Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach, leis na Teachtaí agus leis na Seanadóirí. Tá áthas orm a bheith anseo an athuair mar Aire Stáit le freagracht as gnóthaí Eorpacha agus cúrsaí cosanta. Is é seo ár gcéad chruinniú ó ceapadh mé i mí Eanáir. Déanaim comhghairdeas leis an gCathaoirleach as a cheapacháin mar Chathaoirleach ar an gcoiste. Gabhaim dea-ghuí le gach ball den choiste. Tá obair an-tábhachtach le déanamh acu sna míonna agus blianta atá le teacht. Tá súil agam a bheith ag obair go daingean leo. Beidh mé ag éisteacht leo, ag freagairt a gcuid ceisteanna agus ag obair leo mar fhoireann na hÉireann i rith ár n-Uachtaránacht an bhliain seo chugainn.

As Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs and defence, I greatly value this opportunity for dialogue and the chance to update the committee on key developments at a European Union level, particularly following my attendance at the General Affairs Council on 27 May. I was Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs previously when Brexit was a key issue during the latter part of that whole process, and I have to say the work and breadth of topics involved at the level of ministers for European affairs, the General Affairs Council level in the European Union, has greatly expanded. A much wider range of work has been left for the Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs and his or her counterparts to deal with. A much greater level of work is being done at the European Union. Our Presidency is coming up, as are the budget negotiations, which are about to kick off in earnest. There are just a broader range of issues in front of me.

Given the alarming escalation in the Middle East following the Israeli strikes on Iran and Iranian strikes on Israel, I will add some remarks to the copy I have provided to the committee. Ireland expresses its deepest concern at the alarming escalation in the Middle East following Israeli strikes on Iran and Iranian strikes on Israel. There is a clear risk that this crisis may escalate and there are serious implications for peace and security across the region and beyond the EU. The Tánaiste raised these urgent concerns when speaking to EU foreign ministers at the extraordinary meeting held by videoconference yesterday. The Government calls for all parties to urgently step back, to show the maximum of restraint and to reduce tensions. We have expressed our concern at the deliberate targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure in violation of international humanitarian law. Ireland firmly supports diplomatic efforts to return to stability and calls on the international community to take urgent action to de-escalate the situation to provide space for a return to meaningful dialogue. We continue to engage with our EU partners and the broader international community to ensure we are collectively doing our utmost to push for a peaceful resolution to the crisis.

The European Union agenda remains dominated by several critical challenges, including the Russian aggression against Ukraine, the Middle East, our collective focus on EU security and defence, competitiveness and transatlantic relations. These issues will again feature prominently when EU leaders meet at the European Council next week. I will accompany the Taoiseach at that meeting. One of the purposes of the General Affairs Council, at which I sit as Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs, is to prepare those meetings of the European Council. The topics that come up at the European Council will be an agenda item at meetings of the General Affairs Council.

European defence and security continue to be a key theme following the EU leaders' agreement last March to accelerate work on strengthening European security capabilities. The European Commission's White Paper for Defence - Readiness 2030 sets out this framework, and Ireland continues to engage constructively in discussions that include initiatives in priority areas for us, especially maritime security. It should be noted that, on any defence questions or conclusion, there is always reference to the specific security characteristics of certain member states. That obviously includes the neutral status of countries like Ireland.

Through the General Affairs Council, I continue to prioritise the EU's focus on enhancing competitiveness, particularly emphasising the critical importance of strengthening our Single Market. The competitiveness agenda is advancing strongly at EU level, building on the assessments provided by the Letta and Draghi reports.

The Council also maintains its leadership role on rule of law issues across the European Union. At our last meeting, we conducted an important hearing on developments in Hungary, an area of significant concern to Ireland and other member states. We had valuable discussions with Commissioner McGrath regarding his plans for a European democracy shield, examining how we can develop and defend our democratic values and institutions.

Regarding EU enlargement, which is another of these cross-cutting issues that comes up at the General Affairs Council, Ireland continues to advocate strongly for expansion based on candidate countries meeting the necessary membership requirements. We champion merit-based enlargement as an effective tool for securing peace, security, stability and prosperity throughout Europe. We recognise that enlargement serves Ireland's interests through an expanded Single Market, benefiting our economic prosperity and widening our talent pool. Recent progress includes Albania opening two additional negotiation clusters covering the Internal Market and competitiveness and inclusive growth. We hope additional chapters will close with Montenegro before the Polish Presidency ends.

Unfortunately, Ukraine and Moldova's progress is being blocked, basically by Hungary. Ireland wants to see this blockage resolved without delay.

The European Commission will publish its proposal for the next EU long-term budget, the post-2027 multi-annual financial framework, within the coming month. The Commission will publish its proposal and I am happy to discuss the budget in more detail. Ministers will have their first discussion in July at the next meeting of the General Affairs Council. I am happy to explain it. I suspect there will be a lot of confusion in the first weeks. It is approximately a two-year process. It was the last time.

Ireland has transitioned from being a net beneficiary to a net contributor. We want a multi-annual financial framework and EU budget that build on our strengths, support priorities like the Common Agricultural Policy, address current challenges and position us for future opportunities. I assure members, as it comes up everywhere, that at every meeting I have had with EU counterparts, I have stressed the fundamental importance of the CAP to Ireland.

We want the EU to remain an attractive and secure investment destination capable of competing globally. Ireland, through our Presidency, will play a pivotal role in the negotiation of the multi-annual financial framework. This point in the cycle was important in the previous negotiations when Finland had the Presidency and in 2014. It has proved to be an important part of the European budget negotiation on every occasion. It is the Government's intention to ensure the multi-annual financial framework reflects EU founding values while defending the rules-based international order, human rights, climate action and sustainable development.

On competitiveness, we must become more innovative, productive and competitive. This is critical not just for our economic growth but for the well-being and prosperity of citizens. The Government has endorsed Ireland's prioritisation of revitalising the Single Market, developing EU-wide energy grid infrastructure investment, supporting business scale-up and reducing regulatory burdens by cutting red tape. We continue to engage intensively with the Commission and partners on the competitiveness compass recommendations.

EU-UK relations are critical to us and dominated when I was previously Minister of State. Last month's first summit between the EU and the UK since Brexit marked a constructive new co-operation phase. The outcomes envisage broad collaboration across security and defence, energy, people-to-people links, sanitary and phytosanitary arrangements, which we looked for during Brexit, fisheries and emissions trading. A lot of work will flow from the agreement. It is a balanced and ambitious agenda that strengthens ties, benefiting both sides, with many of our priorities included. Northern Ireland's unique circumstances were recognised, with both parties reaffirming commitments to implementing existing arrangements, which remain binding, including the Windsor Framework, fully and faithfully.

Recent months have seen a significantly disrupted global trading order. Irish and EU exporters face additional 10% US tariffs, alongside threats of further tariffs on pharma, semi-conductors, and aircraft. This represents the most serious challenge to transatlantic economic relations in generations. From the outset, Ireland has been a full and equal partner in the EU's collective response, focusing on negotiations while understanding the need for potential rebalancing measures. The European Union is navigating a complex geopolitical context with significant challenges but also substantial opportunities. The EU itself is a complex entity with complex processes we have to navigate as well. As we approach our Council Presidency in the second half of next year and work to defend our values and interests, Ireland will play a key role in shaping the European Union's response.

I have not addressed the EU Presidency in detail but I am happy to answer questions about it. I am happy to do a full session on that issue. I will answer those and questions on other issues that arise. I look forward to the questions in general and to ongoing engagement.