Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 87: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the approach that he will take to the negotiations which commence this summer on the new EU multi-annual financial framework which will run from 2013; the proposals he will make to ensure that the eradication of poverty features as the primary goal with associated effective measures to achieve it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11417/11]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The EU Budget is established within a Multi-annual Financial Framework (MFF). The current MFF covers the period 2007 to 2013 and this was agreed between Member States in 2005. The negotiations of the next EU MFF for the period 2014 onwards are due to begin in the second half of 2011, following the publication of European Commission proposals at the end of June. These negotiations will decide on the maximum level of EU budget expenditure, the policy areas for expenditure and how this expenditure will be funded. The negotiations can be expected to be challenging and lengthy, running at least until mid-2012 and possibly beyond.

Ireland's overall approach to these extremely important forthcoming EU negotiations is that there should be a gradual evolution of the EU Budget expenditure rather than radical changes. This position was elaborated upon in Ireland's submission to the European Commission's public consultation process on the Review of the EU Budget which was published in October 2010.

The European Commission's Budget Review communication highlighted the desirability of aligning the MFF with the objectives of the ten year Europe 2020 Strategy for jobs and growth, agreed by EU Heads of State or Government in June 2010. As the Deputy will be aware, one of the five EU headline targets under the Europe 2020 Strategy is to promote social inclusion, in particular through the reduction of poverty, by aiming to lift at least 20 million people out of the risk of poverty and exclusion. Ireland's national target under this EU headline target, as set out in Ireland's National Reform Programme which was submitted to the European Commission at the end of April, is to reduce the number experiencing consistent poverty to between 2-4% by 2012, with the aim of eliminating consistent poverty by 2016, which will lift at least 186,000 people out of the risk of poverty and exclusion.

Efforts to support the objectives of the Europe 2020 Strategy through the MFF will be one of a broad and varied range of issues which will arise during the forthcoming negotiations, as the future funding of all areas of EU activities are considered carefully.