Sharon Keogan: Demands von der Leyen Resign, Calls for Irish Stand
Sharon Keogan criticised the Irish Government's deference to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and called for von der Leyen to resign. She alleged missing text messages in a Pfizer-related scandal, warned of a Commission culture of impunity, and said the Government has failed to defend Irish farming over the Mercantile deal.
Main allegations against the Commission
She accused the Commission of a culture of impunity that promotes a lack of transparency and accountability at the highest levels. While she said the European Court's ruling is welcome, she argued it does not go far enough to address systemic issues and pointed to earlier controversies involving von der Leyen.
Allegations about missing texts and vaccines
Keogan referenced a recent "Pfizer Gates" scandal, alleging that text messages between von der Leyen and the Pfizer CEO about vaccine procurement mysteriously vanished. She used this episode to underline her call for greater transparency around vaccine procurement and high-level communications.
Impact on Irish policy and farming
She warned that too many civil servants report that national policy is being copied from Brussels rather than made at home. Keogan singled out the Mercantile deal, saying it will decimate the farming industry and criticised the Government for not signalling opposition to it, unlike France or Poland.
Call for resignation and government action
Following findings by former Ombudsman Emily O'Reilly and other breaches of standards, Keogan called on President von der Leyen to resign and urged the Irish Government to echo that call. She argued it is time for Ireland to begin standing up for transparency and accountability in EU affairs.
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Thank you. Today I want to express my deep concern over the Irish Government's unwavering deference to Ursula von der Leyen and her Commission. Considering the recent Pfizer Gates scandal, where text messages between her and the Pfizer CEO regarding vaccine procurement mysteriously vanished, it is high time that our Government begins to chart its own course within the EU. While the European Court's ruling is welcome, it does not go far enough in combating what can be described as the Commission's culture of impunity, a culture which promotes lack of transparency and accountability at the highest levels of the EU. In fact, this isn't even the first time for von der Leyen. She faced a previous scandal over public contracts as German Defence Minister, even wiping her phone when German MPs sought to review her communications. Meanwhile, this Irish Government is not only failing to hold the Commission President to account, they are following its directives without question. Too many of us have heard the constant stories from our civil servants that policy is not being made by our national Government but instead being copied from Brussels. Take the Mercantile deal for instance, which will decimate our farming industry overnight have passed. Unlike France or Poland, our Government is not even willing to signal their opposition to it, much less to fight for it. Following this breach of ethical and administration standards, along with so many others, such as those found by former Ombudsman Emily O'Reilly, I call on President von der Leyen to resign. I strongly urge the Government to echo this call. It is a long shot, but it is high time we begin standing up for transparency.
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