Aidan Farrelly
Question:1182. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the bilateral meetings he has had with his EU counterparts to date in 2025, in tabular form. [71703/25]
View answerTuesday, 16 December 2025
Questions (1182)
Written answers
As Minister my main formal interactions at European Union level relate to my role as Minister for Social Protection. Last month, I utilised the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg to discuss and raise awareness of the issues relating to both Ministerial briefs, in the context of Irelands upcoming Presidency of the European Union.
While in Strasbourg I had a series of high-level discussions with the European Parliament’s Employment and Social Affairs Committee (EMPL). At these meetings I had the opportunity to highlight Ireland's focus on reducing poverty and ensuring equal opportunities. I also had the opportunity to meet with Rafael Benitez, Director of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, EMPL Chair Li Andersson and senior members of the European Parliament, including Irish MEPs. I reiterated Ireland’s view that the Council of Europe remains a key European institution safeguarding human rights, democracy and the rule of law. These meetings were primarily related to my social protection brief, but with strong links to the community development and social inclusion elements of the work of the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht.
I also met with a number of Irish MEPs to discuss LEADER funding in the context of the next Multiannual Financial Framework and advocating for a well funded CAP that supports farm resilience, environmental ambition, and rural development measures such as LEADER. In this context I would note that the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine has established a CAP Consultative Committee, to facilitate the current negotiation process for the post 2027 period, and this committee includes representation from my Department.
While in Strasbourg I also met the EP Intergroup on Traditional Minorities, National Communities and Languages. I engaged with the group’s members on a range of issues including reinforcing the role of Irish as the community language of the Gaeltacht as well as its promotion at national level and efforts to enhance the use of Irish in public services in Ireland. On this issue, in October, I met with a delegation from the Finnish Parliament to discuss how the Irish language is promoted in the Gaeltacht. The delegation included; Dr Jussi Halla-aho, Speaker of Eduskunta, the Parliament of Finland, Mr Mikko Savola, MP and Ms Jenna Simula, MP.
I am hopeful that this engagement with by EU colleagues will help develop a focus on issues relating to the work of my Department, and contribute to a successful Presidency of the EU in the latter half of 2026.