Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In regard to the earlier questions on jobs, enterprise and trade, the first phase of the negotiations are particularly focusing on EU citizens' rights and the UK's bill for leaving the European Union. Many of these discussions will take place at the next phase. Up to 40% of businesses in Ireland have started to make plans regarding the possible threats or advantages from Brexit. However, 100% of businesses need to make such plans. The newly appointed Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Fitzgerald, has, within the past week, engaged with many organisations, representative groups and individual companies and is openly asking organisations what support they need in the interim before it becomes clear what form Brexit will take. If possible, interim supports will be put in place for companies in the upcoming budget.

The Taoiseach will further address issues in regard to EU citizens living in Britain. TheBritish Prime Minister, Theresa May, published a more detailed explanatory note on the issue last Monday, but it will be addressed by the 27 EU member states rather than just the United Kingdom. I will revert to Deputy Boyd Barrett after the debate with a more detailed answer to his question.

I was honoured to accompany the Taoiseach to Brussels last week in my new role as Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs. The Taoiseach earlier reported on many of the items discussed at the European Council, including security and defence, jobs, growth and competitiveness, digital Europe, migration and Brexit. Several external relations issues as well as the Paris Agreement on climate change were also discussed by leaders at the European Council, and I will now report to the House on these issues.

The European Council was unanimous in its profound regret at President Trump's decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement on climate change in its current form. The agreement remains the cornerstone of global efforts to tackle climate change effectively and cannot be renegotiated. It is also a key element in the modernisation of Europe's economy and industries. The European Council and member states reaffirmed their commitment to implement the Paris Agreement swiftly and fully, contribute to fulfilment of the climate finance goals and continue to lead in the fight against climate change. The Taoiseach has said that this is an area in which Ireland should be ambitious and it is intended to play an active role in this regard.

Notwithstanding the differences over the Paris Agreement, the EU and the United States remain each other's most important strategic partner. This was demonstrated at the G7 meeting in Sicily and will again be made clear at next month's G20 meeting in Hamburg. The EU and its member states, including Ireland have proactively engaged with the US Administration to reaffirm commitment to this relationship. Ireland's links with the US run very deep, span many centuries and, as was seen during the St. Patrick's Day festivities this year and previously, transcend any one point of difference. This close relationship will continue and we will similarly work to maintain the close relationship between the US and the EU. I am informed by the Taoiseach that he did not leave President Trump waiting for 90 seconds before taking his phone call and there was just a delay in the connection.

The European Council also discussed relations with Russia, which remain under particular strain. In their capacity as members of the Normandy group, French President Macron and German Chancellor Merkel provided an update on the ongoing effort to resolve tensions between Russia and Ukraine. The EU's targeted economic sanctions against Russia in response to Russian actions in Ukraine have been in place since 2014. These are clearly linked to the full implementation of the Minsk accords. An absence of political will is the main reason for the failure to make any headway over the past six months in implementing the security and political provisions of the Minsk accords, while Russia's refusal to use its influence over the separatists is also a key factor. The Government strongly believes that any relaxation of the EU sanctions can only be considered if there is clear evidence of concrete progress in eastern Ukraine. Russia's ongoing actions there have left little choice but to renew the restrictive measures for a further six months. The Government fully supports this decision. All members would like to see a constructive and predictable relationship between the EU and Russia, but the current stalemate in Ukraine and developments elsewhere do not suggest that currently interests the Russian Government.

The European Council also discussed relations with Turkey in the context of last month's meeting between President of the European Council , Donald Tusk, President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, and Turkish President, Recep Erdoğan. Relations between the EU and Turkey have been under considerable strain, in particular since the attempted coup in July 2016 and constitutional referendum in 2017. Nevertheless, Turkey remains an important partner of the EU, including in the management of migration, and the EU will continue to work with Turkey on all aspects of the relationship.

The President of Cyprus updated the European Council on the ongoing UN-sponsored talks between the two communities on that island. While some good progress has been made, in particular over the past 12 months, the situation remains complex and much depends on the approach taken by Turkey. Member states expressed support for the Cypriot President, with some noting that maintaining links with Turkey will be crucial to advancing those negotiations.

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