Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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150. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if her Department has completed any internal legal analysis on how voluntary cooperation under the European Democracy Shield could create de-facto obligations for Ireland in the areas of monitoring, reporting or data-sharing; and to provide the conclusions of that analysis. [68726/25]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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151. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if her Department will publish Ireland's negotiating position, briefing papers or submissions provided to the European Commission during the development of the European Democracy Shield, specifically regarding the protection of national competence in electoral regulation and political debate. [68727/25]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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152. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the details of any risk register entries maintained by her Department since 1 September 2025 relating to the European Democracy Shield, including political, legal, operational or data governance risks. [68728/25]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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153. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the criteria her Department will apply when deciding whether to participate in any voluntary monitoring or information-sharing mechanisms proposed under the European Democracy Shield. [68729/25]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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154. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if her Department has sought written, formal confirmation from the European Commission that Ireland will not be required to participate in any EU-level system for reviewing or classifying domestic political content; and if she will provide copies of any such correspondence. [68730/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 150, 151, 152, 153 and 154 together.

The European Commission published the Communication on the European Democracy Shield (EDS) on 12 November 2025. This Communication provides for enhanced voluntary co-operation between Member States in areas such as electoral integrity and countering foreign information manipulation and interference. The Communication does not suggest that Ireland will have an obligation to participate in any EU-level system for reviewing or classifying domestic political content, beyond voluntary increased collaboration under frameworks such as the European Co-operation Network on Elections (ECNE), in which Ireland is already engaged. The voluntary nature of the proposed co-operation mechanisms under the EDS is clearly established in the Commission's Communication, which emphasises respect for Member State competence in electoral regulation and media governance. Consequently, the question of written confirmation does not arise.  

The Department has not undertaken a formal legal analysis for voluntary co-operation to create de facto obligations, as the voluntary nature of the proposed frameworks under the EDS does not give rise to binding legal commitments beyond those to which Ireland is already party through existing EU co-operation mechanisms. The Department will continue to monitor developments as the initiative evolves to ensure that Ireland's participation in any voluntary mechanisms remains consistent with respect for national competences.

In considering participation in any voluntary mechanisms that may be proposed under the EDS, the Department will apply criteria that assess respect for Member State competency in electoral regulations and media governance; the voluntary nature of participation and the absence of de facto obligations, the practical benefits to Ireland's existing democratic resilience framework and resource and operational implications. These criteria reflect Ireland's national position that the EDS should complement and enhance national efforts rather than replace them.

Ireland's non-paper submission to the Commission, which was submitted in August 2025, outlines our position on protecting national competence in electoral regulation and political debate, and emphasises Ireland's rights-centred approach to the EDS. This approach is grounded in the EU's founding values of human rights, democracy and the rule of law. The non-paper stresses that EDS measures must respect Member State competence in relation to countering hybrid activity, including electoral administration and media regulation. This document forms part of ongoing policy development at EU level and it will not be published at this time.

While no risk register entries specific to the EDS have been recorded to date, the Department maintains ongoing monitoring of the legal, political and operational implications of this non-legislative initiative as it develops. Ireland will continue to engage constructively in Council discussions while ensuring that any EDS measures respect Member State competence, fundamental rights, including freedom of expression, and Ireland's rights-centred approach to democratic resilience.