Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I appreciate that. Deputy Smith will be aware that the Commission initially made a set of proposals for a multi-annual financial framework or European budget for 2014 to 2020. Ireland supported those proposals. There were considerable differences among member states, some of which sought a reduced European budget while others wanted the Commission budget enlarged or in some cases an enlarged budget overall. Within that, it is fair to say there were probably 27 specific positions of member states with differing priorities. The Cypriot Presidency proposed a negotiating box. Subsequently, the issue was taken on by President Van Rompuy, who made a set of proposals to a European Council meeting in November following consultations with member states. The proposals involved significant reductions to the Commission's original proposals. President Van Rompuy has been engaged in further discussions with heads of State and Government. He briefed the Taoiseach and me when we met in Dublin a little over a week ago to discuss the progress of those talks.

The European Parliament must approve the budget, and therefore there is also the issue of negotiations as it goes through the European Parliament. I will attend the European Union Latin America summit later this week. Present Van Rompuy will also attend and I expect to hold a discussion with him on the state of play of the proposals. We hope he will be in a position to make a further set of proposals to the European Council meeting scheduled to take place on 7 and 8 February, but that remains to be seen.

I agree with Deputy Smith that we need to get the MFF agreed as quickly as possible to clear the way for the discussions that must take place subsequently on the Common Agricultural Policy and other agenda items. Approximately 70 tranches of legislation will arise from the conclusion of the MFF and it will be our responsibility as the Presidency holder to take these through the European Parliament.

We have made a priority of negotiating trade agreements as part of our Presidency package on the jobs and growth agenda. If trade agreements with the United States, Canada, Japan and other strategic partners are concluded, there is potential for the GDP of the European economy to grow by 2%. There is considerable potential for economic growth but there are difficulties. Deputy Smith asked about the prospect of a trade agreement with Canada. There are issues arising which are of concern, including some with regard to beef and access to the beef market. A high-level group was due to report before Christmas on a possible trade agreement with the United States. It is due to report shortly and we hope it will be possible for the European Union to get a mandate to progress a trade agreement with the United States based on that. Interestingly - this relates back to the Chairman's question - Britain shares Ireland's wish to see these trade agreements progress, because it is in our economic interest to do so.

We are in touch with our British counterparts in respect of their plans for the G8 summit in Fermanagh.

Obvious issues arise of which the Deputy will be aware and which will need to be discussed bilaterally. It shines a light on the country and I hope it will have a positive outcome. On the development issue, our Presidency is taking place at the same time as the UN special event on the millennium development goals. Preparation for this event includes the informal meeting of development Ministers which will take place in February and which will be hosted by the Minister of State, Deputy Joe Costello. We are joint organisers with the Mary Robinson Foundation of an event which will bring together the themes of hunger, nutrition and climate change. These are the areas which our development programme emphasises. We will continue to have an active role in peacekeeping. Our focus is European Union and UN co-operation in this area. A seminar will be held in Ireland on this subject.

Bosnia-Herzegovina has an EU perspective but the Bosnian Government and political leaders in Bosnia must make real and sustained progress in order to realise this. The lack of progress on reforms in Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially when compared with their neighbours, is a matter for real concern. Ireland encourages Bosnian leaders to continue their efforts to find a solution, but it is for them to find agreement because it cannot be imposed. While Ireland will not have a direct role to play during our Presidency, which arises from the provisions of the Lisbon treaty and the EU's relationship with Bosnia-Herzegovina, we will do everything in our power to encourage movement on their path to EU integration. The road map agreed by Bosnian leaders last summer still stands, although some deadlines have been missed. Nevertheless, it provides an agreed outline for getting to the point where an application for EU membership can be made.