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 […]
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, […]
Opportunity for Sinn Féin to correct voting record on anniversary of Ukraine invasion – MEP Maria Walsh
Sinn Féin MEPs have a chance to reverse their shameful voting record on Russia at a key vote in Brussels tomorrow, Fine Gael MEP Maria Walsh has said. An extraordinary plenary session of the European Parliament will take place on 24th February to mark the fourth anniversary of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. During the […]
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 […]