Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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181. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his attendance at the General Affairs Council meeting in Brussels on 18 March 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15339/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence Thomas Byrne attended the General Affairs Council on 18 March 2025.

Ministers firstly prepared the agenda of the European Council taking place on 20 March which included Ukraine, European defence, the Middle East, competitiveness, the Multiannual Financial Framework, migration, oceans policy, and multilateralism. Minister Byrne welcomed the EU leaders discussion of these topics, emphasising Ireland's support for a stronger and more capable Europe at this crucial geopolitical moment, as well as the need to advance the competitiveness agenda and unlock the full potential of the Single Market. On the Middle East, the Minister reiterated Ireland's call for the immediate resumption of humanitarian aid and at scale.

Ministers also had an exchange of views on the future of EU-UK relations, with a briefing by European Commissioner, Maroš Šefcovic, on preparations for the EU-UK Summit on 19 May. The Minister noted this is a key relationship for Ireland and welcomed the ambition of both the EU and the UK to strengthen and deepen cooperation.

Ministers also received a synthesis report of the 2025 European Semester and views of the Polish and Danish EU Presidencies on the roadmap for the remainder of the semester. Ministers then discussed the 2025 Euro Area recommendations, which were subsequently endorsed by the European Council.

In a discussion on the EU's legislative programming, Minister Byrne welcomed both the legislative priorities for 2025 and the policy objectives from 2025 to 2029. In particular, he welcomed the commitment to strengthening EU Competitiveness.