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 […]
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, […]
New Meta rules presents serious threat to LGBTQI community – MEP Maria Walsh

Commission investigation needed into whether Zuckerberg’s changes violate the EU’s Digital Services Act The European Commission must assess Meta’s new moderation policy which allows users to make allegations of mental illness on the basis of an individual’s sexuality, MEP Maria Walsh has said. MEP Walsh, member of the European Parliament’s Justice & Home Affairs Committee, […]
Ireland’s anti-trafficking legislation must put victims at its core – MEP Maria Walsh

As the European Parliament passes its updated Directive to combat human trafficking across Europe, Walsh is appealing to the Irish Government to protect the vulnerable victims MEP Maria Walsh is, today, calling on the Irish Government to ensure Ireland’s National Referral Mechanism for victims of human trafficking puts the most vulnerable at its core. “Today […]