Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

117. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will address a matter (details supplied) relating to an increase in the overall contribution to the EU budget as a percentage of GDP. [17278/18]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy may be aware, the European Commission is yet to publish its proposal on the post-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), which is due to be released in early May. Once the proposal has been published, officials from across all Departments will study it in-detail to assess its implications for Ireland. The MFF will then be subject to intense negotiations over the subsequent 12-24 months; once a final agreement is reached we will have a clearer understanding of the impacts on Ireland.

In addition, given the UK’s current status as one of the largest net contributors to the EU Budget, Brexit will have a significant impact on EU Budget funding and expenditure and may need to be mitigated by either increased contributions from other Member States, reductions in EU funding programmes, or a combination of both. However, as the Deputy will appreciate, Brexit negotiations are currently on-going, therefore, it would not be appropriate for me to discuss those negotiations or the potential impact on Ireland's net contribution to the EU Budget in detail at this point.