MEP Walsh proposes increased Horizon Europe funding for agriculture and fisheries
As one of the key negotiators in the European Parliament on Horizon Europe, Fine Gael MEP Maria Walsh has tabled proposals to increase funding for agriculture and fisheries. MEP Maria Walsh is the lead Agriculture negotiator for the European People’s Party (EPP) on Horizon Europe, the largest funding programme in the European Union for research […]
Government must cut red-tape blocking Mother and Baby redress payments – MEP Maria Walsh
The Government must remove the unnecessary red-tape blocking survivors from accessing much-needed redress payments, Fine Gael MEP Maria Walsh has said. Less than 10% of the redress budget has been spent after two years of the scheme being in operation, with an estimated underspend of €68.5 million in 2025. According to survivors, this is due […]
EU emergency phone number needed to protect citizens in crisis – MEP Maria Walsh
MEP Maria Walsh has called on the European Commission to deliver an EU-wide emergency phone number service to protect citizens in times of crisis. MEP Walsh, along with her fellow co-chairs of the European Parliament’s Mental Health Intergroup, has written to Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen calling for the creation of new EU legislation to establish […]
Wrongfully convicted gay men to finally receive justice – MEP Maria Walsh
Fine Gael MEP Maria Walsh has welcomed the Government’s decision to introduce a scheme to overturn historic convictions for same-sex relations. The scheme will allow gay and bisexual men convicted under former laws criminalising consensual sex between adult men to have those convictions formally erased. MEP Walsh was part of the Fine Gael LGBTQ+ Network […]
Commission Statement: Speaking on the Action Plan Against Cyberbullying
MEP Maria Walsh speaking on the Action Plan Against Cyberbullying at the February 11th Strasbourg Plenary Session. Commissioner, the WHO reports that in Europe, one in seven children and young people under 19 is living with a mental health condition. Among teenage girls, the figure rises to one in four. The WHO explicitly identifies online […]
MEP Maria Walsh appointed European Parliament lead negotiator on generational renewal in farming
Fine Gael MEP Maria Walsh has been appointed the European Parliament’s lead negotiator on generational renewal, placing her at the centre of upcoming negotiations on the future of farming in Europe. A full member of the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee, MEP Walsh will lead Parliament negotiations on measures to attract and retain the next generation […]
European Parliament votes to strengthen Mercosur safeguards for Irish farmers – MEP Maria Walsh
The European Parliament has voted to strengthen safeguards for Irish farmers under the EU-Mercosur trade agreement, MEP Maria Walsh has said. MEP Walsh proposed a number of measures to be included which strengthens protections for Irish farmers, ensuring that any safeguards are activated quickly when market pressures arise. Under the newly adopted rules, the European […]
EU-India deal unlocks major new export market for Irish sheep farmers – MEP Maria Walsh
The EU-India trade deal will remove a 33% tariff on Irish sheepmeat exports, unlocking a major new market for Irish sheep farmers for the first time, MEP Maria Walsh has said. The sheepmeat sector in Ireland is worth €350 million annually, supporting more than 34,000 sheep farmers, and a further 2,000 jobs across processing and […]
European Parliament votes to close the gender pension gap – MEP Maria Walsh
The European Parliament’s Committee on Gender Equality today voted to tackle the persistent gender pension gap across the European Union, MEP Maria Walsh has said. The Committee, of which MEP Walsh is a full member, adopted a report on gender pay and pension gaps today. The report demands action at EU and national level to […]
EU to prioritise tackling deepfakes at UN this year – MEP Maria Walsh
The European Parliament’s Gender Equality Committee today adopted its priorities for the United Nations, including a strong focus on tackling deepfakes as proposed by MEP Maria Walsh. MEP Walsh is a full member of the Gender Equality Committee and is the lead negotiator for the EPP, the Parliament’s largest political group, on the EU’s priorities […]