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

I know Deputies have raised other issues but, as the Taoiseach has already indicated, I will focus my remarks primarily on the social, education, cultural and migration issues scheduled to be discussed tomorrow within the European Council in Brussels.

Although Brexit is extremely significant for Ireland, it is of course not the only item on the European agenda. We have been very clear that the future of the Union is as important for us as it is for other European partners. There have been a number of discussions on the future of Europe, including at the summits in Bratislava, Valletta, Rome and Tallinn recently. The House will be aware that on 15 November we launched our own national citizens' engagement with a view to ensuring that everyone on this island has the opportunity to make his or her views known on this extremely important topic.

I have been involved in a number of events since then, engaging with the public, stakeholders and, as recently as an hour ago, our European Commissioner for Education, school students and other people from across the board. I know that the Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs is also consulting actively with stakeholders, including on the basis of the various papers published by the Commission. On 20 October the European Council endorsed the Leaders' Agenda proposed by President Tusk. The aim of this agenda is to guide action over the next two years on the basis of a concrete work programme and set a course for the future of the EU. The first discussion under this format took place in Gothenburg on 17 November alongside the Social Summit for Fair Jobs and Growth. The outcome of these two meetings will form the basis for discussions at the European Council tomorrow and was discussed yesterday at the General Affairs Council, which I attended with the Minister, Deputy Coveney.

On the social dimension, in Gothenburg an inter-institutional proclamation on the pillar of social rights was signed by the Presidents of the Council, the Commission and the Parliament as a signal of the Union's shared commitment to strong social values and social progress. The aim of the Gothenburg summit was to ensure that, as we continue to develop and co-operate economically, we also protect and promote the necessary social standards and labour rights.

As with the social dimension, culture and education are largely areas where member states retain competence but where the Union plays an important role in co-ordination, co-operation and the sharing of best practice and this is a formula that to date has worked.

This year, 2017, marks the 30th anniversary of the creation of the ERASMUS programme, which is a prime example of what co-operation in this area, along with some imagination, can achieve for our citizens. In preparing for tomorrow's discussions, we are mindful of the limits of co-operation on these matters, while remaining optimistic about the possibility of delivering positive outcomes, including, for example, around greater mobility and improved language learning, by continuing to work together into the future. This approach fits well with the national language programme launched some days ago by the Minister for Education and Skills.

Although Ireland has been somewhat removed from the full effects of recent mass migration, we have worked to make a positive contribution to the EU response. We have contributed more than €93 million since 2012 to support those affected by the Syrian crisis. We have supplied a series of fully crewed naval vessels to humanitarian operations in the Mediterranean which have saved the lives of more than 17,500 people. We recently joined Operation Sophia in order to support common EU efforts to tackle the activities of people smugglers. In addition, we have committed to taking up to 4,000 people under EU resettlement and relocation schemes. There has been significant progress by the EU and its member states in handling both the root causes and the effects of migration. Although the full force of the crisis has receded, the challenges will continue for years to come and we need to consider how best to respond into the future. The President of the European Council, Mr. Tusk, has selected this issue for discussion tomorrow under the leaders' agenda format, which will facilitate an open exchange of views on the basis of a paper which addresses both the internal and external aspects of migration. Formal conclusions will not be adopted tomorrow, but the discussion should pave the way for further work in this area in the first half of 2018. Ireland is not automatically bound by measures on migration but, under Protocol 21, we may choose to opt into them. We acknowledge the need to reform the common European asylum system and we intend to play a constructive role in finding shared solutions that work for all member states.

Several colleagues queried whether we have what amounts to a backstop or fail-safe in the text agreed last week between the United Kingdom and the EU. At yesterday's meeting of the European General Affairs Council, Mr. Michel Barnier, the EU's chief negotiator in the Brexit process, was very clear in his statement that the agreement reached last Friday stands. One can describe it as a gentleman's agreement or something else, but what is certain is that the Government will uphold it on our end and the European Commission very much expects the United Kingdom to do the same. We are very clear in our interpretation of the text that irrespective of the outcome of the second phase of negotiations, there will be no hard border on the island of Ireland. The UK will have to square any circles that need to be squared to achieve that end in the course of the negotiations on its future relationship with the EU.

Deputy Micheál Martin asked about any impact assessments that have been undertaken in respect of Brexit. The impact of the UK's departure will very much depend on what the future relationship looks like between it and the EU. In the meantime, contingency planning is ongoing across all Departments, encompassing all possible outcomes and scenarios. This includes an assessment of the various different implications for specific policy areas. We will keep the House updated in that regard.

Regarding the Palestinian situation, there is complete unity among member states that the EU will not emulate the unilateral recognition by the United States President, Mr. Donald Trump, of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The only solution to the conflict is a two-state solution with Jerusalem as the shared capital. Ireland's position in this regard has not changed and is aligned with that of the EU.

I thank Deputies for their contributions and questions. The Taoiseach will report back to the House in due course on the discussions at the December European Council meeting.

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