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 […]

EU one step closer to approving common consent-based definition of rape – MEP Maria Walsh

The European Parliament’s Gender Equality Committee has backed a consent-based definition of rape, Fine Gael MEP Maria Walsh has said. The Gender Equality Committee, along with the Justice Committee, has called on the European Commission to propose legislation which will establish an EU-wide definition of rape that is based on the requirement of freely given, […]

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 […]

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 […]