James Geoghegan (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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152. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if artificial intelligence innovation will be a key theme of Ireland’s EU Presidency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15526/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Ireland will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from July to December 2026. Preparations for Ireland’s Presidency are progressing across both policy and operational strands of planning, led by my Department in close cooperation with the Department of the Taoiseach, and with input from all Departments across Government.

My Department is currently taking forward initial work, in consultation with other Government Departments, to develop our Presidency priorities and policy programme. This will be developed against the background of the Strategic Agenda for the Union for 2024-29, adopted by the European Council in June 2024, and the initial work programme of the new European Commission, published in February 2025. Both documents highlight the value of building improved EU capacity in key future technologies.

The development of our policy programme will also, of course, be shaped by our own priorities in relation to the EU. We are consulting with other EU Member States and the EU institutions as the process of programme development continues. We will also ensure that relevant stakeholders in Ireland, including both business and civil society representatives, are consulted. This will help to ensure that the programme addresses issues of national importance.

The evolution of the Council’s legislative agenda through successive upcoming Presidencies will also have a bearing on the definition of specific priorities to be taken forward by the Irish Presidency in 2026, and our programme and priorities are expected to be finalised shortly before the start of the Presidency in mid-2026.

Overall, our policy priorities for the Irish Presidency will reflect the areas in which it is judged by the Government that Ireland can make the most significant and effective contribution to the advancement of a positive policy agenda for the Union and its citizens. This principle will also inform our work with partners to develop the overarching 18-month Trio Presidency programme covering the Presidencies of Ireland, Lithuania and Greece.