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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 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 […]
Green light for Budapest Pride is a victory for LGBTQI+ community across Europe – MEP Walsh
Today’s news that Budapest Pride will go ahead legally as a municipality event is a win for the LGBTQI+ community across Europe, MEP Maria Walsh has said. MEP Walsh, member of the European Parliament’s LGBTQI+ Intergroup, is a vocal critic of the measures taken by the Hungarian government targeting the LGBTQI+ community, which recently included […]
EU Gender Equality Committee passes MEP Maria Walsh’s proposal for funding to combat online gender-based violence
The European Parliament’s Gender Equality Committee has passed a proposal from MEP Maria Walsh calling for increased funding to address the growing threat of gender-based violence online. The vote came as part of the Committee’s work on shaping priorities for the European Union’s next Multiannual Financial Framework – its long-term budget – which will take […]
EU must initiate investigation into Hungary’s draconian anti-LGBTQI laws – MEP Maria Walsh
The European Commission must consider additional sanctions against Hungary in light of new anti-LGBTQI legislation passed this week, MEP Maria Walsh has said. This week, Hungary’s President signed legislation into law which allows the Government to classify public displays of homosexuality as a child protection issue, effectively banning Pride events. MEP Walsh has strongly condemned Hungary’s […]
Hungary’s blocking of equal parent law is a slap in the face to Rainbow Families – MEP Maria Walsh
A key EU law to ensure equal recognition of parenthood across EU member states has been blocked by Hungary and is a slap in the face to LGBTQI families, MEP Maria Walsh has said. The new European Certificate of Parenthood allows for the recognition of parenthood established in another EU country, and is a key […]