Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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2. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the priorities the Government has identified for Ireland's upcoming EU presidency; and which of these measures will be aimed specifically at reducing the cost of energy. [39679/26]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Ireland will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the eighth time from 1 July to 31 December of this year. The Presidency will be an opportunity for Ireland to play an important role in leading and shaping the EU’s policy and legislative agenda, and the Government has made a firm commitment to resource and deliver a successful Presidency in 2026.

As Presidency, Ireland will take forward an ambitious agenda, seeking to serve the Union’s collective interests and respond to Europe’s most pressing and urgent needs, while preparing the Union to face the challenges of the future.

Preparations for Ireland’s Presidency are well underway, both here in Ireland and in Brussels. Our priorities and policy programme for the Presidency are now being finalised and will be published in mid-June.

The Strategic Agenda for the Union for the period up to 2029 has provided the principal backdrop for the development of our Presidency priorities which have also been informed by extensive consultation with partners across Europe.

Ireland will set out an agenda which we believe reflects a shared understanding of the issues and objectives that will require the attention of the Council in the coming months, to allow us to deliver in a meaningful way for our citizens across the Union.

Bearing this in mind, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has also undertaken a process of public consultation to help inform the development of Ireland's priorities. An open call for public submissions was launched in late 2025, allowing all stakeholders and interested parties the opportunity to have their say on the development of Ireland’s EU Presidency policy programme. The 484 written submissions received have helped to inform the development of our Presidency priorities.

Reflecting all of this, the Irish Presidency will focus its work on three thematic pillars: the areas of competitiveness, values and security. These core themes are mutually reinforcing, and will guide all aspects of the Irish Presidency’s work. Specific measures to address the energy challenges we face, including objectives noted in the recently-published One Europe, One Market Roadmap, will be central to the competitiveness agenda and to our overall priorities.

Ireland has 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 through our 2026 Presidency.