Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 173: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the role his Department will be playing during Ireland's presidency of the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21301/12]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Work is under way on the administrative planning for the EU Presidency which is being taken forward by my Department. This work involves close coordination with the Department of the Taoiseach, with other Government Departments and with the OPW. An Inter-Departmental group meets on a regular basis to update on policy and developments in this area. In tandem with this, a meetings coordinators network comprising all Departments was established early in 2012 and now meets on a monthly basis to discuss detailed logistical planning for events that will take place in Ireland during the Presidency. A Government decision of 20 December 2011 agreed, inter alia, that "additional resources in the order of €60million, plus security costs" , is required to fund the Presidency and that Dublin Castle and other State-owned properties in Dublin will be the default venues for all Presidency-related events in Ireland. In addition, the planning approach agreed foresees the provision of centralised services to Departments for the Presidency where it is advantageous to do so.

This centralised approach, led by my Department, is being adopted in order to reduce overall resource costs, to ease the administrative burden for other Departments and to avoid duplication of effort. This includes the procurement of goods and services required for the Presidency and work is underway on a centralised procurement scheme for all goods and services that will be required for the running of the Presidency.

In formulating our Presidency programme priorities, my Department has placed a clear emphasis on realistic and achievable objectives shaped by national positions. Furthermore, as has been the practice of successive Presidencies under the post-Lisbon Treaty arrangements, the Presidency will be led by our Permanent Representation to the EU in Brussels.

In tandem with the cross-cutting theme of job creation and economic growth, my Department has identified three key areas during the Presidency:

· Working with the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton, to promote effective EU action in support of international peace and security;

· Progressing Enlargement of the European Union;

· Shaping progress on major Development dossiers.

Additionally, under the Lisbon Treaty the powers of the European Parliament have increased substantially under the ordinary legislative procedure. As such, early engagement with the Parliament on key legislative dossiers (such as the MFF) is now an integral and critical aspect of our Presidency.