Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 February 2026
17. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment for an update on any and all actions taken in relation to Ireland's withdrawal from the Energy Charter Treaty since the decision agreement to withdraw by the previous Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15592/26]
View answerIreland has begun the process of formal withdrawal from the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) in a coordinated manner alongside other EU Member States, following negotiations as part of a bloc, led by the EU Commission.
Each Member State has different rules regarding treaties, both the joining and exiting of them. In Ireland’s case, a decision to withdraw from an international treaty, such as the Energy Charter Treaty, is a matter of executive power under Article 29 of the Irish Constitution and will require a Government Decision.
Given her formal role in international treaties, a Memorandum for Government regarding the formal exit from the Treaty will be brought by my colleague the Minister for Foreign Affairs and this decision will formally end Ireland’s membership. My officials are currently working with colleagues in the Department of Foreign Affairs to expedite this process.
The Government is committed to exiting the ECT as soon as is practicable and I expect that the relevant Memorandum will be brought to Government in the near future. It is expected that the process of formally leaving the Treaty will be underway before the beginning of Ireland’s presidency.
Ireland is still a member of the Treaty and will remain so until we officially leave. However, the Government's position remains that Ireland will exit the Treaty.
