Remarks by the Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, Thomas Byrne TD at launch of Irish Presidency Priorities and Policy Programme

On 1 July, Ireland will take the lead in delivering a policy agenda that delivers for Europe, and for our people, into the future.

The priorities and policy objectives that we have set out today have been developed through a process of broad consultation, both with our European partners, and here at home.

The Irish EU Presidency will be focused on the areas in which people see the greatest value in EU action – action to advance our shared interests, and action to respond to the needs of citizens and businesses, across Europe.  

In developing our objectives, the Government has consulted extensively with our partners across the EU, and I personally have visited the majority of EU capitals to discuss shared priorities.

Here at home, over the last year, I have met with the community and voluntary sector, trade unions, business representatives, and others, to learn their priorities for the EU agenda.

And I know that other Ministers have had similar discussions about policy in their areas of responsibility.

It has been a particular pleasure for me to engage in community visits focused on our EU Presidency, and to hear the voices of community members, on what they want to see achieved from 1 July.

We also launched an open call for public submissions on the development of our EU Presidency priorities last November, and we received a total of 484 responses from individuals and groups across Ireland, and further afield.

I want to thank everyone who took the time to contribute to this process, whether through stakeholder meetings, or preparing a written submission.

Tá an Uachtaránacht seo thar a bheith tábhachtach mar is í an chéad Uachtaránacht Éireannach í ó rinneadh teanga oibre lánfheidhmiúil san Aontas den Ghaeilge i mí Eanáir 2022.

Cloch mhíle shuntasach is ea í i rannpháirtíocht theanga agus chultúrtha na hÉireann leis an AE, agus cuireann sí deis ar fáil ná raibh a leithéid ann riamh cheana chun ról na Gaeilge i ngnóthaí an AE a léiriú.

Le linn na hUachtaránachta, beimid ag comhtháthú na Gaeilge i ngnóthaí na Comhairle, agus ag úsáid na teanga le haghaidh cumarsáide oifigiúla agus imeachtaí cultúrtha, ag tacú le húsáid na Gaeilge ar chomhchéim le teangacha oibre eile an AE.

Our EU Presidency also offers Ireland an exceptional opportunity to share our culture with our fellow Europeans and further afield, leaning into the dynamism, originality and global reach of contemporary Irish arts.

Later this month, the Irish EU Presidency Culture Programme will be launched, while my Department will also deliver a cultural relations programme, featuring events presented by our Embassies and Consulates across Europe and beyond, and investing in new partnerships and creative collaborations.

Ireland approaches our EU Presidency with a genuine sense of responsibility and ambition to succeed.

We have put in the groundwork, we know what we are being asked to do, and we know the momentin which we are being asked to do it.

And we are committed to doing it well – in the interests of Europe, and our people.

Because ultimately, let us never forget that when we are talking about “the EU”, we are talking about what belongs to us, as citizens – we are Europe, we are the European Union.

Go raibh maith agaibh.