Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Her Excellency, the ambassador, Mrs. Kristi Karelsohn, is very welcome. I thank her for putting forward the plans for Estonia's Presidency of the European Union in the next six months. As she will be aware, Estonia joined the European Union on 1 May 2004 and has since played a very important role as one of its youngest members. It has made great strides and a very good contribution. I wish it success in its Presidency. I look forward to visiting Tallinn on behalf of the Chairman on Saturday and Sunday, with staff of the committee. I will represent the committee at the meeting of the Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs of Parliaments of the European Union, COSAK.

I commend Ryanair for forging links with Estonia. It is an Irish company which was established by Dr. Ryan many years ago and it is good to see it linking with Estonia in the form of regular direct flights between Dublin and Tallinn. I know that the ambassador presented her credentials in September 2014 to President Michael D. Higgins in Áras an Uachtaráin and that she has been very active since in travelling around the country since, including visits to Dundalk and other areas. I say, "Well done," to her on her initiative in being a very good ambassador here. As for what she said, the fact that she is putting first the citizens of Europe, instead of the institutions, is very important. The citizens of Europe, not the institutions, should be at the forefront. In a sense, one of the difficulties with and one criticism of the European Union is that it has become too distant from the people.

I wish Estonia every success in its Presidency. It is a great honour to hold the Presidency of the European Union for the first time. Following Malta's success, Estonia is taking on the responsibility at a very crucial time in the first six months of the real Brexit negotiations. It will host the leaders' meetings later in the year also.

I thank the ambassador for her presence and know that the Chairman has been in touch with her directly. I ask her to continue to keep in touch with the members of the Joint Committee on European Affairs.