Ms Aingeal O?Donoghue:

I thank the Chairman and committee for the invitation. The question of alliance building and building to strengthen the European Union is crucial. I am joined by the ambassador, Mr. Joe Hackett, Ireland's Deputy Permanent Representative to the EU, and by two colleagues from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, namely, Ms Ciara Delaney and Ms Claire Callaghan.

Working closely with a range of EU partners has always been important for Ireland but, as the committee has rightly pointed out, some of the changes occurring this year provide further impetus for this work. These include the European Parliament elections in May, the appointment of a new Commission and European Council President, national elections in a number of member states, the adoption of a new strategic agenda to guide the work of the Union and, of course, Brexit.

We are all well aware of the unprecedented challenge that Brexit poses to the European Union as a whole and Ireland in particular. The solidarity shown by member states has been remarkable, much appreciated and a key strand of our engagement with partners in the period since the Brexit referendum. As a committed and engaged member of the Union, we also want to share perspectives and develop common approaches on the full range of issues on the EU agenda. This is not only a matter of pressing Irish priorities on others but also of listening to friends and partners to hear and understand their concerns and perspectives.

While we have always worked closely with a broad range of member states, the United Kingdom has been an important partner for Ireland on many issues in the European Union. This is true not just for Ireland but for a range of like-minded countries. It has been clear to us that the loss of the UK as an EU partner would be significant and we have undertaken a comprehensive review of our alliances and engagements within the European Union with a view to strategically strengthening and diversifying our relationships. Our approach is multifaceted but it is important to stress that it takes place against a backdrop in which we are intensifying engagement with all member states. As for our priorities and focus, the Nordic-Baltic countries, together with the Netherlands, are a key group with which we share a common approach in areas such as EU trade policy, the Single Market, the further development of the eurozone and the ambition of the digital Single Market.

Another key strand is deepening our relationships with larger member states and the European institutions in order to explain Ireland’s policy positions across key policy areas including sensitive areas such as further developing the economic and monetary union, EMU, taxation, defence and migration. Strengthening contacts with key eastern European member states is also important, particularly with the eastwards shift of the EU centre of gravity. The final strand of our engagement is deeper work with a range of member states on an issue-by-issue basis, whether as part of a group or bilaterally.

Ireland works hard to influence the policy and legislative agenda of the EU, to safeguard our interests and to make a positive contribution towards the future direction of the Union. Let us be in no doubt but that this is challenging and requires sustained effort. We do it through effective engagement with the EU institutions, increased capitals-to-capitals engagement at both political and official level, through our permanent representation in Brussels, which has officials from across all Departments, and through mobilising our network of embassies in every capital across the European Union. These efforts are supported by colleagues working across Government at home and underpinned by deep political engagement, including a sustained increase in the range and intensity of political and official level visits.

Excluding the UK for a moment, in 2018, for example, there were over 50 outward visits to the EU member states involving the President, the Taoiseach, the Ceann Comhairle, Government Ministers or Ministers of State and approximately 30 high-level political visits inwards to Ireland. A key element of those outward programmes often involves engagement with parliamentary committees such as this one. Last month, Ministers visited all 27 EU capitals as part of the Government’s St. Patrick’s Day programme. Such visits not only offer the opportunity to celebrate our national culture and our diaspora, but also to build and deepen relationships at a political level and to raise broader awareness of Ireland’s priorities through engagement with local media, parliamentary committees and think tanks.

The 50 outward engagements I mentioned did not include attendance at EU Council meetings where Ministers also regularly meet their colleagues in the various sectoral formations, whether that is agriculture, trade, competitiveness or foreign affairs. As the Tánaiste has said, taking part in the formal discussions and decisions is essential but these meetings are also an opportunity to build strong relationships with new and established colleagues, both individually and as part of wider groups. Before the March European Council, for example, the Taoiseach and Prime Minister Rutte of the Netherlands participated in a Nordic-Baltic group meeting. The Minister for Finance now meets regularly with his Nordic, Baltic and Dutch colleagues before each ECOFIN Council and the Tánaiste has hosted the same grouping of Ministers in advance of the Foreign Affairs Council.

The more Ireland engages with other member states on the key European issues, the more we will enhance our capacity to shape and influence the future. We therefore actively participate with a range of partners through a number of like-minded groups linked to particular issues. Mr. Hackett will speak more about this during his presentation.

Ireland is already, by some way, the smallest country with an embassy in every other member state. This has been an invaluable asset in fostering support for our concerns in the Brexit negotiations and in advancing our interests on key issues on the EU agenda. Since the referendum in the UK, we have added senior officials to our embassy teams in the permanent representation in Berlin, Paris and London. This year we are increasing our diplomatic representation in Madrid, Warsaw and Rome and reinforcing a number of other embassies, notably our single diplomat missions.

Last year, the Tánaiste published a comprehensive review of Ireland’s relationship with Germany. It included 23 recommendations for widening and deepening our footprint in Germany. We are working on implementing these, including the opening of a new consulate in Frankfurt later this year. The Tánaiste has similarly requested a review of our relations with France with which we already share vibrant links and we are also doing a piece of work on our relationship with the Nordic countries.

Building our relations with the European institutions to ensure that Irish positions are understood and taken into account is critical. As the committee is aware, the Taoiseach was the first speaker in the European Parliament’s series of debates with Heads of State or Government on the future of Europe. In a multilingual address, he set out Ireland’s positive vision for the future of the European Union. Engagement with the European Commission takes place at every level. Ministers engage with Commissioners and officials, from either the representation or the full range of Departments, meet their counterparts in different EU Directorates General.

We have also developed a programme of ministerial engagement at plenary sessions of the Parliament. Irish officials, working at all levels within the EU's institutions, have also made invaluable contributions and are an important link between the institutions and Ireland. However, in recent years, the number of Irish staff working in the institutions has been declining, largely due to retirements. The Government has made it a priority to address this demographic cliff including through the EU jobs campaign. Over the past month, for example, the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, addressed students in Trinity College Dublin, the National University of Ireland, Galway, Maynooth University and University College Dublin to encourage them to consider a career in the EU which would help to put us at the forefront of shaping developments that affect the daily lives of citizens across the Union.

Our high-level objectives are to increase the number of Irish candidates applying for and being successful in these competitions. We work across Government to ensure that a range of officials are seconded into EU institutions from Departments.

Deepening our alliances to further strengthen the European Union is exciting work but it is also challenging for a small member state such as Ireland. It requires a whole-of-Government approach with all Ministers and officials across Departments actively engaging with their counterparts around Europe. The Oireachtas too has a crucial part to play in building this network. I compliment the Chairman and this committee on their openness in engaging with ambassadors from all the EU member states based in Dublin, and for hosting meetings with visiting parliamentary committees. This is a critical part of how we build these alliances. Visits and meetings by the Ceann Comhairle, by the interparliamentary friendship groups and, in particular, by this committee, all play a role in deepening and strengthening our engagement with other member states. I would be interested in hearing the committee's reflections on how this can be developed further. I thank the Chairman for the time. I will hand over to Mr. Hackett to share his Brussels perspective.