Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to meet all Eurogroup Foreign Ministers and EU Foreign Ministers in advance of the EU Presidency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52253/12]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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With Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union starting in just under five weeks, I will continue to discuss the priority issues for our Presidency with our partners. At all my meetings I shall emphasise that the main focus of the Irish Presidency will be on measures to create jobs and restore growth in Europe. I will also take the opportunity to discuss the busy foreign policy agenda that Ireland, working closely with the European External Action Service (EEAS), will face during its Presidency in 2013. In recent weeks I have held discussions with Catherine Ashton, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs, on plans for Ireland’s Presidency and in particular the Foreign Affairs Council agenda.

Last month, I met Mr. Fabius the French Foreign Minister on 6 October, Mr. Westerwelle the German Foreign Ministers on 25 October and Mr Wammen, the Danish European Affairs Minister on 12 October, and addressed a meeting of the Secretaries General of EU Foreign Ministries that was held in Dublin in advance of the Presidency. I also met Mr. Clegg, the British Deputy Prime Minister, where we had useful bilateral discussions on a number of issues including European issues and our forthcoming Presidency.

This week I have a busy schedule of engagements with representatives of the European Parliament which culminates with a Government meeting with the EP Conference of Presidents. Other engagements include meetings with delegations from the S&D and EPP groups of the European Parliament. The OSCE Ministerial Council next week also affords me the opportunity to meet with a number of my counterparts and arrangements for a number of bilaterals are currently being finalised. I am also meeting the Cypriot Foreign Minister on 19 December 2012. In January the College of Commissioners will come to Dublin to meet the Government.

Next month I will attend the General Affairs and Foreign Affairs Councils and will have the opportunity to meet my counterparts. On 19 November I attended an informal dinner with President Herman Van Rompuy which focused on preparations for the European Council on 22-23 November. I will now be meeting with President Van Rompuy on a regular basis in light of my role as incoming Chair of the General Affairs Council.