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NUASHONRÚ ÓN BHFEISIRE GRACE O’SULLIVAN

Bhí mé gnóthach le cúpla mí anuas agus mo chéad téarma i bParlaimint na hEorpa ag druidim chun deiridh. Ba mhaith liom sibh a chur ar an eolas faoina bhfuil mé ag obair sa Bhruiséil, in Strasbourg agus ar an láthair in Éirinn Theas.

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My last few months have been busy as my first term in the European Parliament comes to a close. I’d like to share a few updates on what I have been working on in Brussels, in Strasbourg, and on the ground in Ireland South. Scroll down to the bottom to read them in English.

Pacáistiú agus Dramhaíl ó Phacáistiú

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Táimid i ngéarchéim dramhaíola agus truaillithe agus tá méadú as cuimse ag teacht ar dhramhaíl ó phacáistíocht san Aontas Eorpach.Tá daoine tinn tuirseach den mhéid plaisteach agus paipéar atá le tabhairt abhaile leo, nach gcríochnaíonn ach sa bhosca bruscair. Ach go háirithe, tá muid bréan d’íoc as. 

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Táim ag obair mar Phríomh-Idirbheartaí do Ghrúpa na nGlasach sa Pharlaimint ar an Rialachán nua maidir le Pacáistíocht agus Dramhaíl ó Phacáistíocht. Is é príomhfhócas an rialacháin seo pacáistíocht a chosc agus a laghdú, lena n-áirítear córais láidre athúsáide a thabhairt isteach san AE.

 

Is cúis mhór áthais dom dul chun cinn dearfach a thuairisciú, agus an Pharlaimint ag tacú le roinnt beart sa rialachán seo, lena n-áirítear​

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  • Laghdú 15 % ar dhramhaíl ó phacáistíocht faoi 2040

  • Córais fillte éigeantacha do bheoir agus do bhuidéil bhiotáille do gach tír san Aontas

  • Cosc ar ‘cheimiceáin go deo’ PFAS agus BPA i gcoimeádáin bhia

  • Cos ar choimeádán polaistiréine inleathnaithe

  • Oibleagáidí maidir le pacáistiú a bheith in-athchúrsáilte agus málaí tae agus málaí plaisteacha a bheith inmhúirínithe

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Tá Éire chun tosaigh i roinnt de na réimsí seo, lena n-áirítear tabhairt isteach an Scéim Éarlaise agus Aisíoca do bhuidéil agus cannaí ón 1 Feabhra ar aghaidh. De réir mar a théann an chaibidlíocht ar aghaidh idir Parlaimint na hEorpa agus na Ballstáit, déanfaidh mé iarracht tuilleadh uaillmhianta a bhaint amach, cuir i gcás srian a chur le pacáistíocht aon úsáide nach bhfuil gá le le haghaidh bia faoi dhíon, pacáistiú plaisteach ar thorthaí agus ar ghlasraí a chosc nuair is féidir, agus rialacha a thabhairt isteach maidir le pacáistiú earraí a cheannaítear ar líne.

Ní mór dúinn noirm phacáistíochta a athrú go mór agus gnólachtaí atá ag truailliú a thabhairt chun cuntais as an dramhaíl atá á cruthú acu.

 

Dlí maidir le hAthchóiriú Dúlra

 

Tá cheann de na teipeanna is tubaistí ar éiceachórais agus ar bhithéagsúlacht i stair an duine romhainn. In Éirinn, ciallaíonn sé sin go bhfuil speicis feithidí agus ainmhithe fiáine ag imeacht. Mar éiceolaí, tá mé buartha go mór ag seo. 

 

I mbliana, bhí mé i gceannas ar an gcomhrac chun a chinntiú go ndéanfaí Dlí maidir le hAthchóiriú Dúlra a chur chun cinn i bParlaimint na hEorpa. Chomh maith le ciste suntasach €3 bhilliún de chuid na hÉireann don Aeráid agus don Dúlra arna chur ar fáil ag na Glasaigh sa rialtas, léiríonn an dlí seo tacaíocht do bhearta suntasacha chun gnáthóga agus éiceachórais díghrádaithe san Aontas a athchóiriú agus a chaomhnú

 

Áirítear sa reachtaíocht, i measc bearta eile:

  • Athchóiriú gach gnáthóg mhuirí a ndearnadh damáiste dóibh (< 80 % de atá i stádas neamhfhabhrach in Éirinn)

  • Ár limistéir ghlasa uirbeacha atá ag laghdú a chaomhnú

  • Athchóiriú tailte portaigh

  • 25,000 km d’aibhneacha a thabhairt ar ais go stádas saorchúrsála

 

Mar thoradh ar an reachtaíocht nua seo agus ar Chiste Aeráide agus Dúlra an Rialtais,  feicfimid na pleananna athchóirithe dúlra seo i bhfeidhm sna míonna amach romhainn.

 

An Phalaistín 

 

Tá an foréigean a rinneadh ar mhuintir Gaza gan staonadh. Tá ceannaireacht an Aontais maidir leis an tsíocháin a éileamh in easnamh agus tá sé seo náireach. 

 

Tá mé gníomhach maidir leis an gcoimhlint idir Iosrael agus an Phalaistín le blianta fada anois. Mar Sheanadóir, comhshínigh mé an Bille um Chríocha faoi Fhorghabháil agus is mise an t-aon Fheisire Éireannach amháin a bheith i mo chomhalta iomlán de Thoscaireacht don chaidreamh leis an bPalaistín i bParlaimint na hEorpa. Mar chuid den Toscaireacht sin, bhí sé de phribhléid agam taisteal go dtí an Phalaistín i mbliana agus cuairt a thabhairt ar an mBruach Thiar. Le linn mo thréimhse i bParlaimint na hEorpa, bhí mé cáinteach ar chomhaontuithe fuinnimh agus trádála AE le hIosrael agus ar thogra an Choimisinéara Eorpaigh maidir le cúnamh do Gaza a chur ar fionraí.D’iarr mé go leanúnach go mbeadh réiteach síochánta dhá stát ann.

 

Mar thír neodrach a bhfuil stair choinbhleachta agus athmhuintearais aici le déanaí, tá ról thar a bheith tábhachtach ag Éirinn maidir le deireadh a chur le timthriall na n-ionsaithe sceimhlitheoireachta agus leis an bhforéigean sistéamach ar an bhforghabháil.

 

Mar thír neodrach a bhfuil stair i réiteach coimhlinte aici, Tá ról thar a bheith tábhachtach ag Éirinn maidir le deireadh a chur le timthriall na n-ionsaithe sceimhlitheoireachta agus le foréigean sistéamach na forghabhála. 

 

Iascaigh

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Tá áit speisialta i mo chroí ag an aigéan. Bhí mé ar an gcéad Churadh Náisiúnta Surfála in Éirinn nuair a bhí mé 19 mbliana d’aois agus go gairid ina dhiaidh sin chaith mé os cionn 10 mbliana ar muir mar ghníomhaí Greenpeace.

 

Ghlac mé mo thaithí farraige liom le blianta beaga anuas, agus dá réir sin, bhí mé i mo Chomhordaitheoir Grúpa na nGlasach/SCE ar Choiste um Iascach (PECH) i bParlaimint na hEorpa. 

 

Ar an gcoiste seo, d’oibrigh mé chun feabhas a chur ar bheartas muirí an Aontais agus méadú suntasach a dhéanamh ar obair an Choiste maidir le cosaint mhuirí, fás gorm inbhuanaithe agus tuilleadh. 

 

Ba mhór an rud é oibriú mar idirbheartaí ghrúpa na nGlasach/EFA chun Córas AE um rialú ar iascach a leasú. Ba é sin an t-ollchóiriú ba shuntasaí ar rialacha iascaigh an Aontais le breis agus deich mbliana anuas. 

 

Cé gur fhulaing iascairí na hÉireann go mór tar éis an Bhreatimeacht, is iad na hiascairí cois cladaigh agus na hiascairí ar mhionscála is mó a bhí thíos leis. D’éirigh liom Cúlchiste Coigeartaithe Brexit dar luach EUR 1 bhilliún a fháil do ghnólachtaí na hÉireann, do bhonneagar calafoirt agus dóibh siúd is mó atá thíos le Brexit.

 

Dhírigh mé ar bhearta a chur chun feidhme lena dtugtar tús áite d’iascairí ar mhionscála maidir le cuótaí náisiúnta a dháileadh. Go dtí seo, is minic a tugadh neamhaird ar na bearta sin agus níor cuireadh chun feidhme iad, agus déanann sé sin dochar dár bpobail iascaireachta ar mhionscála.


 

Guth a thabhairt do dhaoine gan glór

 

Níl aon rud úr ann faoi dhaoine atá ag teitheadh ó choimhlint agus ag lorg saol níos fearr. Mar sin féin, is féidir leis an mbealach a théimid i ngleic leis sin a athrú. Faoi láthair, déanann cur chuige an Aontais ‘Fortress Europe’ daoine neamhchiontacha a choiriúlú, méadaíonn sé fulaingt na ndaoine agus cuireann sé pobail i gcoinne a chéile. Caithfidh sé seo athrú ó bhonn. 

 

Anuraidh thug mé cuairt ar oileán Lesbos sa Ghréig chun tacú le Sean Binder, daonnúil Éireannach atá fós ar a thriail dá chuid oibre cuardaigh agus tarrthála. Ba é an t-aon choir a bhí aige ná ráta cuisle daoine a thomhas roimh a bpas a sheiceáil.

 

Tá neart rialtas AE ag coiriúlú gníomhaithe agus eagraíochtaí le cásanna cosúil le Sean chun daoine a dhíspreagadh ó iarracht a dhéanamh cúnamh daonnúil a chur ar fáil do theifigh. Le linn mo thréimhse mar Fheisire, labhair mé faoin ngá atá le tacaíocht a thabhairt do dhídeanaithe Afganastánacha, agus dóibh siúd a bhfuil baint acu leis an ngéarchéim leanúnach sa Mheánmhuir.

 

Déanfaidh tionchar an athraithe aeráide an scéal níos measa. D’fhéadfadh sé go mbeadh ar na céadta milliún athlonnú mar gheall ar tumadh cósta, adhaimsir agus triomach, agus cogaí acmhainní agus coinbhleacht ina dhiaidh sin. Ní mór dúinn beartais chothroma a fhorbairt a léiríonn daoine mar chomharsana seachas mar bhagairtí. 


Ina theannta sin, is comhalta don Toscaireacht don chaidreamh le Mercosur mé, áit a bhfuil mé ag troid i gcoinne Chomhaontú Trádála AE-Mercosur. Thar na blianta, bhuail mé le feirmeoirí, gníomhaithe ar son chearta an duine, pobail dhúchasacha, ceardchumannaithe, agus speisialtóirí ar an trádáil idirnáisiúnta, a chuir in iúl go soiléir dom go mbeadh tionchar ollmhór ag an gcomhaontú seo ar na daoine is leochailí sa tsochaí

Packaging & Packaging Waste 

 

 We are in a waste and pollution crisis and packaging waste in the EU continues to rise dramatically. People  I speak to are sick of having to take home kilos of plastic and paper packaging, only to throw it in the bin as soon as they get home. Perhaps moreso, we are sick of paying for it. 

 

I have been working as the Lead Negotiator for the Greens group in the Parliament on the new Packaging and Packing Waste Regulation. The priority focus of this is on prevention and reduction of packaging, including the introduction of robust reuse systems in the EU. 

 

It gives me great pleasure to report positive progress, with the Parliament backing a number of measures in this regulation, including:

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  • A 15% reduction in packaging waste by 2040

  • Obligatory return systems for beer and spirit bottles for all EU countries

  • Ban on forever chemicals PFAS and BPA in food containers

  • Ban on polystyrene packaging filling

  • Obligations for packaging to be recyclable and for teabags and plastic bags to be compostable

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Ireland is leading in some of these areas, including the introduction of the Deposit Return Scheme for bottles and cans from February 1st. As negotiations progress between the European Parliament and Member States, I will push for further ambition like curbing unnecessary single-use packaging for indoor dining, banning plastic packaging on fruit and vegetables where possible, and bringing in rules around the packaging of goods bought online.

We need to drastically turn down the packaging tap at the source and make polluting businesses pay for the waste they are creating. 

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Nature Restoration Law

 

We are currently facing one of the most catastrophic collapses of ecosystems and biodiversity in human history. In Ireland, this means insect and wild animal species are disappearing in a matter of decades. As a field ecologist, I am deeply saddened and angered by this.

 

This year I led the fight to ensure a Nature Restoration Law would be progressed in the European Parliament.  This law, in addition to a landmark €3 billion Irish fund for Climate and Nature delivered by the Greens in government, signals support for significant measures to protect and restore damaged habitats and ecosystems in Europe. 

 

The legislation includes, among other measures:

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  • The restoration of all damaged marine habitats (<80% of which are in unfavourable status in Ireland)

  • Saving our shrinking urban green spaces

  • The restoration of bogs and peatlands, which act as Ireland’s Amazon

  • The restoration of 25,000km of blocked rivers to free-flowing status

 

As a result of this new legislation and the government’s Climate and Nature Fund, we will see the first Nature Restoration programmes getting off the ground in the coming months. 

 

Palestine

 

The violence wrought on the people of Gaza has been unrelenting. EU leadership in calling for peace has been shamefully absent. 

 

I have been active around the Israel-Palestine conflict for many years now. As a Senator, I co-signed the Occupied Territories Bill and I am the only Irish MEP to be a full member of the European Parliament’s Delegation on Relations with Palestine. As part of that Delegation I had the privilege of travelling to Palestine this year and visiting the West Bank. During my time in the European Parliament I have been openly critical of the EU’s energy and trade deals with Israel and the European Commissioner’s proposal to suspend aid to Gaza. I have been unrelenting in my call for a peaceful two-state solution.

 

As a neutral country with a recent history of conflict and reconciliation, Ireland has a particularly important role to play in ending the cycle of terror attacks and the systemic violence of the occupation. 

 

Fisheries

 

The ocean has always held a very special place in my heart; I became Ireland’s first female National Surf Champion at the age of 19, and shortly after that I spent over 10 years at sea as a Greenpeace activist.

 

I took my seagoing experience with me over the past few years, and as such, I have served as the Greens/EFA Group Coordinator, on the European Parliament’s Fisheries (PECH) Committee. On this committee I have worked to improve the EU’s marine policy, and to significantly increase the scope of the Committee’s work on marine protection, sustainable blue growth and more.

 

A highlight was working as the Greens/EFA group negotiator for the reform of the EU Fisheries Control System, which was the most significant overhaul of EU fisheries rules in over a decade. 

 

While all Irish fishers have suffered immeasurably in the years following Brexit, inshore and small-scale fishers especially have seen their livelihoods undermined and their future threatened. I secured a €1 billion Brexit Adjustment Reserve for Irish business, port infrastructure and those hardest hit by Brexit.

 

My focus has been on the implementation of measures which are designed to prioritise small- scale fishers when it comes to the distribution of national quotas. To date, these measures have often been ignored and not implemented, to the detriment of our small-scale fishing communities. 

 

secured €1bn Brexit Adjustment Reserve for Irish business, port infrastructure and those hardest hit by Brexit

 

A Voice for the Voiceless

 

People fleeing conflict and seeking a better life is nothing new. How we handle this changes though. Currently, the EU’s ‘Fortress Europe’ approach criminalises innocent people multiplies people’s suffering and pits communities against each other. It has to change. 

 

Last year I visited the island of Lesbos in Greece to support Sean Binder, an Irish humanitarian who is still facing trial for his search and rescue work. His only crime was checking people’s pulse before checking their passport.

 

Many EU governments are criminalising activists and organisations, with cases like Sean’s  used to deter people from trying to provide humanitarian assistance to refugees. Throughout my time as an MEP I have been vocal about the need for support for Afghan refugees, and those caught up in the continuing crisis in the Mediterranean Sea.

 

The impact of climate change will only exacerbate this situation, when hundreds of millions may have to relocate due to coastal submersion, extreme weather and droughts, and ensuing resource wars and conflict. We must develop fair policies that see people not as threats, but as neighbours, just as many countries continue to do for Irish migrants and wayfarers.

 

Additionally I am a member of the Parliament’s delegation to Mercosur where I have been fighting against the EU-Mercosur Free Trade Agreement. Over the years, I have met with farmers, human rights activists, indigenous peoples, trade unionists,  and international trade specialists, who have made it clear to me that this deal would impact massively on the most vulnerable in society.

 

 

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