Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)

I thank the Deputy. As he outlined, Ireland will hold the EU Presidency in the second half of 2026. This is an important opportunity and, as the new Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, I am looking forward to engaging actively on our policy and operational preparations. My engagement with officials in the Department has already started. I am determined that we will make the most of our Presidency to shape the EU agenda. The priorities and policy programme for our Presidency will take into account the EU’s strategic agenda for 2024 to 2029 and the legislative work programme of the European Commission. They will also be shaped by our own priorities across an array of areas, including but not limited to, the protection of EU values at home and abroad, the enlargement of the Union, European security and the competitiveness and simplification agenda, which covers a wide range of areas including housing, the delivery of infrastructure, agriculture and many other areas. It is important to stress, however, that our policy programme will only be finalised and published shortly before the start of our Presidency term in June 2026. The Deputy will appreciate that many things change, many issues come off the agenda because they are concluded and other issues need to be further addressed. We need to take that into account in setting out our final priorities.

I recognise the importance, in particular, of ensuring that stakeholder groups also have their voices heard. We need to make sure that everyone in Ireland feels they have an opportunity to have their say and be part of the overall discussion and work. A series of consultation meetings with stakeholders from across business, civil society, trade unions and other interest groups has recently taken place.

A call for written submissions on the development of Ireland’s policy priorities, hosted on gov.ie, launched on 5 November and will run until 12 December. I encourage anybody who wants to have their say to take part in that online consultation. Work is also under way to prepare for more than 250 meetings that will be hosted in Ireland during the Presidency. These will include a summit of the European Political Community, an informal meeting of the European Council and up to 22 informal ministerial meetings. The Government has made a firm commitment to resource and deliver a successful Presidency. I am confident that in 2026, Ireland will be able to make a significant and positive contribution in leading the EU’s agenda.

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