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Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Labour Party

These answers were provided by the party

EU integration
1 of 21 questions
European integration has gone too far
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "We are committed to the EU as a peace project through sharing sovereignty, support reform to make it more social and democratic, and believe the EU architecture must adapt to new realities and challenges. "

- Labour Party
EU enlargement
2 of 21 questions
It would be good if Ukraine joins the EU in the next five years
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Labour supports EU enlargement based on the full respect of workers’ and social rights, social dialogue, and the EU social acquis."

- Labour Party
Economic policy
3 of 21 questions
Corporation tax rates should be fully harmonised across the EU
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Labour supports the OECD/G20 minimum corporation tax agreements, but member states should maintain flexibility to compete. The EU should have more powers to raise its own revenue including an EU wide wealth tax on the ultrarich, a financial transaction tax and windfall taxes on energy profits."

- Labour Party
Economic policy
4 of 21 questions
The EU budget should be increased, even if this means wealthy countries paying more
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "If we want the EU to do more, than it will need more of its own resources. The EU should have more powers to raise its own revenue including an EU wide wealth tax on the ultrarich, a financial transaction tax and windfall taxes on energy profits."

- Labour Party
Commission President
5 of 21 questions
Ursula von der Leyen should receive a second term as Commission President
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Labour believes she is not fit for the role. Last October she went way beyond her brief, by disgracefully giving unconditional EU support to Israel without the consent of member states. We are supporting the Party of European Socialists candidate Nicolas Schmit."

- Labour Party
Defence
6 of 21 questions
EU member states, including Ireland, should collaborate more on defence and security
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "We respect the position of countries who wish to collaborate more on security and defence, but we see the EU firstly as a peace project, and it must respect Irish military neutrality. Ireland must invest more in our own Defence Forces and address the recruitment and retention crisis. "

- Labour Party
Defence
7 of 21 questions
The EU should have a common army
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Labour completely disagrees with the EU having a common army. The EU should be focused on building a more social union protecting public services and workers with better jobs & higher wages, delivering a just transition on climate, lower energy prices and a European plan for affordable housing. "

- Labour Party
Defence
8 of 21 questions
The EU should finance more weapons for Ukraine
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "EU countries are already providing significant support, and additional weapons will now be financed through the interest on frozen Russian assets. If EU countries decide to provide more support Labour MEPs won’t object. Irish funds should not be used for weapons as is currently the case. "

- Labour Party
Defence
9 of 21 questions
Ireland should retain its ‘triple lock’ rule for deploying troops
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Labour supports a referendum to enshrine military neutrality in the Constitution, with retention of the Triple Lock with ongoing UN approval of peacekeeping missions. We’ve no issue with increasing the number of soldiers up from 12 that can be deployed abroad in an emergency – that makes sense."

- Labour Party
Foreign policy
10 of 21 questions
The EU should suspend its trade agreement with Israel
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "There must be an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, release of all hostages, unimpeded access for aid, an end to illegal occupation of Palestinian land and war crime prosecutions. We support a two-state solution and will work towards trade sanctions & severing the EU-Israel Association Agreement."

- Labour Party
Foreign policy
11 of 21 questions
Each member state should have a veto on EU foreign policy
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Ireland should retain the capacity to pursue its own foreign policy but should work closely with other EU countries on shared objectives, e.g. the sustainable development goals, supporting & defending human rights, and international development for global justice, shared prosperity and peace. "

- Labour Party
Immigration
12 of 21 questions
Ireland should participate in the EU’s new migration pact
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "The Pact must be implemented to the highest human rights standards. It won’t address the underlying causes of migration. The right to asylum must be protected. By not opting in Ireland would be bound by old Dublin III rules which won’t function in other EU countries creating legal uncertainty. "

- Labour Party
Immigration
13 of 21 questions
Member states should share responsibility for asylum applications in the EU
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Europe needs to have a common and coordinated system for migration and asylum based on solidarity and shared responsibility. We stand for well-managed migration with safe pathways, proactive labour market integration, and stronger inclusion policies. "

- Labour Party
Immigration
14 of 21 questions
The EU should operate search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Rescuing humans at sea is an obligation under international law. Labour supports the reintroduction of an EU search and rescue mission in the Mediterranean. Offering humanitarian assistance should never be criminalised. We are against border externalisation. "

- Labour Party
Immigration
15 of 21 questions
Ireland needs to do more to ensure asylum applicants have suitable accommodation
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Labour has long called for a proactive response from the government by mobilising State-owned properties and vacant buildings and offices to ensure suitable accommodation is in place for refugees, moving away from the current reactive system. Using tents now amounts to Ireland’s Rwanda policy. "

- Labour Party
Immigration
16 of 21 questions
There should be checkpoints at the border with Northern Ireland to limit the number of asylum seekers coming to Ireland
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "The Common Travel Area needs to be protected. The Irish government needs to engage with the UK on addressing this issue. Applications for asylum in Ireland must be more quickly processed. "

- Labour Party
Environment
17 of 21 questions
The EU’s Nature Restoration Law, requiring rewetting of peatlands, should be adopted
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Labour’s group in the European Parliament, the Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, led on passing the Nature Restoration law and the next Parliament must ensure it comes into force, and that financial resources are put in place to implement it by supporting farmers to protect & restore nature. "

- Labour Party
Environment
18 of 21 questions
The EU’s goal of a 55% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 is too ambitious
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "We must stay on track for net zero with ambitious targets but through a just transition that brings communities with us in areas that have been left behind, by creating employment, being inclusive in the implementation of policy and clearly explaining why action is needed."

- Labour Party
Environment
19 of 21 questions
More windfarms (including onshore windfarms) should be built in Ireland
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "We have to decarbonise our society while ensuring access to secure electricity supplies. The wholesale electricity market must be reformed to ensure more affordable energy, with a long-term strategy on pricing and investment in renewable sources. "

- Labour Party
Agriculture
20 of 21 questions
Ireland should continue to seek special treatment for Irish farmers on the Nitrates (water quality) directive
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Water quality must improve, more measures are needed. The allowed stocking level was cut from 250 to 220kg/hectare in 2023; the impact of this must be observed. Dairy farmers have expanded; those who wish to exit or downsize should be supported. EU must recognise Irish outdoor farming practises."

- Labour Party
Agriculture
21 of 21 questions
The EU should reduce subsidies for high-emissions farming, such as beef and dairy
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "We want to safeguard food security & strengthen CAP to support farmers, esp. young, women, and agri workers, with more funds flowing towards smaller farmers, and those who meet environmental and biodiversity criteria. Farmers must also be protected from unfair competition from outside the EU. "

- Labour Party