Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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692. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if there will be consultations with the public on the white paper on the future of Europe; if so, the nature of the consultations; the timeframe for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28048/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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On 1 March the European Commission published a White Paper on the Future of Europe. As well as setting out the main achievements of the EU over the past six decades, the White Paper addresses the challenges that Europe is facing and presents five scenarios for how the Union could evolve by 2025, depending on how it chooses to respond. The Commission is now in the process of publishing a series of accompanying reflection papers on a range of diverse topics which will also contribute to the Europe-wide discussions that this White Paper seeks to initiate. Those papers address five distinct issues -

- developing the social dimension of Europe;

- deepening the Economic and Monetary Union;

- harnessing globalisation;

- the future of Europe's defence;

- the future of EU finances.

The European Commission will lead a public engagement strategy to discuss and debate the future of Europe in all member States. I understand that the head of the Commission Representation in Ireland, Mr Gerry Kiely, will appear before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on EU Affairs on 21 June to facilitate an initial exchange with members on the White Paper. There is clearly an important role for national parliaments to play in debating the Future of Europe and the Oireachtas should of course facilitate and encourage as wide ranging a debate as possible on this matter of national importance for Ireland. The Joint Committee on European Affairs should take a lead role in this and I understand the Committee is already considering how best to take this work forward.

Ideally, that debate should be followed in the autumn by a wider Government-led consultation process. That process should of course be as inclusive as possible involving all interested parties – including Social Partners, Voluntary Sector, academics and members of the general public. My Department is currently examining a number of options for facilitating and encouraging that debate.