Fine Gael MEP brands the US as an 'untrusted partner' amid tightening restrictions on travel
Fine Gael MEP for Midlands North West Maria Walsh, has criticised the Trump administration for its move to introduce stricter rules for individuals seeking to travel to the US.
Ms Walsh, who holds US citizenship, said that while she has never had to experience the visa process, she believes it would not be possible to obtain one due to her stance on Palestine.
'If I was to apply today for a visa, based on what I've said in the last couple of weeks about my support, even since October 7, 2023, based around my support for Palestine and peace in the Middle East, I wouldn't get a visa as a politician.
'That's the real ramifications of an untrusted partner.'
On Monday, the US Embassy confirmed that applicants for exchange visas, including J1 visas, will be subject to a 'comprehensive and thorough vetting' of their social media accounts.
This will also apply for other visas in the F, M and J non-immigrant classifications.
It will require students to provide the embassy with a list of all their social media profiles, while also making them publicly accessible. If an individual does not comply, they could see their visa rejected.
Ms Walsh said it was 'incredibly difficult' for her to comprehend the decision by the US.
She added the US was going through a period of 'monumental change' and she believed it was going in the wrong direction.
The Fine Gael MEP urged students and travellers to 'not put all their eggs in one basket' with the US and to look further afield, while saying the EU needed to make schemes like Erasmus easier to get involved with.
The move has been widely criticised, with Taoiseach Micheál Martin describing the new rules as being 'excessive'.
Ms Walsh also hit out at the US government for how it treats LGBT+ people, saying the country appeared to be returning to a period like the 1950s, where they were dismissed from jobs in the government for their sexuality.
Sadly, if you look online, we're probably not too far away from that.
She added Ireland's upcoming Presidency of the EU would need to hold governments moving away from 'fundamental freedoms' accountable.
It comes as Sinn Féin MEP Kathleen Funchion suggested opposition parties could 'potentially' support Northern Ireland's First Minister Michelle O'Neill as a joint candidate for Irish President.
Ms Funchion, MEP for Ireland South, said there was a 'lot of merit' to left-wing parties coalescing around a shared candidate for the upcoming presidential election.
'You would hope to see that people would row in behind a progressive candidate,' Ms Funchion said.
She could not give direct guarantees that other opposition parties would support Ms O'Neill, who last week declined to rule out a run at the presidency.
Ms Funchion said discussions were still ongoing within the party as to the next steps towards the presidential election, citing her own role in talks as a member of the Ard Comhairle.
'I really like the optics of the opposition working together in the Dáil, for example. I think we need to see more of that,' Ms Funchion said.
I think for those of us who don't want Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael in government any longer, it gives great hope that you can work with others and such.
Ms Funchion said if Ms O'Neill opted to throw her hat in the ring, Sinn Féin would be '100% supportive'.
'I suppose to be fair to the party and to members, they haven't made a decision on that yet, but I'd imagine it would be very shortly because time is of the essence.'
Meanwhile, Ms Funchion confirmed she is yet to receive any apology from the European Commission's High Representative Kaja Kallas, after the senior EU diplomat criticised Ireland in a speech.
Ms Kallas said Ireland was able to 'build up their prosperity' amid the post-World War II period, while other European nations behind the Iron Curtain suffered 'atrocities, mass deportations, suppressing your culture, and language'.
Ms Funchion said she was 'taken aback' by Ms Kallas comments, which were 'really bad form'.
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