Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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97. To ask the Taoiseach if EU reform was discussed at the October 2017 European Council meeting. [45043/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Although 'EU reform' was not an agenda item at the recent meeting of the European Council in Brussels, the Future of Europe was discussed over breakfast on Friday 20 October.

This issue is part of an ongoing process, and has been discussed at a series of Informal Summits in Bratislava, Valletta, Rome and Tallinn. President Juncker and President Macron have also recently made useful contributions to the debate.

At the meeting last Friday, it was agreed that the unity of the EU is particularly important and there was general support for the process proposed by President Tusk, on the basis of his ‘Leader’s Agenda.’ President Tusk’s plan envisages additional meetings at the level of Heads of State or Government, which should provide the impetus necessary for decision-making.

I expressed strong support for this approach and thanked President Tusk for taking the time to speak informally to all the 28 Heads of State or Government in advance of the meeting.

It is important that we approach the debate on the future of Europe in a positive way - membership of the European Union has been and will remain very important to Ireland. I will continue to engage actively and to seek to use our influence to shape this debate in a way that reflects our priorities and concerns.