex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2024/2841/oj/eng.”
Driving licences
2025-02-17 “E-000706/2025 Answer given by Mr McGrath on behalf of the European Commission Unfair commercial practices, including fraudulent or deceptive practices by traders, are regulated under Directive 2005/29/EC 1 . The Commission coordinates enforcement actions with competent authorities in Member States to tackle EU-wide breaches of EU consumer law 2 under Regulation (EU) 2017/2394 3 . Under Regulation 2022/2065 4 , providers of very large online platforms (VLOPs) such as Booking.com are also required, with a close scrutiny by the Commission, to carry out risk assessments and put in place mitigation measures in relation to risks of actual or foreseeable negative effects for high-level of consumer protection. In case of substantiated suspicions, the Commission can send requests for information or open a formal investigation against a VLOP 5 . Moreover, Directive (EU) 2015/2366 6 requires payment service providers to apply payments authentication and refund payment service users in case of unauthorised payment transactions. To tackle new fraud trends, the Commission proposal for the Payment Services Regulation 7 requires providers of electronic communication services to cooperate with payment services providers. Any personal data processing must have appropriate technical and organisational measures to ensure appropriate security in compliance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 8 . Enforcement lies within the competence of national supervisory authorities and courts. 1 Directive 2005/29/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 May 2005 concerning unfair business-to-consumer commercial practices in the internal market and amending Council Directive 84/450/EEC, Directives 97/7/EC, 98/27/EC and 2002/65/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Regulation (EC) No 2006/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council (‘Unfair Commercial Practices Directive’). 2 For instances the coordinated action against subscription traps on the Internet Consumer frequent traps and scams or the one on COVID-19 related consumer scams, see for both https://commission.europa.eu/live-worktravel-eu/consumer-rights-and-complaints/enforcement-consumer-protection/coordinated-actions/consumerfrequent-traps-and-scams_en. 3 Regulation (EU) 2017/2394 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2017 on cooperation between national authorities responsible for the enforcement of consumer protection laws and repealing Regulation (EC) No 2006/2004. ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2017/2394/oj. 4 Regulation 2022/2065/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 October 2022 on a Single Market for Digital Services and amending Directive 2000/31/EC (Digital Services Act). Available here: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32022R2065. 5 More information about Commission's enforcement activities can be found here: https://digitalstrategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/list-designated-vlops-and-vloses. 6 Directive (EU) 2015/2366 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2015 on payment services in the internal market, amending Directives 2002/65/EC, 2009/110/EC and 2013/36/EU and Regulation (EU) No 1093/2010, and repealing Directive 2007/64/EC. 7 Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on payment services in the internal market and amending Regulation (EU) No 1093/2010, COM/2023/367 final; currently under discussion by colegislators. 8 Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation).”
Liability for online marketplaces
2025-01-24 “E-000324/2025 Answer given by Mr Várhelyi on behalf of the European Commission Food produced or imported in the EU, must comply with EU’s sanitary and phytosanitary standards. No food containing residues of pesticides at a level posing a health risk can be placed on the market or imported. This applies regardless of trade agreements with third countries, including Mercosur. The Commission conducts regular audits in third countries and works closely with Member States authorities that perform official controls and enforcement activities on imported food to ensure that non-compliant products cannot enter the EU market. As presented in the Communication A Vision for Agriculture and Food on 19 February 2025 1 , the Commission will reinforce its actions in this regard. The Union approach to a fairer global playing field will consist of two-fold action that must go hand in hand. Besides strengthening a stricter implementation of internationally agreed commitments, the Commission will present in 2025 its line of action on deepening reciprocity to the Member States for further elaboration. At the same time, the Union will ensure domestically that ambitious EU standards do not lead to economic, environmental and social leakages. The Commission will pursue, in line with international rules, a stronger alignment of production standards applied to imported products, notably on pesticides and animal welfare. 1 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions – A vision for Agriculture and Food Shaping together an attractive farming and agri-food sector for future generations COM/2025/75 final https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legalcontent/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:52025DC0075”
Pesticides & trade · Trade relations with Mercosur · Import of agri-food products in the EU
“Thanks, chair. Good morning. First, I'd like to thank the rapporteur for his work so far. And I look forward to the negotiations. I think we can all agree on the importance of positive workplaces, employment rights and the need to ensure fairness right across the European Union. But we should not lose sight of the importance of opportunity and the need to support small businesses and employers. Subcontracting is an important part of the employment landscape landscape. It provides opportunities to workers and important flexibility for important projects, from building much needed housing to tourism to the hospitality sector, many vital businesses simply couldn't survive without the flexibility and the opportunity that subcontracting provides. And it's not that I'm saying there are no problems because there are. We should always be vigilant against illegal activity. The denial of rights and this report, I think, is a really important opportunity to say something about that. When or where enforcement of existing rules isn't taking place, we absolutely need to make sure to say that we expect much better. However, we should also recognize that a world without subcontracting is a world where we have fewer and more expensive houses. It's a world where it's harder to employ people in specialized areas where costs and burdens are higher. For small businesses, where infrastructure is harder to get and to build and more costly and where opportunities are a lot of the times denied.”
EU policy on employment subcontracting
“Child poverty is not inevitable. It's the result of our choices. But we can choose differently. Right across the EU, more than 1 in 4 children are at risk of poverty or social exclusion. And this is not just happening in struggling economies. It is happening in some of the most wealthy, successful societies in the world. Countries with strong growth, thriving businesses and solid public finances still have far too many children starting life with the disadvantage, and the reality is that a country's rising balance sheet does not automatically mean that a child gets a warm home, a decent meal, and the supports that they need in school. In fact, several of our high income member states child poverty rates are higher than the EU average, especially for single parents and children with disabilities. And when that happens, we're not just failing those children, but we're actually failing and limiting our own future potential. Because if I'm to be blunt, today's children are tomorrow's workforce. They are our future entrepreneurs, our work skilled workers, our carers, our innovators, and our taxpayers. And if we allow talent to be shaped by disadvantage instead of opportunity, we are going to pay the price much later. In higher public spending, lost productivity and the loss of social cohesion. So the European Child Guarantee is not charity. It is common sense. It is about making sure that children have access to the basics of food, housing, health healthcare, education, childcare stuff. Most of us and our families in this House take for granted. If we're serious about long term growth, we need to make sure that looking after and investing children is not optional. It is an absolute must. Thank you.”
Child poverty policy
“I think we all know how stressful it can be to book a holiday. You're trying to juggle your flights, your hotels, your transfers, and you're keeping your fingers crossed in hopes that nothing goes wrong. But now, the new EU Package Travel Directive is designed to help make that process clearer, easier and much safer. It's going to cut down on red tape so that small businesses and local travel agents can do what they do best, offering great value and choice to their customers, but at the same time, it keeps the cost of travel low by making sure the rules are simple and fair. And I think most importantly, it is going to protect you, the consumer. Whether you book online, in person, or as part of a package, you will have clear rights, stronger guarantees. When the plans change, we are going to have a better definition of what constitutes a package. We are going to have new standardised information rules so that it's very clear that you know what you're dealing with. You're going to have new cancellation rights, so you don't you won't necessarily need a reason from now on and things will be faster, fairer, particularly when it comes to our refunds. So the new proposal is a win for businesses. It is a win for consumers, and it's a real win for Europe's travel industry as a whole. And I'm very proud to welcome it.”
EU Package Travel Directive: traveller protection vs business flexibility
“Thank you Pasquale and thanks everybody this morning for your presentations and your interest in this topic. I think I'd like to address the question generally for whatever inputs might be forthcoming because I think we all know from experience the impact that any new tax has a multiplier effect especially on human behavior. I think it seems evident to me that the tax on digital platforms would inevitably be passed on to the end user and that's like that's every single citizen in the European Union. Whether this would be in the form of newer higher costs or alternatively restricted practices as our guest from Portugal has said there today, I think that to me would be obvious. Sectoral taxes like this are almost always borne by the ultimate user at the end of the day and not by anybody else. So an effective solution I think would be to introduce such a measure on a global scale as opposed to on a European scale. I think it's the only way we can do it and this obviously is the aim of the OECD two pillar process. So I think departing from that could create uneven burdens on citizens in certain places and ultimately obviously create competitive disadvantage which is something that we definitely don't want to do in the European Union. So could I ask maybe just a number of questions Pasquale please? Can I ask our experts has any research been done into what impact a standalone digital tax would have on our citizens either in higher costs or restricted services? What has the experience been in the various countries that has actually tried it already? What has the outcome been whether it's positive or negative? And is there a sense that to operate such a digital tax even at just an EU level would create a competitive disadvantage in Europe which will obviously cost us jobs, investment, you know the flow that we eventually think would happen? And also finally what is the economic impact of fragmentation within the single market that would be caused by member states or has been caused by member states introducing their own single tax? And very finally Pasquale then, you know, there are pressures on the pillar two process. What can we do to ensure that we relieve those pressures and keep it on track? Thank you.”
EU competences on taxation
“Thank you chair. Commissioner, the 28th regime might sound like the name of a horror movie, but I think it's one of the most important things the commission has done in an awfully long time. We say the single market is one of Europe's biggest success stories, but for so many of our smaller businesses, it's something that still seems hypothetical. Something they hear about but actually never get to experience. And I think we all know, and we've heard this morning what the challenges are. Bureaucracy costs and plenty of red tape. And so our job is to clear the barriers and make that single market a reality for as many small businesses as we can. And that is why the idea of a framework of a truly European company, an EU Inc., is so really important. The ambition is welcome. 48 hours to establish an EU company with a maximum cost of only €100 and no minimum share capital requirements. But I think it is. Crucially, company information will only need to be submitted once. That's really, really important. So we've seen previous efforts have failed because we did not grasp what businesses really, really needed, which was just simplicity and flexibility. And now we must make sure that as we legislate, we don't lose the ambition that we have seen in the last number of months. So I say to the sceptics, helping our small businesses is really good for employees. It is good for communities, it is good for living standards. And I think it is really, really important that it is good for opportunities for our young people and we need to acknowledge that. So to oppose that is the very essence of standing up against these opportunities. So I am really asking you to get on board. The 28th regime will only succeed if it brings together the best in class to make Europe as a whole, a great place to establish a business.”
EU Single Market harmonisation
“Thank you. Commissioner. Um, we often talk about politics in terms of keeping the lights on, but when it comes to our energy infrastructure, this literally is what it's all about. Europe relies on energy always being available to run all of our vital appliances, light and heat, our homes and our businesses, and keep the world as we know and expect it to be running. The last few years across Europe have seen how easy it is to disrupt our power supply. From systems failures recently in Spain to sabotage by Russia in the Baltics. And I think it is clear now that energy is a new front in global conflict in Ireland. For far too long we have been relying on a single interconnector from the UK. One incident on this connector, whether it's sabotage or an accident and literally the lights would go out right across the entire island. And that is why I welcome the soon to be completed Celtic Interconnector with France, because we need to see much more of this vital investment in Ireland. We literally have spent the entire of my political life 17 years talking about cross country interconnectors, and whilst talk might seem cheap, it's racking up huge bills. If Eirgrid had spent the last few years building the North South interconnector underground, rather than simply talking about it and going around in circles, we would now have a connector up and running and actually it would have been much cheaper the cost wise than it's actually going to eventually cost to build. We need to stop treating vital infrastructure like it's an afterthought. A modern European economy needs a reliable infrastructure supply for every EU country.”
EU energy infrastructure integration
“In short, we absolutely need to lower the barriers to entry. Fifthly, in line with Pimco's remit, the amendments also emphasise the fund's role in completing and deepening the single market. The ECF should make it easier, not harder, for businesses to operate across borders, supported by interoperable digital and physical infrastructure. Companies should succeed because they innovate and deliver quality, not because they are best at navigating our fragmented rules. And finally, on resilience, I believe that we need a balanced approach. Reducing high risk dependencies where clearly necessary, I think is sensible. But any safeguards must be targeted and proportionate. We cannot undermine openness competition in the name of security. Europe must remain an attractive place to invest, innovate and do business. And I think, taken together, these amendments aim to make the European Competitiveness Fund simpler, more focused and hopefully more effective. It should be firmly anchored in a strong single market, responsive to the needs of our SMEs throughout their growth journey and capable of delivering tangible improvements in productivity and growth. And if we designed this fund well, I think it can really make a difference to Europe's long term competitiveness. If we don't, it risks just becoming another complex instrument with limited practical impact. Impose responsibility is to ensure that from a single market perspective, that we get this right. Thank you. Chair.”
EU Single Market harmonisation
“Thank you, Mr. President. Commissioner, Europeans just want to know the things that are illegal offline are illegal online. I think it is just as simple as that. And the idea of threats from other parts of the world against EU officials for simply doing their job. That we saw this summer is absolutely outrageous. So I think we need to be serious if Europe wants to be taken seriously. We need more than just rules. We need to be competitive, and we need to build a dynamic, pro-investment environment where homegrown EU tech can thrive. Over 100 different pieces of EU legislation have been proposed in the last few years, and there is still more to come. I honestly think this is madness. We need to reduce the regulatory burdens on European countries. We need to reduce the regulatory divergence. And I want to see the digital omnibus bill do exactly that. Furthermore, Europe will not develop a digital sovereign future if we cut ourselves off from the rest of the world. We need to protect our supply chains, promote digital solutions, and give companies simply the space and the freedom that they need and the support that they need to innovate. The talent and the potential is here in Europe. We need to be brave enough to let it grow and thrive. Thank you, Mr. President.”
EU digital & tech sovereignty
“I think there's many crisises have been caused by actions of the member states, but what we've been trying to do. Michael, as you well know for the last 12 months, is to address the issues that are causing delays and interrupting the building supply that come from here. We are not trying to interfere with member states and the decisions that they make, but we're trying to recognize that some of the barriers that are causing longer delays, less financing, actually come from regulations and abundance of regulations from the European Union and restrictive lending rules that apply both to the European Investment Bank, but also our central bank rules.”
Overall simplification of regulation in the EU
“Commissioner Jorgenson, housing is now the single biggest cost of living pressure facing people across Europe. In Dublin, rents are at a record high. Young people can't afford to move out of their homes. Students are struggling to find digs. Even our nurses, teachers and gardai can't live in the areas that they're serving. And whilst I recognise that housing has never been a European competence, a European crisis requires a European response. And that is why the affordable housing plan that you've launched today is really important and really matters. Firstly, it focuses on supply. Europe's need more homes faster and that means cutting red tape and speeding up planning and supporting modern construction methods so that we can deliver homes at scale without sacrificing quality. The housing simplification package is enormously welcome. But Commissioner, I really hope that we find the resources to deliver this as soon as possible instead of waiting until 2027. Our young people cannot wait. It should also consider the impact of some environmental regulations during a crisis. We need to take drastic measures, and I think the time has long passed for rebalancing the need between housing and critical infrastructure over environmental impacts of their construction. Secondly, this plan unlocks investment real investment for member states like Ireland that now can afford the delivery of housing supply for low and middle income houses households. Thirdly, it tackles short term rentals in housing stressed area. In parts of Dublin, there are more Airbnb empty houses than there are people who are looking for houses. It's not sustainable. Fourthly, prioritising young people and students more. Students need housing, innovative living models and support to reduce deposits. And I just want to say, just as a vice chair of the committee for the last year, you really have listened to us and really, really responded today. And I really look forward to supporting you in all of your endeavours. Thank you.”
EU regulation of short-term rentals · EU housing policy
“Thanks, chair, and thanks, Commissioner. This has been a very thoughtful exchange. I want to say that given the midterm review recognizes housing is now a priority, but the practice of the cohesion funds, I think, still remains structurally ill suited to actually helping people, particularly when we're addressing scale and the urgency of the crisis. I want to ask you specifically in relation to Ireland, given the cohesion, policy allocations are primarily based on GDP per capita and that given that Ireland is relatively income rich in that terms, we still have a severe pricing shortage or issue with regard to people being able to access affordable housing. So given what my green colleague has just said, I want to ask you, would you consider would the Commission consider introducing housing affordability indicators into the cohesion allocation criteria? Or maybe more specifically, would you consider creating a direct, flexible funding pathway for large scale delivery of affordable housing and cost rental? Other than the piece, I'm talking about directly funding builders and developers to be able to develop at scale, particularly in the urban sector. Thank you, chair.”
EU policy on urban development
“Thank you, Madam President. Colleagues, as a parent, you can be sure that the recent data showing that more and more young people are turning to chatbots for friendship really stops me in my tracks. Ai chatbots are perfectly mimicking the predatory behavior of human groomers with absolutely devastating outcomes. And like most parents, my head tells me that I know about all of the opportunities that the internet gives, but my heart tells me it can be a real source of danger and harm for our children. And quite frankly, I think parents have had enough. I'm really tired of hearing stories about children exposed to things that no child should ever see, and I genuinely dread to think how easy it can be for an innocent child to come across adult content, extreme violence, or targeted manipulative content. I am tired of childhoods being ruined, of young people's mental health being damaged and criminals getting away unpunished. And I'm tired of parents feeling like we're left to fight this battle all on our own. With this report, we are setting clear expectations, and it's time for the Commission, member states and platforms to enforce them. This is Europe saying no more. If a company puts children's lives at risk in the real world, we shut them down. Online platforms should face exactly the same responsibility and exactly the same consequences. We have had enough of weak enforcement, weak rules, and far too little responsibility. Whether it's under 16 on social media without proper parental control, addictive design, keeping children hooked for hours, or AI bots preying on our children's fears and insecurities. We need real aid checks, real safeguards, and real consequences. And we absolutely must ensure that we are giving parents and children the resources and the information that they require to tackle this issue effectively. Thank you.”
Safety features & content control for child protection online
“That free and open trade is good for everyone. It is the best way to make sure that we spread wealth and prosperity. So it stands to reason that tariffs are bad for everybody. And tariffs are going to make all our countries poorer. So I am glad that since the beginning of this ludicrous one man trade war, the EU and you particularly have stood Consistently as the adult in the room, because we all should be clear in all of our member States. Ordinary working people are looking on are in fear of losing their jobs and in economies faltering. So what we must do is we must protect our agri food and our drinks industries, our pharmaceutical companies, our very good manufacturing. There are so many other sectors that serves. Even 10% will result in job losses. A reprieve till August 1st is a good move, but what we need is a resolution. We should not be talking about retaliation at this point. We should be talking about a pragmatic solution and European leading the way. So I want to just wish you the very, very good to assure you that you we all stand behind you and your team and we are very, very proud of the practical approach that you have taken in the last number of months.”
EU-US trade relations
“Thank you. Chair. Commissioner, there's probably a number of people in this room and definitely lots watching that were bullied when they were children singled out for being different. But at least when you got home, it was safe. Today there is no safe switch. You can't turn it off. Technology is supposed to open doors, not trap our children in a 24 hour cycle of abuse, But cyberbullying isn't inevitable. It's happening because we are allowing it on our watch. And today, Commissioner, the EU has launched its action plan against cyberbullying. And whilst that's really to be welcomed, action is the key word. This can't just be about another set of guidelines. More speeches, more headlines in the newspaper, and then we'll move on to the next thing. But nothing changes. It should absolutely mean something really, really simple that the ten year old child that's listening today feels safe when they get home to their house. It should mean clear rules, real enforcement, rapid takedowns, and some real penalties, something that we're really not seeing. But we also need to give parents and our teachers the real tools to act early and to treat online abuse as seriously as we do, if it happened in the classroom or the playground. It is time for us, as a society, to rebuild safe spaces for our children to take back their childhood from our tech giants, to give them back their freedom and just a chance for them to be kids and to play and to be with each other. Because if we don't act now and act in a really serious way, we're telling young people that being abused is the price to be online, and that's a price no child should ever have to pay.”
Digital platforms liability for harmful and illegal content
“Colleagues, I want to take a moment, like my other Irish colleague, to recognise the outstanding work of fellow Irishwoman Emily O'Reilly as the former European Ombudsman. Under her leadership, the office has strengthened transparency, accountability and public trust right across the EU institutions. And one area where her work had been particularly forward looking is in the governance of artificial intelligence. She championed transparency around AI tools that are used in decision making, ensuring that these powerful systems are applied responsibly and that our citizens understand how they affect the administrative process and decisions. Emily showed that innovation and accountability are not in conflict, and we can embrace new technologies while holding institutions to the highest standards of openness and fairness. And our work, I think, is a reminder that leadership, integrity and vision are always essential for Europe's future. Ireland is particularly proud of her example in showing that the world a commitment to ethics and accountability can guide us safely in the digital age, and I would like to wish the incoming ombudswoman and you know every success in your term. Thank you.”
Activities of EU Ombudsman
“We should be doing what we can to make it easier to service large contracts, to be part of big projects, and to create jobs where those needs exists. We should also remember that the specialisation offered by subcontracting arrangements helps to make workplaces safer and more productive, because we can better match the skills with the needs that are required. I think we should be extremely reluctant to talk about an outright ban for what is an important part of current business arrangements. The freedom of contract is a key part of business arrangements that we shouldn't try to undermine. The freedom to run our businesses is also a fundamental right. The modern employment landscape is diverse and that many workers are sole traders, mobile or self-employed, and depend on the opportunities that subcontracting provides. So blanket bans will hurt all of those companies that abide by the rules and try to do their very best. And this has an important impact on the employees and the communities that we all represent. So in my amendments, I have made suggestions for alternative directions that we might be able to take, and I hope that they are taken into account. I think it's true that better communications between all parts of businesses can yield positive results, and we should do what we can to provide this kind of harmony and cooperation without undermining the jobs market. And we should see where blockages exist, and we absolutely must do something about it.”
EU policy on employment subcontracting
“Thank you. Chair. Commissioner, when it comes to commercial practices, online is the only show in town. But when it comes to consumer fraud, online spaces still remain a Wild West. We need all actors on board to ensure that we have a shared responsibility, because today citizens in Europe are subject to fake advertising and online scams on a near daily basis, often via social media platforms. Our own Irish Data Protection Commission has already issued over €3.5 billion worth of fines, as well as corrective measures. But it's all too easy to put fake advertisements purporting to be from regulated institutions online, and for unsuspecting citizens to be scammed out of their own money before the advert just simply disappears. Three in every four Irish people have encountered some form of suspicious activity online, whilst 45% of Europeans state that they have experienced more suspicious activity compared with last year. So we know such incidents are hard to track and almost impossible to reverse after they happen. And the Digital Services Act obliges platforms to take down illegal content once it has been reported. However, it creates few proactive obligations prior to publication or even reporting by individuals. So we need to look at ways to ensure that electronic communicators provide verify with national competent authorities that advertisements purporting to be from regulated entities are, in fact legitimate, so that we can protect our people and their hard earnings. Thank you. Chair.”
Digital advertising
“Chair, and I'd like to thank Crystal and indeed all the shadows for the work that's gone into it. Um, an awful lot of the time when we talk about protecting miners online, we talk about the algorithms, we talk about inappropriate contents, all of the things that you've all mentioned, um, addictive mechanics, all of that stuff. A lot of the time, what we don't talk about is human behavior and the significant impact that that actually has our children interacting with our other children and the role that that has in the poor mental health. So I'm really, really pleased to see that when you talk about parental supervision rules on screen time, because unlimited screen times literally in some cases, unfortunately no content supervision whatsoever. And the parents own behavior when the child sees the mammy on the phone, you know, all of that actually, really, really is important for us to address it. It's not about being a nanny state. It's about just stating the obvious that we have a responsibility for our children's lives and activities online as well. And the social comparison and the validation seeking. Particularly in our young men. But now, chair, as you have just mentioned, undertake with or sorry with our young women, now we have it with our young men, children creating idealised versions of themselves and then other children and their peers just trying to live up to them, chasing that dopamine, never getting there, that constant pressure that they're under all day, every day, and sometimes half of the night to try and be somebody that they just are never going to be because it doesn't exist.”
Safety features & content control for child protection online
“President. Commissioner. People rightly expect high standards in politics, but the revelations about immoral or seemingly corrupt practices really do enrage people. And they damage the trust that we have in politics. And if people have no longer got trust in politics, well, then democracy in itself is going to be undermined. We know that in the past, there have been particular challenges when it comes to lobbying from countries outside the EU. And so for that reason, we need really clear rules, transparent supervisors, reduced bureaucracy and proper implementation. And we also have to uphold people's fundamental rights, because it's important to recognize that representations can be legitimate. And third country groups, including civil society, have a right to express their positions. So we need to make sure that the EU remains open for engagement, to dialogue, to hearing the voices of our neighbours, while rightly clamping down on abuses and illegal practices. Many member states already have their own rules, and it is right that they can build a minimum standard. But we set the standard at an EU level. On a personal note, one place where I really feel that we must ensure that the voices of civil society continue to be heard is Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland is unfortunately part of a third country dragged out of the EU against a majority opinion. And people in Northern Ireland, however, continue to have a birthright to EU citizenship should they want it. So Northern Ireland remains part of the customs union. But while Northern Ireland no longer sends representatives to this House or to our other institutions, we should ensure that the Voice of Northern Ireland's civil society organisations continue to be heard. Thank you.”
Transparency requirements for interest groups
“Commissioner. Without doubt, the single market is Europe's greatest asset. It creates opportunities for businesses and workers. It allows us to raise living standards in all member states, and it gives us real influence in the world. But we know we have an awfully long way to go before its potential is fully reached. Today, the single market strategy is a good start, but we need action, real action to make it a reality. And we also need much more ambition, especially for banking and financial services. But more than anything else, we need to stop burdening our small and medium businesses with red tape and give them the support and the services to trade across the borders of Europe. So I want to welcome three things today. Number one, I want to welcome the plans to recognise professional qualifications right throughout the EU. Irish people are the working envy of every member state and their skills should be recognized and valued. Number two, I want to welcome the plans that we stop punishing small and medium enterprises by reducing the burdens on businesses between 250 and 750 employees, but we actually must aim much higher at number three. I am really glad to see the Commission responding to my call for reform of our GDP rules. Gdpr rules for SMEs. Reducing GDPR record keeping requirements means less red tape, more clarity and finally, a bit of breathing room for the entrepreneurs who drive our economies. And I really think it's a win win for common sense. But we do need to go further. So I want to continue pushing for further practical reforms that strike the right balance between privacy and productivity. What businesses need is not more paperwork, but clear proportional rules that actually work in the real world. Gaurav Mcgarth.”
Overall simplification of regulation in the EU
“Thank you. Chair. Um, I just want to thank the commission for proposing the results of their findings. And I don't disagree that late payments does obviously clearly have a negative consequence on some of our businesses and some of our SMEs. However, the situation is very, very different from one member state to others. And I think there's also very important comment to be made that companies have, in many cases, the arrangements between themselves and their suppliers as to their own payment schedule. I am the EPP shadow rapporteur, and I think what we need to be doing is asking some serious questions around the value add of this proposal, because to me it appears too rigid, too disruptive, and it undermines the freedom of contract, which is vital for European countries or companies. So I wonder, would it be of benefit to have a conversation that, given that the late payments regulation is stuck at council and we have been waiting on some sort of a resolution for so long that maybe we have a conversation at this stage about withdrawing it and listening to the actual concerns of businesses that have been shared with us for the last number of years. Thanks, chair.”
EU rules on late commercial payments
“Thank you. Chair. First of all, I'd like to thank Mathias for his work and his engagement on this file. And I do look forward to working together to find a compromise. Chair, the report is a good opportunity to put ideas on the table, but we all know that uncertainty that exists in the world and the enormous pressures that are on the European economy, and it's for that reason that any reforms that we consider for the taxation of the financial services sector should be focused on driving competitiveness, innovation and economic growth. We believe that Europe needs to remain open for business and attractive to foreign direct investment, and that includes measures such as tax competition that makes us competitive on an international scale. And there are two important areas where I think we could make an important contribution to this report. One is the Siu and the other is the decluttering of our tax system when it comes to the Siu. We know that in many countries, taxation acts as a barrier, not an incentive to the retail participation of our financial markets. And this is something I think we need to consider in the context of the Commission's blueprint for a savings and investment account, the kind of account that has the potential to be transformative, not only economically but also culturally in terms of building a real culture of investment. There's 10 trillion in low yield bank accounts across the EU that could be used more productively and really deliver value for our people. So therefore, it's vital that the member states take up the challenge and implement sees that are easily accessible, focused on delivering returns for the investor and, crucially, tax attractive. This report is an opportunity for our committee to feed into this discussion about what tax attractive options look like for building a culture of retail investment.”
Priorities of taxation policy in the EU
“Mr. President, Commissioner, today we have an opportunity to change the lives, the direction of the lives of a generation of young people. In my own hometown, Dublin, and the cities right across Ireland, young people who are working hard and are doing absolutely everything right cannot find a home that they can afford to buy. Many are still living with their mummies long beyond the age that they should have expected, which is delaying milestones that my generation and previous generations would have taken for granted. Moving out, settling down, planning a future, having a family. Ireland's not unique. Right across Europe we see the same pressures, rising construction costs, financing and lending gaps, and a planning environment that has become so convoluted, slower, complex and more difficult to navigate. I think the outcome is clear. We are not building houses fast enough, and I think that is why the work of this parliament's Special Committee for housing has been so important over the last year, and really, we have worked collectively and together to examine the causes and the shortages of houses right across the union, and look for practical ways to actually help member states increase supply. And today's report hopefully sends a clear message that housing is, should be, and needs to remain firmly on the European agenda. We all know that Europe can't tell people how to build houses. Policy will always remain a national competence, but we can absolutely help remove the barriers that come from here that limit investment and that slow down construction in Ireland. Judicially reviewing developments and blocking and delaying thousands of houses from being built has actually become nearly like a blood sport. And that is why this report calls for housing simplification package to cut unnecessary bureaucracy and shorten permitting procedures that really are delaying. We also need the investment from the European Bank, EU financial instruments and particularly for smaller developers to support public and private partnerships. Today, we need to go from reporting the crisis to actually fixing it.”
EU housing policy
“Madam president, I want to speak directly to anybody who has ever been abused or attacked online. And unfortunately, there are far too many. But I want you to know that we see you, but we also clearly see the need to protect you. When I was a kid, when you got home, at least the bullying stopped. Now it follows you into your home, into your bedroom, into your pocket, into your thoughts. There's literally no escape from it. And the truth is, some of the people in this house don't want to admit. We all should want to see what is illegal offline, illegal online. Full stop. Ireland did not wait. After the tragic death of Coco Fox and the relentless courage of her mother, Jackie, who you all met last month or last year. Last month we acted and we brought in Coco's Law. We made it a crime to abuse, harass or exploit somebody online. And now there are real, tangible consequences. So you have to ask the commission, why is Europe still dragging its feet? Because right now our laws are not keeping up. Platforms cannot keep profiting from abuse while pretending they are powerless to stop it. And we in Ireland have proven that this can be done. So the question now is what's Europe waiting for?”
Digital platforms liability for harmful and illegal content
“Thank you, chair. And thank you, gentlemen. It's a really interesting report. I spent four years of my life on the Ebsco Council working on file 883. And this report, given that frustration, doesn't fill me with any confidence that we're going to get the taxation right anytime soon. But can I ask you two questions? Um, in your report, you recommend that we tax or that we classify, um, digital and remote workers, particularly the highly professional ones, in a similar capacity to frontier workers. Can I ask you what legal or technical mechanisms in that case would you use to define or recommend the place of work for the taxation purposes. And the second question I have is, is that you outlined the compliance and administrative burdens and again give recommendations as to what we could or couldn't do. Now this is given from an Irish perspective. We don't have as much large compliance costs as other colleagues countries do, but from an SME perspective they're still quite large. Would a common tax portal or uniform documentation with regard to reporting? Would that help? Um, over and above the recommendations that you've made outlining that particular issue as well. Thank you chair.”
EU competences on taxation
“Thanks, chair. And apologies again for being late. I was another committee meeting. It's along the same lines as my colleague Fernando. So I'd like to know how we can harmonize the Harmonised the tax treatment of shared R&D, equipment development, operational spending to avoid double taxation and compliance burdens, which would ultimately delay any deployment of new contracts or new products. Thanks, Jeff, for indulging me.”
EU competences on taxation
“Thank you chair. And I'd like to thank Margaret and attorneys for a very comprehensive body of work, because it highlights, I think, a number of interesting points. The fact that taxation and the financial services sector does little to correct regulatory imbalances. I think it's really interesting that you suggest that taxation should come with sunset clauses. And I think, most importantly, that the impact of additional taxation is very frequently passed directly, directly onto the consumer. But I think what's clear to me is that the Commission and indeed I would have a personal ambition for this, is to encourage more retail investors amongst our savers to make our savers, our European savers, European investors, and to do that, I think we need it to make it particularly easy for citizens to access financial products where there are prices. I have just come from a housing committee meeting hearing around the use of public funds. We have a situation where increasing the cost of mortgages and insurance policies for citizens, by way of increasing taxes is not going to make it any easier to solve that crisis. So specifically, I would like to ask a question as to what we can do to address the specific problem, such as the inability of the financial services sector to be able to reclaim its VAT without penalising the customers with additional taxes. And specifically, what options are there to improve opportunities for VAT grouping for firms across the EU to make it easier to address any of the legal issues that exist, rather than the costs of imposing a totally new VAT regime. Please.”
VAT harmonisation
“We should identify where the barriers are and how they can be cleared. And thankfully, I think there are some member states that are already leading in this way and that are showing the rest of us a positive example. While taxation is, of course a national sovereignty based on the social contract, it still benefits the European and international cooperation. We need to look again at the value of the open method of coordination and the semester process for aligning best practices in Europe when it comes to taxation. Secondly, I think this report is an important opportunity to comment on the value of the decluttering agenda, and this applies both at EU level and at member state level. Taxation reform needs to be part of an ongoing administrative simplification process, particularly in the financial sector where we are looking to grow Europe's leadership and innovation. We should be looking at ways to make the lives of EU citizens and SMEs easier, not more challenging when it comes to taxation. Taxation should help to boost certainty, convenience and efficiency. Our citizens and our companies are not just piggy banks for governments. We really rely on them to create economic growth and increased wealth to support society. And we know that there are still significant divergences between member states when it comes to sectoral taxes in the financial sector. So this should be part of our discussion. Also, we have a duty to look at best practice and to see where we can learn from each other. So I look forward to meaningful negotiations to reach a compromise. Thank you chair.”
EU competences on taxation
“Thank you. Chair. Colleagues. These reports take us a real step towards a more joined up, science based system for managing chemicals in Europe. A common data platform and stronger cooperation between our agencies can make regulation more efficient, more transparent and ultimately more effective by establishing consistent assessment methods with a single shared data platform, I think we can make sure that important data is accessible, comparable, and contributes to building an even safer and more efficient industry for Europe. That is what smart regulation, driven by the goals of competitiveness and simplification is all about. But as we build this new framework, we have to continue to keep competitiveness front and centre of everything we do. Europe's strength depends on industries that can innovate and invest with confidence. In an era of global uncertainty, we must show that Europe is open for business. It is a place where innovation happens. In Ireland, our pharmaceutical and chemical sectors show what can be achieved with good regulation support rather than stifles enterprise. And I think this goal must be a system that helps businesses to innovate, not one that buries them in complexity. If we get that balance right, we can protect health and the environment, reduce duplication and keep the EU, especially our farmer producing states. World leading technologies.”
Chemicals regulation
“So I think there's many ways in which this report could be more balanced, and I think it could take account of the needs of a modern economy and modern employment markets. We've spent the last year talking year chair talking about competitiveness and the need to boost Badly boost the European economy. Our inability to scale European businesses. Our own attractiveness to investment is costing people, in terms of jobs for their children, and opportunities to build wealth and security for all our futures. And this is an urgent problem that citizens are expecting us genuinely to address and to address soon. And I think these priorities should guide our work in this opinion. As we know, the particular challenges the single market is facing, whether it's continuing internal barriers, burdens on our businesses or just the blockages on innovation. So when it comes to immoral and illegal practices, the key is enforcement. But we have large, copious amount of legislation which often isn't fully implemented, new legislation for its own sake. I really don't believe is the answer. So we should be looking more at the tools that we currently have and getting more out of them before we add to them. And I think that's about my wrap up for this morning, but I genuinely look forward to the work ahead.”
Overall simplification of regulation in the EU
“Thank you. Chairman. Um, first of all, I would like to congratulate Mikael and the great work that he has done. This is a really, really good report. But, Commissioner, you know that we have €10 trillion worth of savings sitting across the European Union in bank accounts instead of being used for investment. And if we use that money productively, we know it could support jobs. It could support infrastructure, businesses and our policies. This commission's policy priorities, it would be giving opportunity to people who are not earning any money by having it in their bank accounts, an opportunity to earn better nest eggs for themselves and their future. And I think, you know, I'm talking about the EU Savings and Investment Union. I want to particularly welcome the Commission's proposal for the new tax favourable savings and investment accounts. But if we're going to get serious, we need to make sure that every single member state works towards simpler tax rules and to supporting our savers to become investors. Tax rules should encourage people to make their money work for them, and not punish people for doing so. And in Ireland, we have long punished our investors by having very, very high exit tax on ETFs and an absolutely nonsensical deemed disposal room. Yesterday's budget nationally and Ireland went a small way towards fixing that problem. But we have a long way to go. We need to remove the deemed disposal unit once and for all right now. Thank you chairman.”
Priorities of taxation policy in the EU
“But we should also bear in mind the ongoing need to focus on European competitiveness and regulatory simplification in the work that we have to do in this regard. So it doesn't mean that we're going to lower our standards in terms of the workplace. But what it does mean is that we have to have a keen focus on what it best takes to boost productivity, to help businesses grow, and to create jobs in the private sector. I think we also need to respect the principle of subsidiarity in these matters. National labour markets still have very different rules. One from the other. Member states have developed their own responses that often work very, very well and we shouldn't try to undermine well-functioning arrangements. And finally, chair, I think that we should be clear that it is better to focus on our already existing copies of legislation in this area before we try and add any more. We've all talked about simplification for the last year and a half. We don't need to go against that. New legislation would only serve to duplicate or maybe, in a lot of cases, confuse the already existing rules that we have or undermine them. So I look forward to the work ahead. We received a report last night, and we'll all work hard now to make sure that we put in our amendments in a timely manner. Thank you everybody.”
EU competences on social policies
“Commissioner. When it comes to tech innovation, Europe is playing catch up. I don't think that's a secret. We need regulatory reform. And I'm really glad that the commission is recognising this. We need to simplify our rules and lighten the burden on innovators. We need to adopt a real risk based, proportionate approach, not more ex ante regulation. And we need to put competitiveness at the heart of our thinking. We need to give people confidence that their data is secure, but there is absolutely no point in having rules if we do not enforce them properly. And that is why the Commission needs to send a strong message when it comes to our enforcement powers. Pressure from the other side of the Atlantic not to enforce rules is not acceptable. Threats to EU officials who are only doing their job is not acceptable. Enforcement should not be a pawn in a global geopolitical chess game. Because in Europe we have the rule of law. It has to mean something. If there are concerns about enforcement powers and they can be dealt with as part of the legal process, we have regulators, independent courts and democratically elected backstop if needed. That is how the rules should work in democracy. But we should not forget that ultimately the DMA was voted democratically in this House by the representatives of our people, as well as by the Member States and the Council. It is the law of the land. We make a mockery of that law if we do not enforce it properly. This should be a point of principle. Europe will never be taken seriously, or indeed we will not take ourselves seriously if laws are enforced based on the whims of and pressures of global actors, rather than the democratic rule of principles that we hold dear in this House. Thank you.”
EU rules on digital competition
“Thank you. President. Commissioner. Consumers today are shopping with their feet. They have high standards, and they're asking the market to meet them. They're looking to make more informed decisions on product standards, supply chains and production processes. And this report is about helping producers to respond. It is about making Europe's product framework fit for the clean and digital future. But to succeed, we must create a system that drives innovation and competitiveness, not one that slows it down. Consumers deserve products they can trust, products that are safe, sustainable and transparent. The Digital product Passport can help achieve that by improving traceability and accountability. But it has to work for businesses too, especially for small and medium enterprises that form the backbone of our economy in Europe. And that is why we should work towards interoperable data standards. Compliance must be clear, affordable and practical. Europe's single market is one of our biggest strengths. We cannot afford to burden it with complexity or inconsistent enforcement. And that means keeping conformity checks proportionate and holding non-EU traders to exactly the same rules as everyone else. By striking the right balance, this framework can make Europe a global leader whilst protecting competitiveness and encouraging innovation. Thank you.”
Product passport
“Thank you. I appreciate the opportunity to ask a second question. Can I ask you, does the EPA have any data analysis on the retrofitting programs that are going on, albeit on a small scale around the European Union and the positive impact they're having on not only the environment, our climate targets? And what would you like to see happening to accelerate that program? Like is there specific funding requests that you would have, or do policymakers need to kick in the Boem to to make it go faster. What would your advice be?”
Energy performance of buildings
“Commissioner. For too many Europeans, major public transport developments can sometimes feel like being stuck in one big traffic jam. Frustrating, never making any progress. And that's before we ever even talk about the increasing costs. And that's honestly the case when it comes to Metrolink in Dublin. For literally my entire adult life, we have been talking about building a metro for Dublin North, especially to and from our airport, and then maybe on to other parts of the city, the south and the west, and all of this time, the much vaunted plans have been delayed and adjusted with no measurable progress. So now we're talking about a start date of 2028 and an estimated cost of between 7 billion and €12 billion. I do not know any other project that would come in with an estimated €5 billion price range. Metrolink and Dublin will no doubt bring about immeasurable benefits, both economically and more importantly to the people. The quality of the people's lives that I represent. But we need to get the shovels in the ground and we need to get the EU through the Connecting Europe facility to play its part in financing this project. As the only major EU capital city without a rail link to the airport, Metrolink would see a major EU transport priority under the forthcoming Sustainable Transport Investment Plan. It is vital for businesses, it is vital for citizens and it is an efficient and sustainable public transport system. Thank you chair.”
EU funding for transportation
“Thank you. We're finished the first round and if I know we're over time but if I wonder if I can just have people's indulgence for one minute to ask a quick catch the eye. I think it's to you Doctor Lucio because given that our weaknesses were laid bare, the EU weaknesses were laid bare during the summer, I thought your contribution on the SIU was quite interesting. I know tax is obviously a member state competency but what do you think member states should be doing to make the SIU attractive? In Ireland for argument's sake we have forty one percent exit tax on dividends and gains on EFTs which we're clamoring to try and get changes for but given the blueprint has been leaked what is your view of the ambitions and what do you think member states could be doing individually to make sure that it is attractive and it is ambitious and successful?”
EU competences on taxation
“Thank you. Chair. Colleagues, I think it's very clear that artificial intelligence is now being used to generate sexual abuse material, and not just as a mother or a woman. I'm absolutely horrified with all the warning signs. The reports of the recent AI scandal showed that the system can be manipulated to generate explicit imagery. And I think this is really deeply disturbing, and I welcome the commission's fast moves to examine this matter. But this debate is not only about artificial intelligence, about something that's much wider and deeply troubling in our reality. The continued spread of sexual abuse. Images and videos online for every year, millions of these images are reported worldwide, and the numbers, unfortunately, are continuing to rise. And the uncomfortable truth about Europe is that it's one of the largest hosts of this kind of material in the world, and it's something that we absolutely, urgently must change. Artificial intelligence is a really powerful tool, and we know it's going to bring enormous benefits to all and every part of our lives. But like any powerful technology, it can and is being abused. And when it is misused to exploit children, we have to respond decisively. For any parent, it's really concerning because we expect our children to be safe, as safe online as they are in the real world. So I think we need to send our clear messages to those people who believe the technology gives them away to commit these crimes. You cannot hide behind algorithms, you cannot hide behind technology, and you will not hide in Europe. Protecting our children online is non-negotiable, but we must find a way that respects privacy and the fundamental rights of all of our citizens. Because in Europe, technology can never be a shield for those who abuse children, and those who try must face the full rigours of our laws. Thank you.”
Privacy & detection of online child abuse
“Thank you chair. Thank you, Commissioner, for your attendance today. Um, I think I want to welcome the commission's commitment to simplification. Um, and not just because of the Draghi and the letter reports, but given the global economic uncertainties that we're experiencing now because of tariffs, I think it's even more urgent. But I want to specifically ask you about your comments last week, suggesting that you and the Commission are planning now to include GDPR legislation within that simplification package for SMEs. And I think the two things that I'd say is, number one, GDPR is something that's very important for personal data, and it has given Europeans protection that we never had before, um, particularly in the light of increased economic weaponization of data. Gdpr is in some cases all people have. Having said that, I think we have to acknowledge that for our, particularly our SMEs, it has provided major bureaucracy and reporting requirements to them that has impeded them to be able to maybe innovate and to develop and upscale some of their business ideas. So I want to specifically ask you, can you confirm if that's true, if you are going to indeed look at the context of simplification of GDPR, and will you ensure that this reform actually supports SMEs in their efforts to combat fraud while continuing to protect our European citizens?”
GDPR
“Thank you. Chair. Um, thanks for the presentation. And I think it's kind of thought provoking, but my specific question is about the EA's role in tracking progress on Europe's circular economy and the environmental targets. So I was wondering, um, what evidence is emerging on the impact of circular construction practices, such as material reusing and waste reduction? When we're building on the housing sector environmental footprint, and how can the data be used then to guide future sustainable and scalable policies to build houses, please?”
Construction products
“We should identify where the barriers are and how they can be cleared. And thankfully, I think there are some member states that are already leading in this way and that are showing the rest of us a positive example. While taxation is, of course a national sovereignty based on the social contract, it still benefits the European and international cooperation. We need to look again at the value of the open method of coordination and the semester process for aligning best practices in Europe when it comes to taxation. Secondly, I think this report is an important opportunity to comment on the value of the decluttering agenda, and this applies both at EU level and at member state level. Taxation reform needs to be part of an ongoing administrative simplification process, particularly in the financial sector where we are looking to grow Europe's leadership and innovation. We should be looking at ways to make the lives of EU citizens and SMEs easier, not more challenging when it comes to taxation. Taxation should help to boost certainty, convenience and efficiency. Our citizens and our companies are not just piggy banks for governments. We really rely on them to create economic growth and increased wealth to support society. And we know that there are still significant divergences between member states when it comes to sectoral taxes in the financial sector. So this should be part of our discussion. Also, we have a duty to look at best practice and to see where we can learn from each other. So I look forward to meaningful negotiations to reach a compromise. Thank you chair.”
Priorities of taxation policy in the EU
“Commissioner, for more than 30 years, we have congratulated ourselves on the single market. We think it's the jewel in the crown of Europe. But we have to be honest, it's absolutely nowhere close to being truly single. We have 27 different energy markets, 27 digital rule books, 27 capital markets. In too many cases, we have 27 bureaucracies protecting national comfort zones. That's not a single market. It's a complete patchwork. And while we're dithering, the world is moving on. The United States can scale innovation across one market. At 330 million customers, China can mobilize and capital and industry at continental scales. And in Europe, we make our entrepreneurs fill out 27 sets of forms. If we're really serious about competitiveness, then the job is far from done. A real single market means completing the capital markets union. It means a genuine energy union so that power can freely be shared. It means a digital single market where a startup in Dublin can really sell to the 450 million customers that we have in Europe with ease. The uncomfortable truth is our fragmentation is mostly self-inflicted. So the next steps of European integration will not be written in our treaties. It will be written in market integration. Not 27 markets politely cooperating with each other. But one market, one ambition, one Europe. Thank you.”
EU Single Market harmonisation
“Thank you. Chair. Commissioner. For too long, Europe has treated our digital comms as a tech matter. And in truth, it's a political issue. We only ever notice our mobile phone networks, our internet when it falls. But our economies, public services, and our democracies rely on it every single day. And Europe cannot be a global leader when every member state plays by different rules, when investment is too slow, or when we're reliant on networks that we don't control. Ireland has learned that the hard way communities were left behind not because they lacked ambition, but because the infrastructure wasn't there. And the National Broadband Plan was a political choice by my party. Fine Gael to invest include and to build resilience. Now Europe faces the same choice we cannot complete when we leave. Country by country, while others act together and invest at scale. This makes us weaker. And this is a security issue. Whoever controls the digital networks controls influence. So Europe must not allow China or any other Italian state to gain access or leverage over our networks, our economy, or our democracy, because our democracy depends upon it. Europe must take control, invest for the long term and put European security first. We have the plan. Now we have to deliver. Thank you.”
EU digital & tech sovereignty
“(11:35:14 – 11:37:06): Thank you, chair. Commissioner, the 20 eighth regime might sound like the name of a horror movie, I but think it's 1 of the most important things the commission has done in an awfully long time. We say the single market is 1 of Europe's biggest success success stories, but for so many of our smaller businesses, it's something that still seems hypothetical, something they hear about but actually never get to experience. And I think we all know, we've heard this morning, what the challenges are, bureaucracy, costs, and plenty of red tape. And so our job is to clear the barriers and make that single market a reality for as many small businesses as we can. And that's why the idea of a framework of a truly European company, an EU Inc, is so really important. The ambition is welcome, 48 hours to establish an EU company with a maximum cost of only a €100 and no minimum share capital requirements. But I think it's crucially company information will only need to be submitted once. That's really, really important. So we've seen previous efforts have failed because we didn't grasp what businesses really, really needed, which was just simplicity and flexibility. And now we must make sure that as we legislate, we don't lose the ambition that we've seen in the last number of months. So I say to the skeptics, helping our small businesses is really good for employees. It's good for communities. It's good for living standards. And I think it's really, really important that it's good for opportunities for our young people, and we need to acknowledge that. So to oppose that is the very essence of standing up against these opportunities. So I'm really asking you to get on board. The 20 eighth regime will only succeed if it brings together the best in class to make Europe as a whole a great place to establish a business. Thank you. And the next speaker is Mireya Boraspabon. Thank”
Overall simplification of regulation in the EU
“First, it sets out a minimum level of taxation on large companies. Second, it introduces new rules for taxing the profits of large companies where they do not have that physical presence. Our commitment to multilateralism is unwavering at a time when international institutions are being undermined as never before. It is right that the EU continues to strongly support the OECD process, but clearly we cannot make any progress if everybody is not at the table. Regions of the world that act on their own or depart from global standards create fragmentation and perverse incentives. However, the return of Donald Trump as US president saw an executive order to withdraw his country from the agreement. That agreement was the result of so many years of hard work. So it is vital, I think, that that work and this agreement be protected by us as an absolute priority. We have seen the change of approach and temperament from the US president, and it sees the agreement as an attack on American businesses, and he is loudly promising retaliatory actions. However, that is not a reason for us to give up on the agreement. Walking away would help, would not help to resolve them. Indeed, it probably would exacerbate the problem. So we ask where to now for the OECD negotiations, particularly in respect of pillar one? How can the EU show leadership to keep this agreement on the table? We have seen proposals from the G7 for US specific exemptions and allowances, and they do require careful scrutiny.”
EU competences on taxation
“Thank you chair. And thank you, Commissioner, for your attendance this morning and your attention. Do you know you've given us an awful lot of information around the potential things that can be changed from state aid rules, from industrial accelerators, from the fiscal rules, from permitting, from environmental, all of the things that should be music to all of our ears. But the one thing that's absolutely lacking this morning is the when. And so, you know, and I'm really, really don't mean to be disrespectful. I mean, you're in charge of prosperity across the European Union. And the single biggest thing that somebody needs to prosper is a roof over their head, a bed to be able to sleep in in the evening and some food, you know, basic necessities. And there's no I don't get a sense of any impetus here, because we're talking about the things that need to be changed for the last year, and you're telling us that, you know, you don't want to cross over subsidiarity. Agreements and arrangements and that, you know, maybe legislation could take three years. That doesn't tell me that you understand that this is a crisis, because I think every single person in this room knows that in our home state, particularly, I know in Ireland that we are in the middle of a crisis. And what we're begging you for is some impetus and some action. And so my question is when, when are we going to see action on all of the things that you've spoken about this morning? Excuse me this morning.”
EU housing policy
“(16:34:40 – 16:36:19): Sorry, thank you, and I apologize for being late. I just wanted to say thank you for the insights already shared with us today. I'm the rapporteur of the opinion from the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee, and I really believe that if the European Competitiveness Fund is going to help to make real progress in strengthening Europe's competitiveness, then we must make sure that we really don't undermine the single market in any way, shape, or form. From an INCO perspective, I think that we should be clear that the fund shouldn't become another complex centralized instrument or a bloated subsidy that only the largest players can navigate. It should be really transparent, simple, and easy to be able to access for all of our SMEs right across the member states but also be used as an instrument to actually unlock some of the barriers that we have in the single market and look for genuine opportunities to scale up and also to provide legal certainty where we can. Some of our businesses tell us that it doesn't exist. So can I ask you a question? Can you explain, based on how you've seen other funds operate in jurisdictions, how this fund can avoid being something that's counterproductive that actually will ensure that innovation-leading SMEs really get their hands on the money and the investment that we so desperately need them to get and not just be some sort of a very convoluted albeit, you know, altruistic ambitious instrument? But I want to make sure that it does exactly what it says on the tin. So how can we be sure that we've already looked at this to make sure that the end game, which is what we all want, which is unlocking the single market, realizing the potential of our SMEs, and helping them in a simplified way, is actually what we're going to get at the end game?”
EU Single Market harmonisation
“Okay, everybody. Um, apologies for the delay. I think we'll move on now to the public hearing on tax aspects of the clean industrial deal and the revision of the Energy Taxation Directive. And I'd like to welcome our distinguished speakers, to whom I really express my deep gratitude for their participation in this hearing this morning. Miss Mariella Caruana, and I apologize if I get names pronunciations wrong in advance. A senior advisor of Taxation and Business Europe, Mr. Andreas Rudinger, who's the coordinator for the energy transition in France, the ID or IE? Professor Patrick Lennon, senior associate of the Council of the Economic Policies, and Miss Filomena Tacconi is the director of Subsidy Campaign in the Bloom Association. Colleagues. In last week's Ecofin meeting, ministers did not reach an agreement on the compromise text, citing specific concerns with issues such as provisions on Is on indexation and the taxation of fuel used in the maritime and aviation sectors, and on the tax treatment of natural gas and liquefied natural gas, as well as links with other climate related files that remain open for negotiations. In this session, we would like to understand how the taxation measures taken to support the EU's decarbonisation goals in the Clean Industry deal can affect the taxation of energy and the current negotiations on the revised Energy Taxation Directive, in particular, the implementation of energy taxes that support electrification and avoid incentivising the use of fossil fuels will be under the spotlight today. So I am therefore very glad to have our four experts today who will present to us their valuable expertise on the topic. Um, because I'd really, really like to appreciate your availability to meet and engage with the members of our subcommittee today. Each of you have seven minutes for your opening remarks, and after the statements, I'll open the floor to our colleagues for Q&A for the members, and then each member will have two minutes to ask their questions and have a maximum of three minutes for your answers. So, um, Miss Mariella Karuna, I'll give you the floor.”
EU competences on taxation
“Mr. president, the aviation sector is an absolutely vital part of our European economy. It provides countless jobs and huge investment. It is also a vital lifeline for peripheral parts of the European Union, like my own country, Ireland. In 2019, Air Transport supported approximately 14 million jobs and €851 billion to GDP in Europe. But decarbonisation remains a really important challenge and one that is vital not just for society but for our planet, for future development and success of this industry is strongly linked to the supply of sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF. However, the industry for SAF in the EU is currently extremely limited, which much more significant production taking place outside of Europe in US and China due to their additional supports. We have set targets under refuel EU, but the rest of the world is moving much faster than we are. Singapore, for example, will require SAF use in every single departing flight from 2026, the US has already extended their SAF tax credit. Our challenge is supply. Our current rates of SAF production are much lower than the demand that even currently exists, so we need to invest to scale up. The EU has ambitious targets in terms of supply and demand for SAF in the aviation sector, but EU member states need to do more to incentivise the production of SAF because if we do not get this right, Europe is going to be left scratching its head again, wondering why we are left out of such a vital sector where we really should have a strong presence. Let us make sure that does not happen.”
Decarbonisation of aviation sector
“Mr. President, Commissioner, today we have an opportunity to change the lives, the direction of the lives of a generation of young people. In my own hometown, Dublin, and the cities right across Ireland, young people who are working hard and are doing absolutely everything right cannot find a home that they can afford to buy. Many are still living with their mummies long beyond the age that they should have expected, which is delaying milestones that my generation and previous generations would have taken for granted. Moving out, settling down, planning a future, having a family. Ireland's not unique. Right across Europe we see the same pressures, rising construction costs, financing and lending gaps, and a planning environment that has become so convoluted, slower, complex and more difficult to navigate. I think the outcome is clear. We are not building houses fast enough, and I think that is why the work of this parliament's Special Committee for housing has been so important over the last year, and really, we have worked collectively and together to examine the causes and the shortages of houses right across the union, and look for practical ways to actually help member states increase supply. And today's report hopefully sends a clear message that housing is, should be, and needs to remain firmly on the European agenda. We all know that Europe can't tell people how to build houses. Policy will always remain a national competence, but we can absolutely help remove the barriers that come from here that limit investment and that slow down construction in Ireland. Judicially reviewing developments and blocking and delaying thousands of houses from being built has actually become nearly like a blood sport. And that is why this report calls for housing simplification package to cut unnecessary bureaucracy and shorten permitting procedures that really are delaying. We also need the investment from the European Bank, EU financial instruments and particularly for smaller developers to support public and private partnerships. Today, we need to go from reporting the crisis to actually fixing it.”
EU policy on urban development
“Good afternoon, colleagues. It's my pleasure to warmly welcome our distinguished speaker, Mr. Berlusconi, acting who for climate Risk and resilience from European Environmental Agency. Doctor, thank you for joining us today. And on behalf of our special committee of the Housing Crisis in the European Union, I want to warmly welcome you to this presentation of the Environmental Impact Assessments and sustainability indicators for housing development in the Union, and the floor is now yours. You have seven minutes.”
Construction products
“There is regular turmoil on international markets and jobs announcements are being reassessed. So when it comes to tax policies, Europe does face big challenges. And while tax is rightly a member state competence, the growth of divergent sectoral taxes creates internal trade barriers and undermines our EU economy. So instead of calling for new taxes, we should be looking at ways to better calibrate the ones that we already have. And we have plenty, so that they do not create additional burdens or barriers for investment. And finally, Commissioner, specifically in relation to the digital services tax. I think it is crucial that we take an evidence based approach. If the Commission is looking at this option, will it commit to a comprehensive cost benefit analysis to reduce unforeseen consequences? Every day, people as normal are using digital tools and services. The digital economy is at the heart of every single one of our lives, and there is almost no way that a tax does not ultimately impact consumers in some way. It is extremely unlikely that any DST would similarly be passed on in higher charges of subscriptions to the people that we serve. It is commonly said that there are only two certainties in life death and taxes. And I think when it comes to the latter, we need to be responsible, forward thinking and results orientated. Thank you.”
EU competences on taxation
“Thank you, Commissioner, for joining us here this evening. I think we can all recall the scene from Scotland during the summer, where president von der Leyen painfully shook the hand of President Trump on a deal that only makes things harder and trade harder between the EU and the US. I think it is in that context that we are discussing the principles that should govern global digitalised economy, particularly the taxation of digital services this evening. Taxation is all about fairness, dynamism, efficiency. It is how we raise the revenue to fund goods and services. It is about investing in the future, creating opportunities for growth and for security. Taxation should support competitiveness, investment and job creation. And if it does not do this, then it is not serving the common good. When it comes to the taxation of large digital platforms, as with all elements of tax policy, it is all about making sure that neither goal is undermined. And that is why we seek to discuss this matter today. When capital is mobile and crosses international borders, how do we uphold the common good and also promote opportunity and investment? I think it is clear that global challenges like these require global solutions, and that is why it is right and proper that Europe has been such a leader in the negotiations of the OECD pillar two agreement. The agreement is a compromise that meets the realities of a digitalised economy.”
Priorities of taxation policy in the EU

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