Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 5 July 2017

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs

European Agenda Developments: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

2:00 pm

Photo of Terry LeydenTerry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, her officials, the ambassadors, their staff and the diplomatic corps. We appreciate their attendance at our meetings and they add to the meetings' importance. The Chairman has been active in meeting all the EU ambassadors. We commend him on his efforts. All members have been available to meet ambassadors to discuss issues.

I commend the former Minister of State, Deputy Dara Murphy's efforts and co-operation over the past number of years. We welcome the new Minister of State in that capacity and congratulate her. She will make as big an impression in Europe as she makes in my area of Castlecoote in County Roscommon, which she has visited many times. We are always delighted to meet her there. She is approachable and will undoubtedly make that impression in Europe.

The Minister of State's speech was excellent and covered many matters. She is working her way into the situation, but she has a good knowledge.

She has previous ministerial experience and acquitted herself very well. She came up with new initiatives which were very welcome. Like other members, I was in Malta when it held the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. I will be representing the committee at a COSAC meeting in Estonia at the weekend. I commend Estonia and wish it well during its Presidency. I also thank the Maltese in what was an excellent Presidency.

I welcome the peace talks initiated by the United Nations now taking place in Switzerland. We could play a very important role in dealing with the Cypriot issue, particularly in resolving issues between Turkey and Greece which very much reflect the difficulties we have had on our island. Our experiences and achievements in the peace talks which led to the Good Friday Agreement impressed the Cypriots. I know that the Minister of State met the President of Cyprus who updated her on the current position. It is an area in which I would like to see her get involved as her experience would be of benefit. She also has responsibility for the Council of Europe; I think it is part of her portfolio, but I am not quite sure. Normally the Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs attends Council of Europe ministerial meetings. It is a very important forum at which 47 countries are represented and meet on a regular basis - four times a year. Our representative is Senator Joe O'Reilly. He is the leader of the Irish delegation which comprises excellent members. I wish the Minister of State every success in that regard. I am not here to ask her questions, just to wish her well. There is no doubt that she will have a tremendously busy time in dealing with her portfolio. She will be one of the busiest Ministers in the Government, but I have no doubt that she is ready, willing and able to take on the role.

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