Micheál MARTIN, Irish Prime Minister (Taoiseach) is invited to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, for the inauguration of the bust of John HUME, Irish politician from Northern Ireland, former EP member. Roberta METSOLA, EP President, participates to the inauguration.

Strasbourg

McGUINNESS, Mairead (EPP, IE)

KELLY, Seán (EPP, IE)

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

EU - Ireland (T)

peace process in Northern Ireland (T)

O'REILLY, Emily (IE)

HUME, John (PSE, UK)

MARTIN, Micheál (IE)

Irish

president's agenda

Inauguration of the bust of John HUME, Irish politician from Northern Ireland, former EP Member: in the presence of Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Micheál MARTIN, Irish Prime Minister (Taoiseach)

Cutaways of the audience with&nbsp;Emily&nbsp;O'REILLY, Ombudsman, MCGUINNESS, Mairead, Se&aacute;n KELLY. Arrival&nbsp;of&nbsp;Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Miche&aacute;l MARTIN, Irish Prime Minister (Taoiseach), Strasbourg, France, 07/06/2022,  (7  shots)

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, We are here this evening - in the presence of John Hume Junior - to celebrate the legacy of a great man for European democracy and long serving member of this House: the late John Hume

SOUNDBITE (English), MARTIN Micheal, Irish Prime Minister (Taoiseach), I am honoured to be here today, to remember and to celebrate the late John Hume, whom we sadly lost in 2020.

SOUNDBITE (English), MARTIN Micheal, Irish Prime Minister (Taoiseach), John regularly reminded us of the role that the European Parliament also played in inspiring the Good Friday Agreement. In 1998 he told MEPs that: &ldquo;the peace process in Northern Ireland has been most heavily inspired by the example of this House [&hellip;] Let us not forget that the European Union is the best example [&hellip;] in the history of the world, of conflict resolution.&rdquo;

SOUNDBITE (English), MARTIN Micheal, Irish Prime Minister (Taoiseach), It is impossible to consider John Hume&rsquo;s legacy without reflecting also on the terrible reality that brutal war has returned to the continent of Europe. Just a relatively short journey away, the people of Ukraine are bravely defending their country and our shared values against the onslaught of the Russian army, directed by a man who is opposed to everything we hold dear - democracy, freedom, the rule-of-law.Those values- our values, John&rsquo;s values - must prevail.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, John Hume firmly believed, as I do, that democracy and dialogue would lead to peace. He believed in humankind. In his words: &ldquo;Difference is the essence of humanity. Difference should therefore never be the source of hatred or conflict. Therein lies a most fundamental principle of peace: respect for diversity.&rdquo;These words are a guiding principle even today. As peace talks progressed favourably in the 1990&rsquo;s around Northern Ireland, John Hume was adamant that "there can be no turning back". A reminder to our generation of the importance of safeguarding the Good Friday Agreement of which John Hume - together with all protagonists concerned - was instrumental in hammering out.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, &ldquo;Let us not forget that the European Union is the best example, as we have learned, in the history of the world of conflict resolution.&rdquo;And on that last quote from John Hume, the Taoiseach and I will now jointly unveil the sculptor of a great man who forever does this European House of Democracy proud.

Unveiling the bust of John HUME, family photo with John HUME junior, Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Miche&aacute;l MARTIN, Irish Prime Minister (Taoiseach), cutaways of the bust,&nbsp; Irish anthem, can be used only in a news context, Strasbourg, France, 07/06/2022,  (6  shots)