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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
Commission must clarify details of €1 billion Mercosur support fund for farmers – MEP Maria Walsh

The European Commission must outline how the proposed €1 billion Mercosur ‘safety net’ fund will help Irish farmers in practice, MEP Maria Walsh has said. MEP Walsh raised the issue of support for farmers at a meeting of the European Parliament Agriculture Committee with Maroš Šefčovič, Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, and Christophe Hansen, […]
MEP Maria Walsh welcomes European Agriculture Commissioner for event on future of Irish farming

MEP Maria Walsh welcomed European Commissioner for Agriculture Christophe Hansen to Dublin today for an event with Irish farmers on the key issues facing the agriculture sector. Commissioner Hansen and MEP Walsh met with industry stakeholders, including young farmers, to discuss a range of topics including generational renewal, mental health and sustainability, among other key […]
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 […]
MEP Walsh highlights plague of mental health in farming with European Commissioner for Agriculture

The epidemic of mental health problems amongst farmers must act as a wake-up call for EU policy makers, MEP Maria Walsh said in a meeting with the European Commissioner for Agriculture. MEP Walsh is a member of the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee and used the meeting with Commissioner for Agriculture Christophe Hansen as an opportunity […]
EU Gender Equality Committee passes amendment on deepfakes proposed by MEP Maria Walsh

The European Parliament’s Gender Equality Committee has today passed an amendment from MEP Maria Walsh calling on the EU to ramp up the detection and prevention of deepfakes. During a vote that took place in Parliament today, the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) supported a proposal from MEP Walsh which highlights the […]