Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 13, inclusive, together.

I attended the summit of EU Heads of State and Government in Malta on 3 February, where the focus was on the future direction of the Union, in response to the various challenges we face, as well as on the migration situation. Like most member states, Ireland did not present a position paper but we participated fully in discussions at the summit, and in the preparatory meetings, and the drafting of the text of the Malta declaration.

The summit included an informal meeting of the European Council in the morning, where we discussed the external aspects of migration and agreed the Malta declaration, and a meeting of the 27 Heads of State and Government, without the UK, in the afternoon, where we considered the renewal and future direction of the EU.

The discussions between the 27 EU Heads of State and Government were wide-ranging and took account of the various challenges we face, globally and in the context of the European Union. We agreed on the importance of our core values, that these are central to future peace and prosperity in Europe and that we need to remain unified. We also agreed on the importance of delivery for citizens and, in that context, the need to press ahead in areas of particular relevance, including jobs, growth and investment, as well as migration and security. As Deputies are aware, Ireland attaches particular priority to moving ahead on both the Single Market and the Digital Single Market and we will continue to push for ambitious approaches in these areas. We also spoke briefly about the follow up to European Council meetings and how better to explain and communicate what we do.

The exchanges at Valletta will feed into preparations for a meeting in Rome to mark the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome on 25 March. The intention is to agree a paper there which will provide guidance for the EU in the period ahead.

We had an exchange on the European economy with ECB President Draghi at the December European Council, in which I participated but did not intervene. President Draghi spoke about the improved economic situation across the Union, but underlined the need to continue reform efforts. His view was that, while the statistics are better, many individuals have yet to feel the effects of recovery, and there is a need for them and for businesses to have confidence for the future.

I had a bilateral meeting with the Maltese Prime Minister, Joseph Muscat, in Valletta on Saturday, 4 February. Malta currently holds the rotating Presidency of the EU and this was my second recent bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister. Our discussions focused mainly on Brexit and the future direction of the European Union. I explained in some detail our particular concerns arising from Brexit and we exchanged views on the negotiations ahead.

Since September 2016, I have held bilateral meetings with the leaders of Spain, Poland and Cyprus, in addition to Malta and the UK. I also held bilateral meetings in Dublin with the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, and with Michel Barnier of the Commission's Brexit task force. My last bilateral meeting with President Hollande was in Dublin on 21 July 2016. There are no specific plans for a trade mission to France in the immediate future. At the informal summit in Malta, as at all meetings of the European Council, I met and engaged with my EU counterparts during the course of the summit and in the margins of the meetings.

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