Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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207. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on the proposed Interinstitutional Proclamation on the European Pillar of Social Rights, COM/2017/251 final, that is due to be agreed by the European Parliament, the EU Council and the EU Commission at the Gothenburg Social Summit on 17 November 2017; the issues she has raised during the discussions on this initiative at European level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44184/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The proposed Interinstitutional Proclamation (i.e. between the EU Council, Commission and Parliament) on the European Pillar of Social Rights was published by the Commission in April of this year following an extensive Commission consultation throughout 2016 on the EU Pillar of Social Rights.

Ireland has been fully engaged throughout the process, publishing a detailed response to the Commission consultation which was submitted to Government in August 2016 before transmission to the Commission in November 2016. It followed extensive cross-department discussions and engagement with civil society within Ireland.

Ireland has been supportive of the principles of the Interinstitutional Proclamation while seeking, along with other Member States, clarification from the Commission on its legal effects, its impact on national competences and its potential financial implications. The issue will be discussed at the forthcoming EPSCO Council meeting in Luxembourg (employment, social policy, health and consumer affairs (EPSCO)) next week which I will attend. I expect that the next steps will be clearer after that.