Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome this opportunity to address the House in advance of the European Council meeting that begins tomorrow in Brussels. The agenda includes a discussion of the current migration situation, the European Union's trade policy and a number of trade agreements, a range of global and economic issues, and external relations, specifically with Russia and Syria. I have asked the Minister of State, Deputy Joe McHugh, to address this point of foreign policy in his closing remarks.

Before I turn to the agenda in more detail, I will refer briefly to the informal summit of 27 EU Heads of State and Government that took place in Bratislava last month. I have already answered questions from Deputies in the House about the summit, but it is worthwhile recalling that its objective was to hold a broad debate on the renewal and future of Europe following the UK vote to leave the Union. The meeting assessed the key challenges and priorities for the EU. Our discussions covered migration, internal security, external security and defence, and economic and social development, including issues affecting youth. I acknowledged the strong concerns our partners have in regard to migration and security and assured them Ireland will continue to contribute to the response to the migration crisis. I also said we would engage in the further development of the Common Security and Defence Policy in support of international peace and security, as provided for in the EU treaties. I highlighted the priority Ireland, together with many of our EU partners, attaches to economic issues, in particular the Single Market, digital single market, jobs, and investment and trade. I argued that we need a balanced approach to the debate on the future of Europe.

There was no discussion of the UK's decision to leave the EU other than a report from President Tusk of his meeting with British Prime Minister, Ms May, and a reaffirmation of the agreed principles that there can be no negotiations before the UK triggers Article 50 and that access to the Single Market requires acceptance of all four freedoms. In my discussions with other leaders, however, I reminded them again of Ireland's specific concerns arising from Brexit, particularly in regard to Northern Ireland, the peace process, North-South relations, citizenship issues, the common travel area, the Border and bilateral trade. I also had the opportunity to elaborate upon these points to the head of the European Commission's negotiating team, Michel Barnier, when I met him in Dublin last week.

It was agreed at Bratislava that the process of reflection on the future of Europe should continue at the October and December European Councils. Another meeting of the 27 will take place in Malta in early 2017 before the process concludes in March to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome. A declaration to this effect was issued, along with a short work programme or roadmap as set out by President Tusk, President Juncker and the Slovakian Presidency. The October European Council will hear a short update from the Slovakian Prime Minister, Mr. Fico, on that roadmap.

Returning to the agenda for tomorrow's European Council, Heads of State will begin by once again looking at Europe's work in responding to the migrant and refugee situation, which, quite rightly, remains an issue of the highest priority.

The Commission is expected to give an update on progress on a range of EU measures, including relocation and resettlement and the European Coast and Border Guard, which has now been established. Many EU measures are having a positive impact. The number of people attempting to cross the Aegean Sea has decreased substantially since the EU-Turkey statement was agreed in March. While this is to be welcomed, far too many people are still risking their lives by travelling the extremely dangerous route from Libya to Italy.

The European Council will look at protecting external borders, tackling migratory flows along the central Mediterranean route and maintaining control of the eastern Mediterranean route. The EU-Turkey statement and the partnership frameworks, or "migration compacts", with third countries will also be considered under these headings. The migration compacts aim to ensure coherence between the EU's migration policy and its external and development policies. Overall, we welcome their development and their focus on working more closely with countries of origin and transit, as well as countries hosting large numbers of displaced people. We support the intention to build on existing policies in this area. The first countries the compacts are being developed with are in Africa. We support the intention to make swift progress on the external investment plan to boost investment and job creation in African partner countries. Although Ireland is at one remove from the full force of the crisis because of its geographical location and its non-participation in certain justice and home affairs measures under Protocol 21 of the treaties, it is continuing to contribute to the EU response. The Government decided voluntarily to opt in to EU measures and to take up to 4,000 people who need international protection. This commitment is being implemented. There has been good progress with the resettlement of refugees from outside the Union. As of 11 October, some 500 such refugees have arrived in Ireland, mostly from Lebanon. We are on course to meet our target of 520 by the end of the year.

Progress on relocation, taking migrants that have already arrived in Greece and Italy, has been slow for all partner countries for a variety of reasons that are outside our control. Progress is at last beginning to be made. As of 11 October last, a total of 69 people had come to Ireland from Greece. There are arrangements in place for more people to start coming here. It is expected that by the end of this year, Ireland will have accepted up to 400 people through the relocation pledge. Ireland has provided over €42 million in humanitarian assistance in response to the Syria crisis since 2011 and has pledged a further €20 million in 2016. Over the course of 2015 and 2016, Irish Naval vessels have rescued almost 13,500 migrants in the Mediterranean. LE James Joycereturned to Ireland on 30 September 2016 and has been replaced by LE Samuel Beckett, which commenced operations on 2 October 2016. I commend the exemplary service which the members of our Defence Forces are providing and I express the gratitude and admiration of this House and the Irish people for their efforts.

The European Council will also consider trade policy. The central topics for this debate will be the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement, CETA; the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, TTIP; other trade negotiations; and the EU's trade defence instruments, which are crucially important in the face of global challenges such as steel over-capacity. As Ireland has one of the most open economies the world, there can be little doubt that we have been beneficiaries of free trade. For this reason, we are strong supporters of the EU’s international trade agenda. I am aware that some Members of the Oireachtas do not share this view. However, the Government is keen to ensure progress in international trade negotiations so that Ireland may benefit further.

The CETA agreement is of immediate importance. Ireland's exports to Canada are worth approximately €1.87 billion per annum and could increase substantially with the new trade agreement. CETA will create opportunities for Irish companies by opening up public procurement markets in the Canadian provinces, providing unlimited tariff-free access for most of our important food exports and allowing the recognition of product standards and certification, thereby saving on double testing, which is of particular importance to small and medium-sized enterprises. Ireland also successfully campaigned for a low beef import quota from Canada to the EU, thereby safeguarding our important EU market in this area. Ireland was among a group of member states that successfully sought the designation of CETA as a mixed agreement. This means that national parliaments, including this House, will be involved in the ratification process. We fully support the provisional application of CETA at the earliest opportunity. When it is signed, there will be an accompanying interpretative declaration clarifying that CETA will not affect public services, labour rights or environmental protection. It is hoped that the agreement will be signed at the EU-Canada summit on 27 October next. The European Parliament is expected to give its approval in December.

The prospects for finalising TTIP with the US are less positive. Ireland is still aiming for the European Council to send a solid signal of support. We continue to call for as much progress as possible in the negotiations to maintain the momentum towards an ambitious, comprehensive and mutually beneficial agreement. Obviously, TTIP will not now be concluded before the US Presidential election. There are prospects for other trade deals, in particular between the EU and Japan, which together account for more than a third of the world's GDP. Free trade negotiations were launched in 2013 and there is now an ambition, certainly on the part of the Commission, to finalise them before the end of the year. There will also be a discussion on the EU's trade defence instruments, which have come up for consideration due a variety of global trade factors, such as pressure in the steel sector. We recognise that unfair practices need to be tackled efficiently and robustly.

Many other issues need to be prioritised here. While not everything falls for decision by the Heads of State and Government at this time, there will be a brief discussion on a range of issues like the ratification and entry into force of the Paris agreement on climate change, energy union and the 2030 climate and energy framework, the Single Market, the digital single market, the capital markets union, the reform of the EU telecommunications and copyright rules, the Commission's new proposal for expanding its European fund for strategic investments and fighting youth unemployment. Obviously, we have a number of priority interests across the board. I have spoken many times about the Single Market and the digital market. There will not be any discussion on Brexit other than a brief update from Prime Minister May. We look forward to consulting the House after the summit.

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