Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We have already begun that process. We have done a huge amount in consulting Irish citizens on the kind of future for Europe that they want and envisage. The Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, has done a brilliant job in leading a consultation process in different parts of the country, inviting submissions. I was involved in that process as well and I expect the Minister of State, Deputy Cannon, was too. We got thousands of submissions and public debate on the kind of Europe that we want to be part of in the future. Many of the issues the Deputy referred to, and that we see the EU now trying to lead on, are consistent with that.

I refer to respecting human rights, respecting minorities, having a social as well as an economic Europe, making sure that Europe can impact on other parts of the world in terms of the value system that we advocate for and the kind of democracy that Europe is based on, supporting peace but at the same time responding to new threats and dangers in areas such as radicalisation, and trying to find ways of dealing with significant challenges that the EU is struggling with, for example, migration, in a way that is humane and consistent with international standards and law. These are issues that Ireland is comfortable discussing and debating and on which we want to try to lead by example.

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