Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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66. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the engagements he had in Zagreb, Croatia, to mark the celebration of Croatia's accession to the European Union on 30 June 2013; if he will detail other engagements he had in Croatia to mark the occasion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32741/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I was honoured to attend the accession celebrations in Zagreb, representing both the outgoing EU Presidency and Ireland, as we welcomed Croatia as the 28th member state of the European Union. The official programme was organised by the Croatian government. In addition to attending the official dinner hosted by H.E. Mr Ivo Josipović, President of the Republic of Croatia and H.E. Mr Zoran Milanović, Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia, I also participated in the official ceremony in central Zagreb, speaking just before midnight on behalf of the outgoing Irish Presidency. The other speakers at this event were the Croatian President, Mr Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, Ms Dalia Grybauskaite, President of Lithuania representing the incoming EU Presidency, Mr Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council, and Mr Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament. The Irish Presidency prioritised the area of enlargement, which we see as a vital tool for promoting peace, democracy and prosperity in Europe. Croatia's accession is testament to this, and Croatia will be an inspiration for its neighbours in the region.