Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 November 2025
84. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the likely priorities on renewable energy during Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64261/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland's Presidency priorities and policy programme are currently under development, taking into account the EU's Strategic Agenda for 2024-29, the legislative programme proposed by the European Commission, and the Government's priorities in relation to the EU. Consultations with other EU Member States will also inform the development of our priorities and policy programme, as will the evolution of the Council’s legislative agenda throughout the current Presidency term of Denmark and that of Cyprus next year. A process of consultation with domestic stakeholders is also underway.
Before the last Energy Council in October, I co-chaired, along with Spain's Secretary of State for Energy, a meeting of the Friends of Renewables in Luxembourg. We discussed, along with the EU Commission, the forthcoming European Grids Package. The Grids Package will enhance grid resilience and electricity interconnection between Member States which will be critical to enable the expansion of the renewables sector and achieve more affordable energy prices for consumers.
The recently published EU Commission Work Programme indicates several other upcoming energy-related initiatives. The extent to which these files will be progressed during our Presidency depends largely on when the specifics of these initiatives are set out by the Commission, and on progress made during the Cyprus Presidency in the first half of 2026.
The Government will agree and publish our programme of policy priorities for the Presidency in June 2026, shortly before the start of Ireland's Presidency term.
