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

I thank the Deputies for their questions. On Deputy Haughey's question regarding the enlargement discussion, I was very disappointed that not only the European Council but the General Affairs Council had difficulty reaching a unanimous decision to open up accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania. I was particularly disappointed because we had this same discussion last June, where we set out parameters for both countries to make adjustments to implement new reforms. I believe they implemented those reforms, in particular in the case of North Macedonia through the implementation of the historic changing of name in the Prespa Agreement. While there are significant political challenges in Albania, it is also implemented changes or a range of reforms such that we should have set out a straightforward pathway for it in terms of this process. The opening up of accession negotiations does not mean they will become members in the next year or two. It took a decade for Ireland to become a member. The road ahead is long. As I said, I was disappointed that we could not open the accession negotiations, which I think reflects badly on us as a Union. We made a commitment and it is up to us to fulfil that commitment. My understanding is that this matter will be brought before the summit in Zurich next year, which means it would have to be on the agenda of the European Council in December, or at the latest, March next year. I sincerely hope that we can get to that stage. I understand that member states have difficulties and they have their reasons for not allowing this process to open up, but as we gave a commitment last year and we should have lived up to it. I sincerely hope that we can do so in the coming months.

In regard to climate change, I cannot say for how long it was discussed at the European Council but it was addressed. It was also addressed at the General Affairs Council, where I spoke along with my European colleagues. We outlined that we needed to build on the momentum that was created at the UN General Assembly, the climate summit, and that we need to ensure that the new European Commissioners and the President, Ursula von der Leyen, set out a clear directive for a long-term strategy regarding our climate change objectives and goals. My understanding is that the matter will come back to the European Council in December and that there will be a lengthy discussion on it. From a Government point of view, we are very much engaged in reaching our own targets by reducing our overall emissions by 30% by 2030. We are committed to the climate neutrality agenda for 2050, which we are doing by way of implementing the cross-governmental plan that is being put in place, which was worked on by all Members for over a year. We are ambitious, but from a European point of view, it is up to us to set an ambitious agenda in the hope that other larger contributors will follow suit.

On Deputy Crowe's question regarding the timeline for the EU Commission decision, I expect it in the coming days. I cannot give an exact timeline, but I hope that we will have some response before the weekend. Obviously, we need to know what is happening next given that tomorrow week is 31 October. While the threat of a no deal has severely reduced in the past few days, it still remains. From our point of view, we have always been very clear that if an extension was sought by the UK, we would look on it favourably, which has been the case. The Taoiseach spoke with President Tusk this morning and relayed that sentiment to him. The UK has asked for an extension until the end of January. Our view would be that it should be approved but I cannot speak for other member states as I do not know what conversations they have been having with President Tusk.

See this speech in context