Substitute
Senator
Independent
Seanad Éireann
IE - - Dublin 2
Ireland
Working language: English
Declarations of interests:
2026
, 2025
, 2018
Declarations of interest regarding election observations (if applicable)
25/06/2026 | 18:02:37 Thank you very much, Mister Chairman. First of all, I want to congratulate Ms Laura CASTEL on this report. A lot of hard work has gone into it, and the Group of the European People's Party supports the report, as do I. Is it the perfect report? No. No report is perfect. It is better to see this report as, I think, a step on a journey to dealing with the cancer of pornography in our society, because it is pornography, in general, that is the problem. It's better to think of violent and extreme... 24/06/2026 | 10:53:32 Thank you very much, Ms President. I think we need to take as our starting point the fact that countries vary greatly in their approach to these issues. And I have absolutely no doubt that there is much unacceptable sexism and stereotyping in many places. That said, I do find in some ways the report has a lack of peripheral vision that is disappointing, and I would warn against a Faustian pact with the more aggressive side of trans activism, for example, but also the danger of a denialism... 21/04/2026 | 19:43:49 Thank you, Mister Chairperson. I join others in welcoming this very important report and indeed to note the many important things in it. Central, I think, is ensuring that the executive of state parties does not overly dominate the composition of national selection bodies. The vital importance of allowing civil society to be present during interviews at the national level of prospective candidates and, of course, the draft recommendation's important call on the Committee of Ministers to draw... 21/04/2026 | 18:36:01 Thank you very much. I think it was Abraham LINCOLN that, when somebody said to him that "God was on our side", he said something like. "I rather hope, gentlemen, that we are on God's side". When we talk about freedom of religion, freedom not to have a religion, and freedom to change one's religion, these are all vital components of a civilised and democratic society. What we must always work for is a healthy pluralism which doesn't seek to reduce religion or to confine it to the private... 30/01/2026 | 10:46:08 Thank you very much, Madam President. I might take this opportunity to congratulate you as well. On Tuesday, in reference to a debate on an education resolution, I pointed out that a resolution that mentioned up to 30 threats to young people, mostly related to internet access, but failed to mention pornography once, had its head in the sand, because this is in a week when we read that the European Commission has launched another investigation into X, this time over its AI tool being used to...
29/10/2018 | Doc. 14657 | Report The provision of palliative care in Europe
24/06/2026 | Doc. 16447 | Motion for a resolution Hate crimes, intolerance and discrimination against Christians in Europe 24/06/2026 | Doc. 16449 | Motion for a resolution A constitutional right to reliable information: safeguarding democracy in the age of artificial intelligence and platform power 22/04/2026 | Doc. 16394 | Written declaration Violations against Yulia Tymoshenko 22/04/2026 | Doc. 16393 | Motion for a resolution Brain drain and demographic challenges in the Western Balkans 17/03/2026 | Doc. 16364 | Motion for a resolution Addressing culture as a foundation for the democratisation of Belarus
25/06/2026 | Doc. 16422, vote on the draft text for resolution Violent pornography: a test for human rights 25/06/2026 | Doc. 16422, vote on the draft text for recommendation Violent pornography: a test for human rights 21/04/2026 | Doc. 16373, vote on the draft text for resolution Countering discrimination based on religion and protecting freedom of religion or belief in Europe 29/01/2026 | Doc. 16315, vote on the draft text for resolution For a ban on conversion practices 28/01/2026 | Doc. 16314, vote on the draft text for recommendation Socialising at schools: for an inclusive and participatory education fostering democratic values