Neale Richmond (Fine Gael)
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I thank both speakers for the contributions, particularly for the copy of the emerging voices anthology. I happen to know a couple of the authors but I look forward to reading the contributions of all the authors, most of whom are relatively active on Twitter.

There are a number of areas that I wish to touch on based on the remarks of the speakers and other remarks we have heard in this series of engagements. I will be happy for either of our speakers to respond in due course. Both have spoken about the very strong relationship and of the events held by the IIEA with German partners recently. What other strategic partners does the institute have? What work does it do on a European level with similar foundations and think tanks? It is important that engagement involves every sector of society and is not only on a member state level.

Ms Donoghue mentioned Ireland's role as a psychological insider and the very strong work of our diplomatic corps in Brussels in recent years, as did Ms Cross, and our strength at permanent representation, ministerial and Council level. Ms Donoghue also mentioned the COSAC. Beyond COSAC, what can we as parliamentarians do to strengthen the reputation of Ireland at that level and build those alliances? What EU and other fora can we engage with to build that alliance? Does COSAC meet often enough? I mentioned that we meet every six months, which is great, in the country that holds the Presidency and the Chairman attends a different meeting. Where is the opportunity for national parliamentarians to meet to discuss European issues? Members of the European Union discuss issues at a European level and are not members of their national parliaments. What about parliamentarians? Where is the grand intra-European agrifood committee or home affairs committee to mirror the European Council? Is that something that could be developed or can we improve?

I have identified, although I am open to correction on this, three major issues other than Brexit facing the EU over the next five years. It is very hard to look beyond Brexit, particularly in this country, and our approach to these issues might be determined by what happens in respect of Brexit at Hallowe'en and subsequently. The issues I have identified, which may be considered more important in other countries than here, are migration, the future of the European budget, particularly the CAP, and the climate emergency. Who are Ireland's key allies on all three of those issues? On CAP, the obvious relationship, as was noted, is with France. On migration, we are a little isolated because it does not necessarily impact on us as immediately as it does on other member states such as Greece and other southern Mediterranean countries. My queries are on those three key areas. I thank the speakers again for their presentations and the ongoing work on the bevy of reports they produce. I try my best to read as many as possible.