Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Question 52: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussion he has had with the President of the European Council on the EU's multi-annual financial framework; the issues he raised; the timeframe for the MFF decision-making process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2703/12]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The Commission presented proposals for the EU Budget Multiannual Financial Framework for 2014 to 2020, the MFF, on 29 June 2011. Work on this legislative proposal is being led by the General Affairs Council. Detailed proposals are being discussed in the relevant sectoral Councils. The Polish Presidency presented a report on initial discussions of the MFF to the December European Council. Negotiations will intensify during the present Danish Presidency, and it is expected that a draft outline agreement will be presented to the June meeting of the European Council, at which point President Van Rompuy will have a role in the negotiations. It is hoped that the final agreement can be reached during the Cypriot Presidency in the second half of this year.

Important issues to be resolved during the negotiations will include the overall size of the EU Budget; the relative proportions to be allocated to different sectors, notably the CAP, Cohesion Policy, and Research and Innovation; and how the Budget will be funded. Ireland's approach to the negotiations is to engage constructively with our EU partners to ensure that the EU has a budget which reflects the Europe 2020 priorities, while taking account of the current budgetary consolidation imperatives in Member States.