Catherine Callaghan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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44. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the role members of the Defence Forces will play in Ireland’s holding of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from July to December 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30988/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Ireland will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the eighth time in 2026 - from 1 July to 31 December.

Though defence remains a national competence, preparations for Ireland’s Presidency are now intensifying across both policy and operational strands of planning both within my Department and the Defence Forces, and across Government. As well as working closely with the Defence Forces, my Department is also working with the central Presidency team within the Department of Foreign Affairs and other relevant Departments and agencies across Government to plan the policy priorities and related events that will be hosted by my Department and the Defence Forces during the Presidency.

Extensive engagement in this regard between my officials and Defence Forces personnel has taken place to date. This will continue as the our priorities and policy programme in the security and defence sphere for the Presidency are developed. This will be prepared in line with national priorities in this area, but also against the backdrop of the EU Strategic Agenda for 2024-29 and the range of legislative initiatives proposed by the European Commission, including those set out in the Commission's 2025 Work Programme published in February.

Our 2026 EU Presidency will be a major undertaking for Ireland and is a key focus for the work of our Government. We have a proud record of success from our previous Presidency terms, and we are confident that with the support of our partners we will again be able to make a significant and positive contribution to the EU in 2026.