Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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203. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps that the Minister of State at his Department took to meet all Irish Members of the European Parliament and not just Government-party MEPs, during his recent meetings in Brussels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47300/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My colleague, Minister of State for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne T.D., regularly travels to Brussels to represent Ireland at General Affairs Council meetings.

Minister Byrne recently accompanied the Taoiseach to Brussels for a meeting of the European Council on 22-24 June 2022. Minister Byrne held a number of individual engagements as part of that visit in furtherance of Ireland's objectives under the Government'sA Career for EUStrategy.

While in Brussels, Minister Byrne took the opportunity to meet with Members of the European Parliament, including Government party MEPs.

In his role as Minister for European Affairs, Minister of State Byrne has actively engaged with both Government and opposition Deputies in various formats and will continue to do so.

Minister Byrne is open to meeting with all MEPs and invites any Irish MEP who may wish to engage as part of the Minister’s future travel to Brussels or Strasbourg to contact his office.