Catherine Ardagh (Dublin South Central, Fianna Fail)
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39. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his recent address to the Centre for European Policy Studies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37913/25]

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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On 25 June, the Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, Thomas Byrne, addressed the Centre for European Policy Studies think-tank in Brussels at an event entitled "Securing the Union: enlargement and the defence of Europe from the Irish perspective". This was an important opportunity to engage with a Brussels-based audience on Ireland's priorities in enlargement and European security at a crucial time for both the EU and ahead of our Presidency of the Council of the EU next year.

In his address, Minister Byrne emphasised that the Government has no plans to alter Ireland's policy of military neutrality, while also laying out Ireland's security and defence policies, particularly in the context of the changed European security environment since Russia's illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and wider global instability. Minister Byrne reiterated our strong support for EU policies and responses, particularly the White Paper for European Defence, to ensure the Union as a whole is better equipped to act and deal autonomously with immediate and future challenges and threats.

In his remarks, he also informed the audience of domestic measures Ireland is taking to bolster our own security. Our defence budget has risen substantially to €1.35 billion in 2025 – a 22% increase since 2022. This represents significant progress on the Government’s commitment to increase the defence budget to €1.5 billion by 2028, at 2022 prices, as part of the annual budgetary process.

Minister Byrne also addressed the topic of EU enlargement, noting that it is the EU's strongest policy tool to consolidate peace, security and prosperity across our continent. Ireland believes that every European country deserves the same opportunity – provided they meet the necessary criteria - and he warned against the dangers of enlargement fatigue. Candidate countries need to feel the benefits of the EU, even ahead of their accession, and to know that we are committed to their well-being and security.

Minister Byrne regularly engages with the governments of many of the candidate countries and he intends to visit their capital cities in the coming months in preparation for the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU.