Seán Ó Fearghaíl
Question:72. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Social Protection his priorities for Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46021/26]
View answerThursday, 18 June 2026
Questions (72)
Written answers
My Department has an ambitious policy programme for the 2026 Presidency of the Council of the European Union that dovetails with the three priorities of Competitiveness, Values and Security. The coordination of the Employment and Social Policy Council ( EPSCO) for Ireland falls within the remit of the Department.
My priorities include progressing the negotiations on the Fair Labour Mobility Package, due to be published in September and part of the One Europe One Market Roadmap. In particular, I will seek to advance the digital European Social Security Pass (ESSPASS) to reduce administrative friction for businesses and mobile workers, and do further work on Regulation 883/2004 to improve social security coordination.
In addition, though progressing through the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN), there are two supplementary pensions files that are of strategic importance, part also of the One Europe One Market Roadmap, one of which falls under the aegis of my Department and on which my officials are working closely with officials from the Department of Finance to progress to finalisation.
Progressing the first European Anti-Poverty Strategy and reinforcing the European Pillar of Social Rights is a priority for the Irish Presidency. Specifically, my Department will support work that delivers on our commitments to reduce the number of people at risk of social exclusion which is more likely to affect unemployed people, lone parent families, migrant and ethnic minority communities and disabled people. I plan to focus on addressing the disability employment gap, in particular on those policy levers that can successfully harness the skills and talents of people with disabilities in the workplace and contribute to a more inclusive and competitive economy. In addition, my Department will support the strengthening of the European Child Guarantee and will work to improve outcomes for children experiencing disadvantage, with a particular focus on parenting supports.
At EPSCO, our presidency programme will demonstrate that our European values are not just abstract ideals but practical principles which underpins the fairness, trust and stability of the system providing the EU with a clear economic and social advantage.
Question No. 73 answered with Question No. 22.