Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 July 2026
7. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if her Department plans to hold events in County Clare during and related to the EU Presidency term; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52014/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland assumed the Presidency of the Council of the European Union on 1 July and will hold it until 31 December 2026. The Presidency is an opportunity for Ireland to play an important role in leading and shaping the EU’s policy and legislative agenda, and the Government has made a firm commitment to deliver a successful Presidency.
The calendar of Presidency meetings and events was launched on 10 June and published alongside our priorities and policy programme on eire2026.eu and ireland2026.eu.
In the Programme for Government, we committed to bringing some of the high-level meetings of our Presidency to cities and counties across Ireland, ensuring that the entire country benefits from the profile the Presidency brings. Overall, including conferences and meetings of officials from across the 27 EU Member States, we expect to host more than 250 Presidency events in Ireland.
Last week, as part of our Presidency events programme, the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment hosted a conference on the theme of "Electrifying Ireland: A Shared Vision for the Future" at Ardnacrusha in Co. Clare, gathering experts to discuss the ambitious drive towards electrification across Europe. This event also featured senior officials from domestic and international government organisations, chief executive-level attendees from State and semi-State bodies, and senior employees from private sector companies and industry representative bodies. Local public representatives and senior officials from local authorities were also invited to attend the event.
In addition, throughout the Presidency term, the County Pairings initiative will provide a framework for communities across the country to engage with the work of the Presidency. County Clare has been paired with Croatia. This initiative will contribute to building Ireland’s relationship with its EU partners as we take on a significant leadership role at European level.
