Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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82. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which he has interaction with other European countries with a view to ensuring that the benefits arising from membership of the EU in terms of financial stratagems do not militate against Irish interests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52558/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, I, other Ministers, and officials within my Department, as well as other Ministers and Departments in government, are in ongoing contact with counterparts across the European Union on range of issues.

In relation to issues of a financial nature, Ministers at the Department of Finance and the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment also have important roles to play.

Both I and other Ministers also are in ongoing, regular communication with Commissioner McGuinness on matters pertaining to her portfolio of Financial Stability, Financial Services and the Capital Markets Union, and Commissioners, and officials within the European Commission, more generally.

This ongoing work is directed at ensuring that matters of importance to Ireland are regularly discussed, and Irish positions explained and, where necessary, defended. Areas in which I and other Ministers have been active over recent months include, for example: the midterm review of the Multiannual financial framework; developments on state aid; and ongoing work on ensuring that the single market is maintained and will be the basis for ongoing and future EU competitiveness.

At all meetings which Ministers attend- be they European Councils at Heads of Government level; EU Council of Economic and Finance Ministers; Foreign Affairs and General Affairs Councils and others; Irish positions are set out, defended and secured in discussions with other Member states.