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 […]
MEP Maria Walsh to lead negotiations on Horizon Europe funding for EU’s largest political group

MEP Maria Walsh has been appointed lead negotiator for the European People’s Party (EPP) on Horizon Europe, the largest funding programme in the European Union for research and innovation. Maria Walsh will act as the EPP rapporteur on the Agriculture Committee’s opinion on the future direction and funding of the EU’s flagship research and innovation […]
Irish Government must outright reject Mercosur Trade Agreement – MEP Maria Walsh

Fine Gael MEP Maria Walsh has called on the Irish Government to outright reject the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement ahead of a potential final vote on the deal later this week. MEP Walsh, a full member of the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee, has long opposed the Mercosur deal given its potentially catastrophic impact on Irish farmers, […]
All EU countries must now recognise same-sex marriages – MEP Maria Walsh

A landmark ruling from the European Court of Justice mandates all EU countries to recognise the marriage of same-sex couples, a Fine Gael MEP has said. MEP Maria Walsh, who is Co-Chair of the European Parliament’s LGBTQI+ Intergroup, has hailed the ruling as a win for Irish LGBTQI+ families and their right to live, love […]
European Commission must investigate illegal sale of antibiotics in Brazil – Maria Walsh MEP

MEP Maria Walsh has requested the European Commission to conduct a thorough investigation into the reported illegal sale of antibiotics in Brazil and the implications for the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement. Maria Walsh MEP, a full member of the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee, wrote to EU Commissioner for Trade Maroš Šefčovič today to highlight an investigation […]
Agriculture Committee votes to increase funding for female farmers and entrepreneurs – MEP Maria Walsh

The European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee has voted to increase funding for female farmers and entrepreneurs, as part of a report on which MEP Maria Walsh serves as a lead negotiator. Maria Walsh, who is a full member of the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee and the lead negotiator for the EPP Group on the file, said […]
MEP Maria Walsh elected Vice-President of new EPP Farmers’ Group

Fine Gael MEP Maria Walsh has been elected Vice-President of the newly established EPP Farmers’ Group, a key new platform which will play a central role in shaping agriculture policy in the EU. The Group brings together MEPs, national politicians and farming organisations under the banner of the largest political force in the European Parliament. […]
MEP Maria Walsh organises meeting for Irish seafood sector with EU Fisheries Commissioner

MEP Maria Walsh facilitated a meeting between key members of the Irish fishing sector and the European Commissioner for Fisheries Costas Kadis in Brussels this week. Members of the Irish Seafood Alliance, including Fine Gael Senator Manus Boyle, met with Commissioner Kadis and MEP Walsh to discuss the ongoing challenges facing the Irish fishing sector. […]
MEP Maria Walsh secures commitment from European Commission to reinstate key EU equality law

After months of lobbying by MEP Maria Walsh, the European Commission has reversed its decision to remove a key EU equality law and will reinstate it as a 2025 policy priority. MEP Walsh is the lead negotiator for the EPP, the European Parliament’s largest political group, on the Horizontal Anti-Discrimination Directive. Following a decision by […]