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

I thank Deputies for their statements and questions. I will address some of the issues that the Taoiseach did not go into in great detail. He did mention them and spoke about the multiannual financial framework and new own resources. Some of my contribution will be as Gaeilge. I wish to address the issues of migration, which Deputy Lahart raised, oceans, and multilateralism.

In respect of the next multiannual financial framework, EU leaders held their first exchange of views on the EU's long-term budget, for which the Commission is expected to present proposals in the summer, and negotiations for which will reach a bit of a climax during our Presidency. Our priorities are for security, prosperity and values.

In these turbulent times, forging a secure and competitive Europe is crucial for all member states. It is clear that difficult negotiations lie ahead for all member states, given the increasing financial needs across a range of policy areas. Ireland sees value in collectively financing European public goods that create clear dividends, such as research and innovation and the development of cross-border infrastructure, in particular increasing investment in energy grids, interconnections and digital networks.

It is also very important for Ireland that there is a fully funded Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, and this is something of a priority for the Government. In my discussions at the multi-annual financial framework, MFF, at my level this has been one of my priorities. Our position is that the social, environmental and economic impacts and spill-over benefits of CAP throughout the country, but particularly, of course, in rural Ireland, cannot be underestimated.

The European Council discussed the means of financing the EU budget, to which the Taoiseach referred in respect of increasing needs, with reference to own resources. The majority of funding for the EU budget is drawn from contributions from national governments, based on gross national income, GNI. This ensures that each member state contributes according to their relative income and that all member states play their part in financing common EU goals. The GNI metric also ensures the EU budget has the necessary resources to finance its objectives. Ireland is willing to consider proposals for genuine new own resources that meet the objectives of simplicity, transparency and equity, including burden sharing, as agreed in July 2020. However, we are not simply looking to repackage existing taxation into own resources.

On migration, which Deputy Lahart raised, I can update the House that EU leaders welcomed an update they received from President von der Leyen, as well as the European Commission’s proposal on a new common European system for returns, published on 11 March. The European Council called on the Commission and Parliament to make progress, as a matter of priority, on files with a migration dimension. The EU is prioritising migration. We need a swift examination of the recent proposal on returns. Our position is very clear. We must address the shared challenge of migration, through collective effort, including on returns, in accordance with fundamental rights and international law.

We fully support EU efforts to intensify co-operation on migration with countries of origin and transit, through mutually beneficial partnerships, in order to address the root causes and fight trafficking and smuggling with a view to preventing irregular departures and loss of life. We cannot not lose sight of the benefits that migration can bring, but migration must occur in accordance with the law. Legal migration is welcome and it plays a vital role in our economies.

Fáiltíonn Éire roimh chonclúidí ón gComhairle Eorpach maidir leis na haigéin, go háirithe i bhfianaise na ndúshlán domhanda agus geopholaitiúil atá ann faoi láthair. Mar Stát aigéin mór de chuid an Aontais Eorpaigh, aithnímid an luach a bhaineann leis an acmhainn nádúrtha ríthábhachtach seo a chosaint agus a fhorbairt i gcoinne na mbagairtí a bhaineann le cáilliúint bithéagsúlachta, truailliú agus athrú aeráide. Tacaímid leis an obair atá ar bun ag an gCoimisiún Comhshocrú Eorpach um na hAigéin a fhorbairt mar thionscnamh uaillmhianach uileghabhálach chun réimsí beartais mhuirí a chomhtháthú ar bhealach níos fearr. Aithnímid acmhainneacht an gheilleagair ghoirm, lena n-áirítear iascach agus dobarshaothrú inbhuanaithe, iompar muirí, foinsí in-athnuaite amach ón gcósta agus turasóireacht mhuirí gan ach roinnt earnálacha a ainmniú. Ní mór iad sin a mheas laistigh den chomhshocrú aigéin, ar comhshocrú é nach mór é a bheith comhordaithe, nach mór a bheith in ann é a chur chun feidhme, nach mór tacaíocht a bheith aige le cistiú iomchuí agus nach mór eolaíocht láidir mar bhonn taca leis.

Tá Éire i mbun rannpháirtíocht dhearfach leis an gCoimisiún Eorpach chun an comhaontú aigéin seo a fhorbairt agus táimid ag tnúth leis an gCoimisiún an comhaontú aigéin a chur i láthair den chéad uair ag Lá Muirí na hEorpa i gCorcaigh i mí na Bealtaine. Rinne an Chomhairle Eorpach a machnamh ar na hullmhúcháin do Chomhdháil na Náisiún Aontaithe maidir leis na hAigéin, a bheidh ar siúl in Nice ón 9 go dtí an 13 Meitheamh 2025. Tá toscaireacht á cur le chéile ag Éirinn chun freastal ar an gcomhdháil seo, faoi stiúir na polaitíochta. I dteannta ballstát eile den Aontas Eorpach atá ar aon intinn linn, tacaímid leis an éileamh go ndéanfaí níos mó gníomhaíochta domhanda maidir le cosaint agus athbhunú na n-aigéan ag an gcomhdháil seo.

The importance of multilateralism was also discussed at the Council. The Taoiseach discussed this matter in detail with the UN Secretary General.

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