2025-12-10

Next July Ireland will assume the EU Presidency. It poses a significant opportunity for our country and a chance to help steer Europe's policy agenda. While some in this Chamber aim to undermine and devalue our EU membership, the reality is that Ireland's joining of the European bloc has boosted our economic success, strengthened our international influence and safeguarded peace on our island. In contrast, the UK economy has nose-dived since they adopted a go-it-alone policy through Brexit. The EU Presidency is a massive opportunity with Ireland centre stage. I hope that in our national interest, those on the Opposition benches will facilitate Ministers and Government in the effective exercise of their roles. As we prepare for this role, it is essential that the Government sets clear priorities focusing on the issues that will define Europe's future and directly impact the lives of people here at home. On defence, Russia's ongoing brutal war against Ukraine has fundamentally reshaped Europe's security landscape. Every member state has been forced to reassess how we approach defence, both individually and collectively. Ireland's Presidency provides a forum to advance discussions on strengthening Europe's resilience, particularly in areas close to home such as the protection of underseas data and energy infrastructure which are critical both to national and European security. In recent years, we have seen the explosion of artificial intelligence and how it is transforming industries at extraordinary speed. Europe must ensure that innovation is encouraged and that we become a global leader in this space. With our hugely dominant tech sector, Ireland is well placed to drive forward a European agenda that supports emerging industries, promotes ethical AI development and guarantees that citizens' rights remain at the heart of this digital transformation. Housing remains one of the most urgent challenges facing Ireland, and while our problem is acute, we must also recognise that right across Europe, families are struggling with the very same pressures. President von der Leyen referenced this in her state of the Union speech, noting that our collective housing crisis was tearing "at Europe's social fabric". As we take on the EU Presidency, we must ensure that Europe plays a decisive and co-ordinated role in supporting member states ,including our own, in delivering affordable and sustainable housing for citizens. I compliment the Minister for agriculture, Deputy Heydon, the Taoiseach and the rest of the Government for negotiating a satisfactory outcome on the issue of the nitrates directive. It is a vital lifeline for our dairy farmers. However, I caution that this success must not and should not be traded for a deal on Mercosur. Mercosur threatens to open the door to a surge of low-standard beef from South America, undercutting the hard work of Irish farmers and risking real damage to one of our most important sectors. What is the Taoiseach's assessment of the current position on Mercosur? What are his priorities for the Presidency?

I thank the Deputy for raising an important issue that is central to Ireland's economic progress and development and related issues in energy resilience, security and defence, and agriculture. The Presidency is important and it will commence on 1 July next year. It is an important opportunity for Ireland to shape the agenda, particularly at a time of change and increasing global challenges. The Deputy is right to reference Brexit. The most recent report from the central bank in the UK illustrates the very damaging impact Brexit has had on the British economy and GDP growth, or the absence of growth - it was -6% - and in respect of investment. I welcome those from the Charleville school. It is disconcerting when a Limerick TD is introducing a Cork school, but we will get over that. In any event, they are most welcome and we will meet them later. The Deputy raised housing. It was interesting, yesterday, when the President of the European Council was here. Uninvited, he raised the issue of housing as a Europe-wide issue. It is growing in importance in terms of the European Union. It can be quite helpful to look at directives again and areas that impede the building of houses and infrastructure. The Deputy is very prescient in identifying housing as a Europe-wide issue. We can get added value from how Europe approaches new directives or, indeed, existing directives that inadvertently impede the acceleration of housing development. Last week, I met President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. There is no question that security and defence issues are very serious issues for Europe now. We witnessed that with the emergence of drones off our coast last week, but that is part of a pattern. As the President said himself at the press conference yesterday, it is the new norm. In Copenhagen, there was the emergence of drones during the European political council, and in France and Belgium. There has been a pattern of behaviour in the Baltic Sea, which is quite worrying, and also in Poland in terms of the train track there. There are serious issues facing security. Our vulnerabilities are without question in subsea cables, critical undersea infrastructure and gas connectors. We need to be very clear. I see that as an emergency from a security perspective. That is why we are developing the State-backed strategic gas emergency reserve. This is a security imperative. People have criticised it in the context of climate and other issues. The Irish economy needs backup in energy resilience. This is a crucial project. It is an ongoing issue.

I welcome the Taoiseach's response. In the context of Ireland's European Presidency, the Government must ensure that energy resilience remains at the heart of the agenda and that Irish consumers and industry directly benefit from investments and reform. How is the Mercosur deal panning out in Europe? Decisions are imminent. The Government did a fantastic job on the nitrates directive. I hope we can get a satisfactory resolution to the Mercosur issue. What is the Taoiseach's read on that?

When we came into government, there were three big issues in agriculture that the Government identified. The first was the extension of the nitrates derogation, the second was Mercosur and, third, albeit not in any order of priority, was the multi-annual financial framework, which as currently drafted is not sufficient. I think it is about 80% of the last CAP. There is a lot of negotiation on that. It looks like the multi-annual financial framework will fall to our Presidency for resolution and conclusion. The Commission has been extremely constructive with us. I had number of engagements with the President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. I have to record that she was particularly constructive on the nitrates derogation. The Minister, Deputy Heydon, did very significant work with his counterpart and with the environment Commissioner, as did the Minister for housing, James Browne, in the context of the habitats directive and having the various plans ready for the extension of the derogation. We have engaged with the Commission on the Mercosur deal. The Commission has responded to the like-minded countries - France, Italy, Ireland and others - in respect of safeguards and stronger sanitary and phytosanitary, SPS, standards. It has now issued a legal instrument to try to copper-fasten that. It is not the same deal as the previous one but we are still examining that with other like-minded countries.