Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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53. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his bilateral meeting with the President and Prime Minister of Lithuania; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28961/13]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I visited Vilnius on 6 June for meetings with President Dalia Grybauskaitė and Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius in advance of the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union which begins on 1 July.

Our meetings provided the opportunity to review issues currently under consideration which will continue to be active over the coming six months, as well as to discuss the priorities of the Lithuanian Presidency. We also looked ahead to the June European Council which will focus on the jobs and growth agenda, and prospects for strengthening EMU including progress on banking union.

Among the other topics discussed included the proposed EU-US Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, the Multi-annual Financial Framework for 2014-2020, Eastern Partnership and energy security.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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54. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on the bilateral meetings that he attended in Finland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28962/13]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I travelled to Helsinki on 7 June for bilateral meetings with President Niinisto and Prime Minister Katainen.

Discussions in my meeting with President Niinisto focussed on Syria; Russia; the Eastern Partnership; and bilateral relations between Ireland and Finland. We also discussed the economic situation in Europe and I updated President Niinisto on Ireland's economic recovery.

Discussion in my meeting with Prime Minister Katainen focussed on economic matters, including Ireland's economic recovery; preparations for the June European Council; the Multi-annual Financial Framework; and the ambitions for the remaining part of the Irish Presidency. We agreed the urgent need to tackle unemployment and to ensure financing to the SME sector.