Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)

Yesterday the Taoiseach said the consensus was emerging among many EU leaders to back Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for a second term. I listened carefully to his comments a few moments ago. It will be a concerning development for people in Ireland, notwithstanding what he said about Ursula von der Leyen. She has not rowed back from her initial unqualified support for the Netanyahu regime, as we see the genocidal death toll in Gaza rising. I ask that we have a debate on her reappointment as Commission President in this House so we can highlight and insert some transparency to the process, to see who from Ireland will be backing her in this attempt to become Commission President for a second term.

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