Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State and wish him well at the meeting of the Council. Greece has to be the overarching concern in respect of the five presidents’ report on strengthening economic governance in the euro area.

The Minister of State spoke about the country specific recommendations and the European semester becoming more open and inclusive, including through more meaningful engagement from national parliaments and other stakeholders. The recommendations were published in June, there is a budget in October. Is the Minister of State advocating a post-budget debate to see that the recommendations are implemented?

On immigration, I commend the action of the Government, the Minister for Defence and others in this area. Ireland plans to take more migrants than the quota recommended. If the quota system is adopted there are certain countries migrants would wish to go to. Even if a certain country took in its quota, how can the migrants be stopped from going to the UK or Germany? While we cannot blame anyone for seeking a better life, the more migrants who reach and settle in Europe, the more are encouraged to make the same journey. This is the problem. There is no stop to the movement. I do not blame them seeking a better life. What can be done to stop them leaving? I distinguish between economic migrants and refugees.

Is there a timeframe for discussion on UK-EU relations? Will the UK continue with bilateral meetings? Is there any discussion on when it might put forward proposals on the changes it wishes to see in the EU?