European candidates answer our questions: Clare Daly

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 Clare Daly (Independents for Change)

 

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

Both. The EU has brought benefits.

Also drawbacks: it favours big business over people, it’s mobbed by lobbyists, it has driven austerity, it is militarising, and Irish neutrality is being eroded in it.

The government parties behave as if it is unacceptable to criticise the EU!

Obviously that’s nonsense.

In a democracy, you’re allowed to appreciate the good and push back against things you disagree with. That’s actually how democracy works.

 

Would you support Ursula Von Der Leyen in a 2nd term as EU Commissioner?

I’m 100% against her.

For five years I’ve called her out to her face.

I christened her “Frau Genocide” in the European Parliament for how she backed Israel’s genocide in Gaza – something she had no right to do.

She is the last person who should be the next president of the Commission.

 

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

In the European Parliament you have to negotiate for a compromise with all the lead negotiators from the other political groups in a formal setting.

That’s the job.

There wouldn’t be a whole lot we’d agree on with those parties though.

 

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

The European Union has made people poorer and less safe in the last five years, gutting environmental laws needed for the climate crisis, diverting funding into militarism, escalating international tensions, backing a genocide, and contributing to a brutal cost of living crisis. The dereliction of duty is historic. Change must come.

 

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

People, peace, planet. We can’t address the climate crisis without peace and global cooperation.

The EU lunge towards militarism must be reversed, and we need to focus on making people’s lives better, not worse.

 

Migration and security policy will likely dominate the next term of the European parliament. What influence will Ireland have in shaping those policies?

Ireland is not in the Schengen Area. We have a Justice and Home Affairs opt-out.

We are absolutely free to set our own border and migration policies, independently of the EU.

You would hope Ireland’s dealings with EU migration policy would focus on making sure fundamental rights are upheld.

 

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

100% opposed and always have been. Nobody has done more to oppose it than we have.

But the reality – despite the government parties calling it a “myth” – is that it’s already here – they just gave it a boring name so nobody would notice.

They called it an “EU Rapid Deployment Capacity.” Google that and tell me what to call it except an EU army.

 

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

People in Ireland are supportive of the EU, but a lot of people were horrified by Ursula von der Leyen backing Israel’s genocide.

It was a mask slip moment. It has been unpleasant, but ultimately it’s positive.

The first step to change is recognising there’s a problem.