MEP Maria Walsh launches Plan for Periods to end menstrual poverty
1 in 4 Irish women have experienced period poverty in their lifetime An EU-wide menstrual health strategy is needed to end period poverty, MEP Maria Walsh has said as she published her Plan for Periods proposal in Brussels. Menstrual poverty affects an estimated 10% of the menstruating population in the EU, while 24% of Irish […]
EU-UK deal to ease Brexit burden for Irish farmers – MEP Walsh
The new EU-UK deal should ease Brexit tensions between Irish farmers and their largest trading partner, according to MEP Maria Walsh. MEP Walsh is a full member of the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee, and is the Committee’s lead legislator for EU-UK relations. In this role, MEP Walsh steers discussions and policy on issues affecting relations […]
MEP Maria Walsh welcomes changemakers from Gaisce and AsIAm to the European Parliament
MEP Maria Walsh hosted changemakers from Gaisce and AsIAm in the European Parliament this week, bringing young people from across Midlands-North West to the heart of Europe. Gaisce – The President’s Award is Ireland’s national youth award and is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. During their visit, the Gaisce group had the opportunity to […]
EU must prioritise negotiation over confrontation to avoid catastrophic US trade war – MEP Maria Walsh
The European Commission must employ strategic diplomacy and negotiations to avoid a catastrophic transatlantic trade war, MEP Maria Walsh has said. As the clock ticks towards April 2nd, MEP Walsh has warned that thousands of jobs in Ireland’s pharmaceutical and agri-food and drinks sectors hang in the balance due to potential US tariffs. MEP Walsh […]
Irish youth want increased EU investment in mental health – MEP Maria Walsh
Almost one in four young Irish people are calling for increased investment in mental health by the European Union, MEP Maria Walsh has said. The call comes as a new poll carried out by the European Commission reveals that 22% of people aged between 16-30 believe the EU should invest more resources in mental health […]
Irish livestock exporters must be assured of full access to EU Single Market – MEP Maria Walsh
Irish livestock exporters must receive a guarantee that they will continue to have full access to the EU Single Market amidst a revision of live animal transport rules, MEP Maria Walsh has said. MEP Walsh raised the concerns of Irish farmers in a meeting of the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee today, during a debate on […]
Gaps in legislation must be addressed to combat growing threat of deepfakes – MEP Maria Walsh
Gaps in national legislation must be addressed to combat the rapid rise of deepfake technologies which are disproportionately impacting women and girls, MEP Maria Walsh has said. MEP Maria Walsh has written to Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan to highlight the existing gaps in national legislation, as part of action taken for International Women’s Day, […]
MEP Maria Walsh condemns European Commission’s removal of Anti-Discrimination legislation
The decision by the European Commission to withdraw crucial EU Anti-Discrimination legislation from its 2025 Work Programme represents an attack on the rights of people with disabilities, LGBTQI members and minority groups, MEP Maria Walsh has said. The European Commission took the decision this week to withdraw the Horizontal Anti-Discrimination Directive from its 2025 Work […]
EU Budget must increase funding to combat animal disease outbreaks – MEP Maria Walsh
MEP Maria Walsh has called for the 2026 EU Budget to include increased funding to address the ongoing threat of animal diseases, given their impact on farmers’ income and continuity. MEP Walsh, full member of the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee, submitted amendments in the European Parliament this week pushing for more ambitious funding for small […]
Opinion: We desperately need to improve farm succession and avoid a food crisis – and here is what the EU and the government can do
Opinion Article from MEP Maria Walsh, published in the Farming Independent The demographic crisis in the farming sector leaves us with one stark question: who’s going to grow the food we put on our plates? According to EU law, a young farmer is generally defined as being between 35 and 40 years old. Farmers under […]