Maeve O'Connell
Ceist:236. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to report on his Department’s priorities for Ireland’s term of the EU Presidency. [31776/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 12 June 2025
Ceisteanna (236)
Freagraí scríofa
Ireland will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the eighth time in 2026 - from 1 July to 31 December. Preparations for Ireland’s Presidency are now intensifying across both the policy and operational strands of planning within my Department and across Government.
My Department's key priority in the period ahead is to effectively chair the security and defence sphere for the duration of the Presidency, as we have done on each occasion Ireland has held the EU presidency to date. Our priorities in this regard will be developed in line with national priorities in this area, the EU Strategic Agenda for 2024 - 2029 and the range of legislative initiatives proposed by the European Commission, including those set out in the Commission's 2025 Work Programme published in February.
My Department's priorities will feed into overall Presidency priorities that will be agreed by Government and will be published before the start of the Presidency. The programme is currently in development, and the priorities therein will be the Government's objectives for the duration of the Presidency and an important reflection of Ireland's place within the EU.