Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade this country's priorities when Ireland assumes EU Presidency having particular regard to the need for a strategic emphasis on European solidarity in the context of economic, fiscal, political and social issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45229/12]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which he expects to be in a position to influence the most important issues currently affecting the economy of European Member States during the course of Ireland's Presidency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45230/12]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 66 and 67 together.

As outlined in my reply to Deputies Martin and Adams yesterday the 16th October 2012 [34339/12 (137), 42928/12 (145) and 42808/12 (151) ], the Government is committed to making Jobs and Growth the central focus and thematic approach to the Irish Presidency. To successfully deliver on that objective we need to tackle the ongoing financial crisis, and restore stability to the Eurozone, but the focus must be on generating growth in the EU economy and getting Europe back to work.

During the Presidency the Government will deliver on its ambitions through a range of policy and legislative measures that cut across a broad range of policy areas which will push forward the growth and jobs agenda. As an export-driven economy, Ireland has reaped the benefits of the European Single Market, but the global economy has evolved. One of the aims of the Single Market Act II, which was published by the European Commission on 3 October, will be to respond to changes in the economy, particularly by exploiting the potential of the digital economy for business and consumers.

As Presidency Ireland will work to underpin and stimulate research and innovation across the EU for the coming decade by advancing agreement on the Horizon 2020 framework programme which can play an important role in boosting the EU economy, generating smart and sustainable growth and jobs, and strengthening the Union’s global competitiveness. The Presidency will deliver a major effort in the field of research and innovation with a range of thematic events planned and a commitment to advance decisions on key legislation in this rapidly growing area where the EU can become a global leader.

Ireland will make significant advances in the external trade agenda during its Presidency and will hold a meeting of Trade Ministers in Ireland during the Presidency which will focus on the EU-US trade relationship.

The Presidency will make special efforts to address the problem of youth unemployment across the EU and will work closely with partners to seek solutions to tackle this fundamental challenge.

Europe’s economy can only grow if there is stability and confidence in the EU economy. For this reason, the Irish Presidency will work to ensure the effective implementation of recent economic governance measures, and to make progress on the Banking Union proposals. The third main priority of the Irish Presidency will be the EU’s future budget to underpin growth and to sharpen Europe’s global competitiveness. The Irish Government supports the Cyprus Presidency in its efforts to reach agreement on the MFF and stands ready to take forward the necessary implementing legislation to ensure that the EU has a budget to support programmes that are of major economic importance to Member States such as CAP, CFP and Horizon 2020 (the EU's future framework programme for research and innovation) for the 2014-2020 period. These programmes can play a key role in spurring economic growth and creating employment.

Work on the Irish Presidency is a top priority across all Departments as the Presidency nears. The Government met with the College of Commissioners on 3 October in Brussels and the President of the European Parliament also visited Dublin on 3-4 October. We were pleased with the outcomes of the both meeting which confirmed that there is broad agreement between the Government and partners on the main priorities and objectives that we have identified at this stage of planning for our Presidency. Issues discussed at the meetings will feed into the drafting of the Presidency programme which will be published in December.