Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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116. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which he and his European Union colleagues have contemplated the potential effects of Brexit or Grexit, with particular reference to the need for a rediscovery of a vision for the European Union among all existing member states and the European Union's institutions; how it is expected to reconcile the extra powers and influence conferred on the European Parliament and on national parliaments with a growing tendency towards Euroscepticism and the failure to recognise the need for national parliaments and the European Parliament to work together for the greater good; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28345/15]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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The EU-UK question is a strategic priority for our Government. That is because we believe that UK membership of the Union is hugely important to Ireland's interests, and to the interests of the EU as a whole. Of course, work has been underway for some time to ensure we best understand the various issues at stake and to examine the potential implications for Ireland of a possible British exit from the Union. However the focus of our work remains helping to keep the UK in the EU, rather than mitigating the effects of UK withdrawal.

In relation to Greece, the Taoiseach has made it clear that we understand and sympathise with the difficult situation in which the Greek people find themselves. We want to find a way forward that takes account of the realities of the situation and the political priorities of the Greek Government, while also respecting existing commitments. Our focus remains very much on finding a broadly acceptable and sustainable solution that is in the interests of Greece, the Euro area and the European Union as a whole.

These issues and the financial and economic crisis from which Europe is emerging have naturally impacted on the confidence of citizens across the EU. It is therefore unsurprising that support for parties that question the European project should increase. However, despite the difficult circumstance in which last year's European Parliament elections were held, a substantial majority of the electorate endorsed pro-EU parties and candidates.

The Government will, of course, continue to work alongside the Governments of fellow EU Member States and the EU institutions, including the European Parliament, to try to resolve difficulties that emerge and to address the concerns of European citizens.

The Lisbon Treaty introduced a range of measures to reinforce democracy and accountability in the EU, including by strengthening the role of the European Parliament as a co-legislator with the Council of Ministers and by allocating national parliaments specific responsibility for enforcing the subsidiarity principle.

Given these responsibilities, it is important that national parliaments engage effectively with one another and with the European Parliament, as well as with other EU institutions. In that context, I welcome the particular priority which the European Commission, led by President Juncker, has afforded to engagement with national parliaments and the work which has been taken forward by national parliaments themselves to enhance coordination structures through COSAC, helping to bring EU decision-making closer to our citizens. There is also regular and significant contact between MEPs and the Oireachtas, both between individual members and at committee level.