Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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27. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussions he has had with President Juncker regarding the development of the future of Europe strategy. [40446/17]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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30. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his contact with the President of the European Commission, Mr. Jean-Claude Juncker, since his state of the Union address. [40345/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 27 and 30 together.

In March the European Commission published a White Paper on the Future of Europe, and followed up with a series of reflection papers covering a number of key issues including European Defence, EMU and Globalisation. We welcomed the White Paper and the Reflection Papers as important contributions to the evolving debate on the Future of Europe.

In September the President of the Commission Jean-Claude Juncker made his State of the Union address.

In his speech, President Juncker proposed an ambitious agenda for the EU. I have not had any discussions with President Juncker on his proposals. However, the Taoiseach was actively involved in Future of Europe discussions at a summit in Tallinn in September and at the October European Council in Brussels. President Juncker participated in both of these discussions.

At last month’s European Council President Donald Tusk formally launched his Leaders’ Agenda. He is proposing an ambitious work programme between now and June 2019 with a focus on practical solutions to EU citizens’ real problems. We support President Tusk’s positive forward-looking agenda which he aims to progress through facilitating a more dynamic process while maintaining unity among the 27.

This week the Taoiseach and I, together with the Minister for European Affairs, formally launched the Citizens’ Dialogue on the Future of Europe at the Science Gallery in Trinity College Dublin. This marks the start of a process designed to engage the Irish public directly in a debate on the kind of Europe they want to see evolve. Our aim is to raise awareness of the issues involved; to encourage participation in the debate; and to use this engagement process to help formulate Ireland’s contribution to the wider European debate.

In taking forward this debate, our focus will be on delivering a positive EU agenda with concrete outcomes that directly benefit Irish and EU citizens.