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Christopher Doyle

Christopher Doyle

Independent

www.chrisdoyleformep.ie (i) a strong Europe is good for Ireland, and (ii) we need to prepare for war in Europe, and (iii) we need to adapt to a range of global environmental and climate changes

Priorities

  • Other

    We need a strong Europe. Its the only game in town. We need to make the EU project work for all of Europe.

  • Defence

    We have two wars on our periphery and these threaten peace like at no other time since WW2. The likelihood of war in Europe is high.

  • Environment

    We need to adapt to a range of global environment and climate changes the likes of which we have never seen before.

These answers were provided by the candidate

EU integration
1 of 21 questions
European integration has gone too far
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "A strong Europe that encompasses Ukraine soon and, later, Georgia and Belarus is almost certainly in our medium to long term interest. We can see Europe becoming increasingly reliant on its own resources for everything and this is what we must start planning for."

- Christopher Doyle
EU enlargement
2 of 21 questions
It would be good if Ukraine joins the EU in the next five years
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "We simply cannot envisage a Ukraine outside Europe now nor can we ever tolerate the loss of any part of Ukraine to Russian expansionism. We have to prepare for the worst as this objective, ultimately, will fall to Europe to deliver with whatever assistance the US can provide. "

- Christopher Doyle
Economic policy
3 of 21 questions
Corporation tax rates should be fully harmonised across the EU
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Even though this goes against a long held Irish exceptionism, this probably needs to happen in the context of a closer and growing EU defence budget and food security requirement. "

- Christopher Doyle
Economic policy
4 of 21 questions
The EU budget should be increased, even if this means wealthy countries paying more
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "The ramifications of the invasion of Ukraine are far reaching and will last decades. Europe must re-equip itself with the means to repel further Russian expansionism into the Baltics and anywhere else in Europe and to institute new arrangements for Kaliningrad and Transdniestria. "

- Christopher Doyle
Commission President
5 of 21 questions
Ursula von der Leyen should receive a second term as Commission President
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "We don't see any apparent alternatives. At the end of the day, Frau van der Leyen is a European at heart, supports the concept of a strong Europe and supports Ukraine's work to prevail against Russian aggression. Poland will begin to take a larger role in EU leadership but that's into the future."

- Christopher Doyle
Defence
6 of 21 questions
EU member states, including Ireland, should collaborate more on defence and security
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Ireland has freeloaded on national defence for too long. It didn't really matter before but it matters now. We need to play a constructive role in EU defence. "

- Christopher Doyle
Defence
7 of 21 questions
The EU should have a common army
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Our defence forces were always geared towards assisting the civil power, protecting the State and protecting against pogrom in the North. Now we ened to start thinking about what is needed to protect this State's interests and assets in a wider sense - if we can."

- Christopher Doyle
Defence
8 of 21 questions
The EU should finance more weapons for Ukraine
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "The only other alternative to EU military boots on the ground in Ukraine is the delivery of whatever systems as may be available for Ukraine to do this job. if that means buying kit from the US, then so be it. We cannot under any circumstances allow Ukraine to fall. "

- Christopher Doyle
Defence
9 of 21 questions
Ireland should retain its ‘triple lock’ rule for deploying troops
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "While there'll be no more UN peacekeeping missions for the foreseeable, nevertheless its a pure nonsense that an aggressor in Europe has a veto on our decisions where to post our military. "

- Christopher Doyle
Foreign policy
10 of 21 questions
The EU should suspend its trade agreement with Israel
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "We see the Gaza conflict in a completely different way to the war in Ukraine. We believe, ultimately, that the security of both Palestinian and Israeli territories will have to be provided and imposed by 3rd parties ......a Muslim army in Gaza and West Bank, a Christian army in Israel. "

- Christopher Doyle
Foreign policy
11 of 21 questions
Each member state should have a veto on EU foreign policy
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Hungary's, and likely Serbia's, inclination to support Russia are now unacceptable positions that run counter to base European interests. These country's EU memberships or accession discussions should now be open for critical review by neighbouring peers. "

- Christopher Doyle
Immigration
12 of 21 questions
Ireland should participate in the EU’s new migration pact
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "We have to do this as part of a coherent group in the EU so long as this is clearly spelled out and implemented properly. The problem thus far seems to be that implementation is piecemeal across the EU and in our case, we do not transition migrants into useful roles quickly enough. "

- Christopher Doyle
Immigration
13 of 21 questions
Member states should share responsibility for asylum applications in the EU
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "and if we don't do this, then let's be clear..........we either facilitate immigration or we don't........whatever we choose to do, we have to implement it fairly and decisively. "

- Christopher Doyle
Immigration
14 of 21 questions
The EU should operate search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "What we really need to do is to secure our access to southern Mediterranean countries such that the arbitrary flow of migrants is halted. Most of north Africa is in desperate economic and political straits and Europe has to try address this somehow. "

- Christopher Doyle
Immigration
15 of 21 questions
Ireland needs to do more to ensure asylum applicants have suitable accommodation
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "This is not a question of European MEP competence but as you are asking, we need to be able to house the people who do come, until they find gainful employment. We have 150,000 vacant properties. We have untold thousands of residential space above commercial properties. Use these spaces. "

- Christopher Doyle
Immigration
16 of 21 questions
There should be checkpoints at the border with Northern Ireland to limit the number of asylum seekers coming to Ireland
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "In ideal circumstances, the whole administration of this island would be better done as an island, but this isn't the case yet. Until then, we must implement reasonable controls over uncontrolled people movements, howsoever that is done. "

- Christopher Doyle
Environment
17 of 21 questions
The EU’s Nature Restoration Law, requiring rewetting of peatlands, should be adopted
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "So long as those affected are compensated in some way. We had 10 acres of land attributed as SAC which effectively means I have lost control of it for no compensation. I am not surprised that people are up in arms over 3rd party classification of people's lands. I support such laws generally. "

- Christopher Doyle
Environment
18 of 21 questions
The EU’s goal of a 55% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 is too ambitious
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "I just don't know but recent reports says it'll never happen. The problem with all of this is that there's little point in just taking steps in Europe.....this needs global action. The necessary changes are beyond current contemplation.......we might need to ban all aviation.........."

- Christopher Doyle
Environment
19 of 21 questions
More windfarms (including onshore windfarms) should be built in Ireland
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "As a power generation engineer, I appreciate the complexity of this proposal and can say with some confidence that nothing is as easy at it may seem. Broadly speaking, we should try develop offshore wind generation and try keep this Irish as far as possible,. "

- Christopher Doyle
Agriculture
20 of 21 questions
Ireland should continue to seek special treatment for Irish farmers on the Nitrates (water quality) directive
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "It is my belief that the nitrates issue has gone on for far too long and is an utterly unnecessary tension. We can't realistically ask for derogation in exchange for poor water quality into perpetuity. The ramifications are enormous for farming but I believe this is a farm gate pricing problem."

- Christopher Doyle
Agriculture
21 of 21 questions
The EU should reduce subsidies for high-emissions farming, such as beef and dairy
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "tricky question..........we cant realistically ask for derogations to water quality pressure points but we need food security........are we clear on what we need in Europe ? "

- Christopher Doyle