Mr. Phil Hogan:

This level of engagement is, of course, unprecedented, but it is essential and will continue. We will also continue to expand our citizens' dialogues, which allow Commissioners to listen directly to citizens in their own regions and reply on the issues that matter most to them.

I will briefly mention the ongoing debate on the forthcoming UK referendum on EU membership. Given Ireland's economic, geographic, historical and societal ties to the UK, it is appropriate that a deepening discussion is taking place in this country on the so-called Brexit. That debate is happening on a variety of levels, including in the Houses. I commend the excellent report prepared by the committee. I am sure that Mr. Jonathan Faull's intervention here yesterday was instructive and engaging. It is right that Irish parliamentarians express their views in this debate and that their reflections are heard in London and Brussels.

As members are aware, EU member states and institutions have faced a series of complex and, at times, daunting challenges in recent years. To respond to these challenges, it is essential that we make the best use of our resources. The Commission has pledged to do things differently, and we are delivering on that pledge. The budget must be geared to results and the mid-term review of the multi-annual financial framework will consider how to target funding for key priorities better while putting a stronger focus on achieving results.

All of our proposed actions are underpinned by our new better regulation agenda. We want to ensure that, when the EU takes action, it does so in a way that delivers results and makes a positive difference in the lives of citizens. Our work programme will review key areas of existing legislation, such as health and safety in the workplace, to ensure that they are fit for purpose and continue to deliver results. We also propose to withdraw a number of initiatives that have become obsolete or watered down over the years or have no chance of being adopted.

It is imperative that we are honest about where we find ourselves today. The legacy of the economic crisis remains deep and lasting, the scale of the refugee crisis breath-taking and the threat of disintegration and disunity in Europe deeply worrying. The work programme is about facing up to these challenges and meeting them head on. When it comes to jobs, growth, investment, climate change, trade and sustainability, Europe can and must provide solutions to the problems faced by our citizens. The agenda that I have outlined is a concrete step towards making this conviction a reality.