Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 May 2026
220. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the Government's position on the proposed Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028-2034, specifically regarding the inclusion of dedicated health-related funding windows and earmarked resources for EU-wide cancer prevention and research initiatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32240/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraNegotiations are ongoing at EU-level since the European Commission’s initial publication of proposals for the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028-2034 in July and September of last year. These negotiations are expected to continue through Ireland’s term holding Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2026.
My colleague the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and I in my role as Minister for Finance jointly lead the development of Ireland’s positions in relation to the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). As such it is my role to update Government regularly on negotiations, in close cooperation with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Minister of State for European Affairs.
Ireland’s priorities in negotiations most notably but not limited to, are a strong and ring-fenced Common Agricultural Policy and Common Fisheries Policy; continued support for the PEACE PLUS programme in Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland; funding for competitiveness and excellent research; sustained support for Ukraine; continued development and humanitarian assistance; and a revenue system that is fair, equitable, simple and transparent, primarily based on Gross National Income. As part of the wider simplification drive, we must ensure reduced administrative burden for beneficiaries of EU funds.
As part of the Commission’s proposals, a new European Competitiveness Fund (ECF) aims to be a major initiative that consolidates existing financial instruments and funding streams into a single, streamlined mechanism. The European Competitiveness Fund, negotiations on which are led by the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, is structured along four policy windows including a specific window for Health, Biotech, Agriculture and Bioeconomy’.
Support for this policy window is proposed to be implemented in particular by improving and protecting health, including cross-border health, by prioritising health promotion and disease prevention across the life course, by fostering early detection and treatment, by strengthening innovation, and through health-in-all and One Health policies, with a special emphasis on communicable and non-communicable diseases.
The fund is proposed to be highly flexible, with specific priorities determined by annual work programmes. The European Commission has advised that under its proposal, all actions previously funded under EU4Health - including those for cancer and rare diseases - will remain eligible for funding under the ECF.
To deliver on the objective of translating research results into markets and strengthening Union’s industrial presence in strategic technologies and sectors, the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (Horizon Europe), on which negotiations are led by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, is proposed to be tightly linked to the ECF and will support research and innovation activities.
