Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 to 7, inclusive, and 47 together.

Since taking office, I have spoken with leaders, including the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, the President of the European Commission,Ursula von der Leyen, the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, the United Kingdom's Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, the Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, the Portuguese Prime Minister, António Costa, and the President of Lithuania, Gitanas Nausėda. I also spoke with the European Union's chief negotiator on Brexit, Michel Barnier, and with the Commission Vice-President, Maroš Šefčovič.

I had a video conference with the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, on 1 July, ahead of this week's meeting of the European Council. President Michel set out his approach to negotiations on the next generation European Union recovery proposal and on the multi-annual financial framework for 2021 to 2027 and suggested where compromise will be necessary to make agreement possible. I set out Ireland's support for an ambitious European Union recovery fund and emphasised that the fund should be targeted at those regions and sectors most affected by the Covid crisis. On the multi-annual financial framework, I reiterated Ireland's strong position on the importance of an adequately resourced Common Agricultural Policy. I also stated that the European Union should be in a position to offer support to those member states most affected by Brexit, including Ireland.

I spoke to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, on 30 June. I noted the strong alignment between the programme for Government and European Union priorities, including climate action and the digital agenda. We also agreed that it was important to reach early agreement on the recovery fund and the multi-annual financial framework. On Brexit, I expressed my appreciation for the support Ireland has received from the Commission and for the excellent co-operation with the Commission team led by Michel Barnier. I expressed my appreciation directly to Michel Barnier in my call with him.

I spoke with the German Chancellor, Dr. Merkel, on 2 July, when we discussed Brexit and the European Union's response to Covid-19. I took the opportunity to wish the Chancellor well with Germany's European Union Presidency.

My calls with the Prime Ministers, Mr. Rutte and Mr. Costa, and President Nausėda of Lithuania, covered current European Union issues, including the recovery fund and the multi-annual financial framework, as well as the Covid crisis.

Where appropriate, in my calls I sought support for the Minister for Finance's successful candidacy for the presidency of the Eurogroup. I congratulate him on his success. I spoke with the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, on 30 June. Our discussion covered Covid-19 and our respective plans to deal with its impact on the economy, employment and society. We also discussed Brexit. We agreed to work closely with regard to Northern Ireland as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement and on strengthening bilateral relations, especially in the post-Brexit era. We look forward to meeting in the near future.

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