Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputies for their statements and questions. I will address the issues the Taoiseach indicated I would address, namely, the economic issues and the Conference on the Future of Europe.

As is usual at this time of year, the June European Council generally endorsed the country-specific recommendations for this year's semester process. We are broadly happy with the four country-specific recommendations agreed for Ireland this year. They are consistent with national policy orientations that we have firmly established. On energy matters, leaders reaffirmed their commitment to ensure close co-ordination of efforts and actions with a view to securing energy supply at affordable prices, taking into account the work being done by the Commission. The Government recognises the cost-of-living pressures stemming from increasing energy prices, as well as broader-based inflation, are a serious issue facing households. As such, a range of measures have been introduced. On a cumulative basis, approximately €2.4 billion has been announced in cost-of-living measures to date. One of the best and most recent examples of this is free school transport next year for everybody who has a Bus Éireann school transport ticket.

The June European Council also welcomed the fulfilment by Croatia of all the convergence criteria set out in the treaty and endorsed the Commission's proposal that Croatia adopt the euro on 1 January 2023. The formal agreement and signing ceremony took place yesterday. I extend our best wishes to the government of Croatia and the Croatian people as they advance their preparations for the changeover from the kuna, which is a currency I got to know in my Interrailing days, in the months ahead. This is very welcome. Croatia joined the EU in 2013 and is now joining the euro. Together with what is happening generally on enlargement, I hope this development will help to bring some of Croatia's former colleagues in the old Yugoslavia into the EU as separate independent countries and proud nations.

Leaders also met in Euro Summit format on the Friday morning of the European Council.

The President of the European Central Bank, Christine Lagarde, and the President of the Eurogroup, the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, reported on the latest assessment of the economic outlook. Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine is fuelling high global energy, commodity and food prices and increasing uncertainty factors that are dampening growth and exacerbating inflationary pressures globally. The European economy and the Irish economy, however, remain fundamentally strong due to the sizeble policy actions taken at EU, euro area and national levels, in the context of this House. EU leaders remain united in their steadfast determination to further strengthen the resilience of our economies and will continue to be well co-ordinated, determined and agile in their response. Leaders also welcomed the Eurogroup statement on the future of the banking union, which provides that, as an immediate step, work on the banking union should focus on strengthening the common framework for bank crisis management and national deposit guarantee schemes. Leaders also called for stepping up efforts in deepening the capital markets union.

On the Conference on the Future of Europe, leaders noted the proposals set out in the final report, as presented at the closing ceremony in Strasbourg on 9 May. The European Council invited effective follow-up by all three institutions, the Council, the Commission and the Parliament, each within its own sphere of competence and in accordance with the treaties, while ensuring high levels of transparency for Europe's citizens. As Minister of State with special responsibility for European affairs, I engaged widely, virtually and in person, with many individuals and groups as part of Ireland's national deliberations. I was encouraged by the interest shown in the process and by the thoughtful contributions. I will release a report soon enough on this aspect from a national point of view.

It has been an open and inclusive Continent-wide democratic exercise that has offered citizens from across the EU the opportunity to provide their views on the EU's optimal future directions. More than 320 interesting and innovative measures and recommendations were presented during the conference, spanning virtually the entire spectrum of EU activity. The Council and the Commission have prepared assessments on the proposals and have expressed the view that the vast majority of the proposals can be implemented if agreed through existing policies without the need to reopen European treaties. Nationally, a detailed assessment of all the EU-level recommendations will be carried out across all Departments, which will be overseen by the Department of Foreign Affairs.

In looking ahead to Europe's future, our guiding principle must be: how can we best prepare our Union to continue to meet the needs of its citizens into the future. This includes the value of subsidiarity, while protecting and strengthening our commitment to our shared values. Ireland is ready for this debate. We will work constructively to shape our future in this new European context and we are open to considering treaty change if it is necessary. We should first, however, do what we can within the existing framework. We are Irish, we are Europeans and we work constructively within the EU. That has benefited the country and our citizens. Equally, Ireland, and every other member state, has brought benefits to the EU and to other European citizens as well.

See this speech in context