Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take questions Nos. 16 to 25, inclusive, together.

The EU and international division works on all aspects of EU and national policy within the Department. It helps me to promote Ireland's foreign and economic policy objectives and to develop and maintain strong bilateral and multilateral relations. Working closely with other Departments, especially the Department of Foreign Affairs, the division assists me in my role as a member of the European Council and in my other EU engagements. It provides advice and briefings for meetings of the European Council and for other EU and UN summits.

The division gives me advice and briefings on bilateral relations and works to ensure a strategic and coherent whole-of-government approach to crosscutting EU policies and on international issues generally, including global peace and security, overseas development assistance, international human rights and the external dimensions of climate action. The division also oversees the implementation of the Government's Global Ireland 2025 strategy and chairs a senior officials group on the implementation of the sustainable development goals, in close collaboration with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. The division co-ordinates my international travel and my engagements with visiting Heads of State and Government and other international figures and organisations. It also prepares the work of the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs.

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