EU must ban harmful conversion therapy practices across all European countries – MEP Maria Walsh
The EU must introduce a European-wide ban on dangerous conversion therapy practices that are still taking place today, a Fine Gael MEP has said. MEP Maria Walsh, Co-Chair of the European Parliament’s LGBTQI+ Intergroup, has called for a European-wide ban on “conversion therapies” following a European Citizens’ Initiative backed by over 1.2 million people urging […]
EU rules treating wool as waste must change – MEP Maria Walsh
Ahead of opening European Wool Day in Kerry this weekend, MEP Maria Walsh has called on the European Commission to urgently reform EU rules that classify wool as a waste product. Fine Gael MEP Maria Walsh, a full member of the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee, will officially open Europe’s largest wool conference in Tralee, Co […]
European Parliament votes to ban ‘nudification’ apps – MEP Maria Walsh
The European Parliament has today backed a landmark ban on AI applications used to create non-consensual nude images, according to Fine Gael MEP Maria Walsh. The vote, which took place in Brussels on March 26 as part of the Digital Omnibus package, includes an explicit ban on ‘nudification’ apps – tools that have gained traction […]
MEP Maria Walsh to vote against ‘return hubs’ on key EU migration vote
Fine Gael MEP Maria Walsh will vote against a proposal on ‘return hubs’ in the European Parliament, warning that the EU cannot outsource its migration responsibilities. The European Parliament is set to vote on the Returns Regulations on Thursday 26 March, which includes a proposal for the establishment of return hubs in third countries. MEP […]
MEP Maria Walsh: Out of sight, out of mind isn’t responsible migration policy
Maria Walsh is a Fine Gael MEP for the Midlands-North West, and is a member of the European People’s Party (EPP). She is a member of the Civil Liberties, Justice & Home Affairs (LIBE) Committee responsible for migration policy in the Parliament. Europe’s migration policy has shifted steadily to the right, with the latest evidence […]
EU-Australia deal a win for Ireland but strong safeguards needed for agricultural sector – MEP Maria Walsh
The EU-Australia Free Trade Agreement is a win for the Irish economy and diversifies Ireland’s trading partners at a time of global uncertainty, Fine Gael MEP Maria Walsh has said. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Australian Prime Minister Albanese announced on Tuesday 24 March that the EU and Australia have concluded negotiations […]
MEP Maria Walsh urges UN to establish taskforce to eliminate sexual deepfakes
MEP Maria Walsh met with UN Secretary-General António Guterres in New York and urged him to tackle the scourge of sexual deepfakes destroying the lives of women and girls. MEP Walsh is on an official mission from the European Parliament to the UN’s 70th session of the Council on the Status of Women (CSW) and […]
EU commits to tackling period poverty ahead of International Women’s Day – MEP Maria Walsh
The decision by the European Commission to tackle period poverty in its new Gender Equality Strategy marks a major step forward for the campaign to end menstrual poverty across Europe, according to Fine Gael MEP Maria Walsh. The strategy for 2026–2030, published this week, confirms that the Commission will organise an exchange of best practices […]
Ireland must work with EU to safeguard energy supply amid Middle East crisis – MEP Maria Walsh
The Irish Government must coordinate with the EU to safeguard energy supply and protect consumers from price gouging amidst the escalating crisis in the Middle East, Fine Gael MEP Maria Walsh has said. MEP Walsh is also calling on the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), Ireland’s energy regulator, to carefully monitor the situation for […]
ECJ referral backfires as Mercosur deal is fast-tracked – MEP Maria Walsh
MEPs who supported the European Court of Justice (ECJ) referral must take responsibility for their role in the fast-tracking of the Mercosur deal, Fine Gael MEP Maria Walsh has said. In January, nine Irish MEPs voted to refer the Mercosur trade deal to the ECJ. At the time, MEP Walsh warned that the move would […]