Realities of climate change 'really hitting home' says Green MEP
Michael Bolton
Green Party MEP Grace O'Sullivan says the impacts of climate change are being seen across farming in Ireland ahead of the European elections.
Ms O'Sullivan, a Ireland South MEP, says many questions she has been asked when canvassing has been on climate, particularly on the difficulties facing farmers.
Speaking to BreakingNews.ie, Ms O'Sullivan, who was elected in 2019, explained how climate change has been impacting farmers in Ireland.
"Farmers are talking to me about the rain. Farmers are telling me from last July to St Patrick's Day, they cannot get into their fields because of flooding and the land is clogged up.
"The realities of climate change are really hitting home. The point is, farmers are on the last run of everything. In terms of pricing, they are not getting a good price for their efforts. In terms of production, Europe is not recognising the contribution they make and they are getting a consistent and fair price.
"Five years ago, we were talking about a just transition and nobody would be left behind. We are in that transition phase now. There is opportunity for farmers to diversify in terms of income stream. Not only do they have an income from their traditional farming, but also for renewable energy."
Ms O'Sullivan used the Green Party's pushback on the EU-Mercosur trade deal as an example of how the party can be trusted by farmers.
Protests have taken place across Europe on European policies on farming, while farmers in Ireland have made their frustrations known in relation to the EU cut in Ireland’s nitrates derogation limit.
"If we don't do it in a fair and just way, we are in trouble. The one thing since the day I came into politics is in Ireland, we have huge opportunities in terms of energy production.
"I want to have food that is produced in Ireland or across Europe, and we start moving away from the idea of imports from South America. We have fought off for the last five years the Mercosur trade deal that former commissioner Phil Hogan had been pushing out."
Immigration
The political fallout from immigration issues in Ireland has been a major talking point in the lead up to local and European elections, with scenes of asylum seekers in tents on Mount Street leading to criticism to the Government.
This was also followed by asylum seekers moved from the Grand Canal a week later.
There has led to a political spat between the UK government and Ireland, due to the Rwanda Bill allegedly leading to a rise in asylum seekers in Ireland from the North.
Ms O'Sullivan claims there must be dialogue between both governments as migration will continue to be an issue.
"We need to be better prepared. What we are seeing at the moment on Mount Street is unacceptable. No one should be sleeping in cold, stark conditions.
"In Ireland, and across the European Union, we just need to plan much, much better. At the moment, it is not working.
"We need to face up to what is going to happen and see how we can best manage it. At the moment, the Government is under extreme pressure.
"Our Government needs to sit down with our counterparts in the UK, and we need to work this one out. At the moment it is like a spat, it is going back and forward from one country to another without governments sitting around the table.
"Ireland has the strength of our EU countries behind us, so I don't think we should feel any pressure from the UK government."
Actions of Israel
Ms O'Sullivan has been one of several MEP's calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, with the actions of European commissioner Ursula von den Leyen brought into question.
The Ireland South MEP praised Ireland for the solidarity it has shown Palestine, but questioned the actions of the European Union.
"For Ursula von den Leyen, it has been a disgrace what has happened at a commissioner level. We have seen contradiction of what the EU has done in terms of the Ukrainians and then in terms of supporting Palestinians.
"We can put in sanctions, we can revise the EU-Israel trade agreement. We can stop importing gas from Israel, we can stop sending weapons from EU countries into Israel to support Israeli attacks.
"The way I see it, we can leverage real pressure on Israel. We can use our diplomatic relations with the US for Biden to put more pressure on the current government in Israel."