European candidates answer our questions: Regina Doherty

AHEAD of the European Parliament elections on June 7, we sent a questionnaire with the same eight questions to the candidates running in the Dublin constituency.

Here are the responses from Regina Doherty (Fine Gael)

It has been 50 years since Ireland joined the EU; has joining had a positive or negative impact on Ireland?

Undoubtedly EU membership has had a positive impact on Ireland, spreading jobs and opportunities, investment and equality.

It has given Irish people the opportunity to travel, work, study, and live in 26 other Member States.

The Single Market has given us more choice in the shops, more jobs, and cheaper products and services such as food and flights.

It has meant things like free data roaming, clear food origin labelling, strong customer rights, better data privacy rights, more money for research and development, international university exchanges for students, and soon a common charger for all electronic devices.

Would you support Ursula von der Leyen in a second term as EU Commissioner?

Yes as she has led the greenest and most gender balanced commission ever. She also understands the needs of small businesses, backed Ireland during Brexit, and has shown unfailing support for Ukraine.

Would you work with MEPs such as ones from the AFD in Germany or the PVV in the Netherlands if you are selected?

I will not work with parties of that are far-right, anti-European, and xenophobic, this includes the AFD and the PVV. Fine Gael MEPs have always voted against their proposals in the European Parliament and I would do the same.

What has the European Union done for the average voter since the last round of elections in 2019?

Europe has faced a number of major crises in the last 5 years where the European Union has played a major part in supporting ordinary people.

This includes bringing all Member States together to jointly purchase vaccines during the Covid19 pandemic so that smaller EU countries would not be left at the back of the queue for vaccines.

The European Union strongly supported Irish people during the Brexit process by ensuring no hard border with Northern Ireland and signing a trade agreement with the United Kingdom that kept trade routes open. This has been vital for jobs.

The EU for the first time has agreed a common approach to migration to help support countries struggling with high numbers, ensure quick returns where necessary, and limit entry for people from safe countries who do not have a right to be in an EU member state.

What should be the main priorities of the European Parliament over the next 5 years?

There are a number of very important issues. Amongst them is the need to support our small businesses and jobs by making it easier for them to access the EU single market.

The rise of populism and extremism in many EU countries including Ireland, is putting EU values under pressure.

The European Parliament needs to be clearer in requiring its member states, including places like Hungary, to uphold these basic values of free expression, freedom of assembly, democracy, and human rights, including by linking this requirement to the provision of EU funding.

Italy’s foreign minister recently called for the establishment of a European army; do you agree with the idea?

No, I do not agree with this idea, and I think most EU member states would not agree.

Ireland has our own position on matters of security and defence, as does every other EU country, and I think we should retain full control over this.

While it is important for countries to cooperate, including on matters of defence, I do not see a role for an EU army.

Would you describe the European Union sentiment in Ireland as very bad, bad, good, very good, or excellent?

I would describe it as very good. European Movement Ireland’s recent opinion poll showed that over 80% of people in Ireland support EU membership.

This is a positive thing. We know that there are challenges and people might feel that the EU isn’t acting fast enough in some areas.