I remind members to switch off their mobile phones to ensure they do not cause difficulties for the editorial, broadcasting and sound staff.
At this meeting we will discuss the Irish Presidency of the European Council from January to June 2013 with the Minister of State with special responsibility for European affairs, Deputy Lucinda Creighton, whom I welcome to give us an update on preparations for the Presidency which will be important for many reasons, with which we are all familiar.
I thank the joint committee for scheduling this discussion on the priorities for the Irish EU Presidency and the progress being made in preparing for it. While I had the honour and opportunity to speak in the Upper House during Europe Week in May on this topic, I have not had an opportunity to date to address and exchange views on the matter with the Joint Committee on European Affairs. I am pleased to have the chance to do so now and sure this is the first of many such meetings as we move closer to the Presidency.
Ireland will take over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from Cyprus on 1 January 2013. Ireland has effectively and successfully managed the Presidency on six previous occasions, most recently in 2004. The Presidency in 2013 will be one of the most challenging we have faced to date. The Union now operates in a much more complex environment with 27 member states, soon to be 28, and with new institutional structures, introduced under the Lisbon treaty, which are still being bedded down. This is set against a difficult domestic and international economic backdrop. Ensuring the success of the Presidency will require considerable national effort and a particular effort by the Government and Oireachtas Members.
The Presidency will be assumed at a critical time for Ireland and the European Union after the difficulties we have faced for several years. The crisis has demonstrated how interdependent the relationship between the Union and member states has become. The challenges Ireland faces are shared by many other governments and citizens across the Union. The investment of time and resources we make in our Presidency can contribute to our economic recovery and to that of our partners.
The Presidency will provide us with an opportunity to advance policies which will benefit the lives of millions of citizens across the European Union. That is why the main overriding Presidency priority will be examining ways of stimulating sustainable economic growth and creating jobs. The Taoiseach and the Tánaiste have stressed to Ministers and officials working on preparations for the Presidency that the jobs and growth agenda should be prioritised in their approach to its programme and events.
Since entering office, the Government has worked with energy and determination to rebuild our international reputation, strengthen relations with our European partners and develop our engagement with European institutions. The Presidency will present us with an unparalleled opportunity to present Ireland in a positive light, an opportunity that will not come around again for many years. Running an effectively managed Presidency can contribute to challenging negative perceptions and demonstrate Ireland's strengths and capabilities. In the longer term relations forged at political and official level during the Presidency will improve Ireland's position in the decision-making process in Europe, a point essential to our ability to advance and defend our interests in the future.
Our Presidency coincides with the 40th anniversary of Ireland's accession to the EEC in 1973. Next year has been designated as European Year of Citizens. This provides an opportunity to reflect on the first decades of our membership. As I mentioned in my remarks to the Seanad in May, it is too easy to lose sight of the very positive changes which membership of the European Union has delivered to Ireland and to Irish society. It is my strong view that the Presidency presents the opportunity to promote greater discussion and engagement across Ireland on this country's future in Europe and how citizens envisage Ireland's role in the future development of the European Union.
The details of the Irish Presidency programme will continue to evolve between now and the end of the year, in response to internal and external developments. However, some major issues are already clear. I have stressed the Government's priority policy of promoting sustainable economic growth and the creation of jobs. This is not only a national priority but also an issue of obvious concern across the European Union. The jobs and growth agenda will be reflected across the Presidency programme.
We will continue to support and promote the Europe 2020 process which provides the blueprint for growth across the EU by focusing on areas such as employment, innovation, education and social cohesion. We will support new proposals under the Single Market Act, including through the rapidly evolving digital single market, to enhance Europe's competitiveness and to create jobs.
Through our management of the European semester, the new system of economic and budgetary co-ordination will help to put in place a process to promote conditions for stability, competitiveness and growth. We will also seek to ensure the effective implementation of the range of other economic governance measures which the EU has put in place in response to the crisis. It is too early as yet to know the degree of work which will fall to Ireland as a result of the measures on the banking front which the Commission will bring forward in September.
A series of conferences and events is being planned in Ireland which will focus on strengthening the EU's research and innovation capabilities, for example, in areas such as green technologies, key enabling technologies and medical science. Ireland is also committed to boosting the EU's exports by deepening trade links with third countries. Next year we hope to organise in Dublin a meeting at ministerial level dedicated to the key EU-US trade relationship. We will also support proposals to make it easier for small and medium enterprises to access EU funding. Most of the ministerial meetings planned during the Presidency, ranging from agriculture to health and energy, will have a jobs and growth dimension.
Discussions are ongoing on the EU budget for the period 2014 to 2020. The outcome of negotiations on the future financing of the Union through the multi-annual financial framework will be critical for Europe's future economic development and competitiveness, as well as for vital national interests in areas such as the reform of the common agricultural and fisheries policies.
Cyprus is the current holder of the EU Presidency and is committed to reaching agreement on the MFF, multi-annual financial framework, between now and December, which is a timetable agreed by the European Council in June. Ireland will build on the work of Cyprus and carry forward under the Irish Presidency the large body of implementation legislation necessary to ensure that the MFF is in place to support Europe's economic recovery.
Ireland's Presidency programme will contain other detailed priorities across a range of policy areas although most are linked in some way to the broad areas I have outlined, such as the jobs and growth agenda, economic governance or the multi-annual financial framework. I can discuss some of the specific issues this morning but my colleagues in Government will brief their sectoral committees on the detailed policy-specific issues in the autumn.
The Government will continue to work on the Presidency programme over the coming five months, including taking account of ongoing developments and progress on various fiches before publishing the programme in December. The Government is determined to run a business-like and cost-effective Presidency. We estimate that the Presidency will cost in the region of €63 million. This is a lower estimate than the cost of Ireland’s previous Presidency in 2004 and we are continuing to seek ways of further limiting expenditure across all areas by carefully assessing the necessity to hold meetings. We aim to concentrate most events in a few State-owned venues in Dublin and centralising procurement in order to generate savings in services such as catering. A Government decision was taken earlier this year to limit the number of ministerial meetings to be held in Ireland during the Presidency and to ensure these will have a clear rationale for the advancement of the Government’s priorities as these meetings tend to be more expensive to organise.
It is clear that an effective Presidency will require a sufficient investment of resources and personnel. I have outlined the longer term benefits for Ireland's reputation and for the development of stronger links with our partners which will last well beyond 2013. It is also the case that the Presidency will deliver short-term benefits to service-providers in Ireland.
Since last year the Government has been working closely with the State agencies to use all opportunities afforded by the Presidency to promote Ireland and Irish goods and services, in the areas of tourism, trade and investment. I am working closely with the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, to develop a programme to showcase Irish culture to our European partners during the Presidency and to celebrate our European cultural connections in Ireland.
The Presidency draft calendar of events in Brussels and Luxembourg was circulated to partners and we have received a number of proposed changes which are under consideration currently. The calendar contains information on Council meetings of all Council formations and which will be chaired by Irish Ministers during 2013. Their work will be supported by Council working groups which will be chaired by Irish officials during the Presidency and their performance will determine the successful management of the complex Presidency agenda. Training of the officials for the challenges of managing these meetings is underway. In addition, the Government estimates that approximately 170 events will be held in Ireland, including, for example, meetings organised by the Oireachtas, such as COSAC, which, members, myself included, will have attended on previous occasions. Work is underway on the Presidency website and it will be live in November. The website will serve as the central information portal for the Presidency and will also provide a wide range of information about Ireland to an international audience as part of the wider promotional efforts.
I have just returned from a visit to the Balkan states and to Turkey. I am happy to answer any questions from members about that visit. Since entering office I have met all of my counterparts from other EU member states. Given the key legislative role it now plays since the introduction of the Lisbon treaty I have visited the European Parliament regularly in Brussels and Strasbourg in order to strengthen our relations in advance of the Presidency. Last week in Strasbourg the Tánaiste met the President of the European Parliament, President Schulz and other key figures. We have also worked with out Lithuanian counterparts and we look forward to working with our new Greek colleagues who are part of the same trio or formal grouping of three Presidencies which was introduced under the Lisbon treaty. Work is now concluding on the submission of inputs by the three states for the trio Presidency programme and which will be published by the Council secretariat at the end of the year and will reflect, to the extent possible, the issues which will feature on the EU agenda over the 18-month period.
We have also been concerned to ensure a close working relationship with our Cypriot colleagues from whom we take over the Presidency at the end of the year. Cyprus is not part of our formal trio arrangement but as Ireland will succeed Cyprus in the Presidency it is important to have a good relationship and a smooth transition. I have had regular meetings and discussions with the Cypriot Deputy Minister for European Affairs, Andreas Mavroyiannis, at the margins of the General Affairs Council meeting and I visited Nicosia last November. It is very much in our interests to ensure continuity and a smooth transition between each Presidency. In the period since Ireland's accession each Presidency has been different and has presented its own unique challenges. Ireland has consistently shown that a small member state can manage the agenda of the Union in an efficient, impartial and effective manner. Our reputation among our partners was enhanced by the way in which we fulfilled our Presidency obligations.
We now need to use the Presidency to rebuild the trust and respect of our partners. During the six months of the Presidency, Ireland will be in the European spotlight for a short time. I know that all members of this committee will share my view that we should seek to use the Presidency to demonstrate Ireland's strength and abilities, above all, our ability to contribute to the work of the European Union by managing the business of the Council of Ministers from January to June. I look forward to working closely with the committee to ensure a successful outcome.
I thank members for the role they play in informing debate on the European Union. I look forward to their contributions, both as members of the committee and as Oireachtas representatives, in ensuring a successful Presidency and wish the committee well in the meetings it has planned for that period. I intend to maintain strong working relations with the committee and am keen to have its input into the programme for the Presidency. Now is the time for discussion and debate. As the time draws nearer for Ireland to assume the Presidency, it will become more difficult to amend what is planned. If members are agreeable, I will return in the autumn when the programme is at a more advanced stage for a further exchange of views.
Thank you, Minister. I now invite comments from members, beginning with Deputy Timmy Dooley.
I thank the Minister of State and her officials for the comprehensive overview she has given of the Government's intentions and agenda for the forthcoming Presidency. She indicated that the budget of €63 million is less than what was spent in 2004. Notwithstanding the very difficult financial circumstances in which we find ourselves, I hope we do not have a significant reduction in activity as a result of the budget constraints. I accept that it is possible to trim the sail to some degree, but it is important that the bean counters do not get at the Minister of State on this occasion. I refer to those individuals who know the price of everything and the value of nothing. The Minister of State rightly observed that the Presidency affords an exceptional opportunity for a country to put its stamp on Europe's agenda and on the direction of policy. That is why we must tackle the recent overly zealous approach to slashing the budget for the mere sake of being seen to achieve a particular milestone. The correct way to proceed is to start out on the basis of what needs to be done and then assess the cost, rather than ruling out certain activities in the first instance on cost grounds. I am sure the Minister of State will advance that case.
I welcome her proposal to return to the committee later in the year when the programme is further advanced. It is no surprise that jobs and growth are identified by the Minister of State as a significant aspect of the Presidency agenda. What effort is the Government making at this stage to flesh out the types of initiatives on which it will seek to reach agreement? Is there any structured forum, for example, for inviting external views and engaging external expertise? Is there an opportunity for the committee to feed into the work of the Presidency by way of hearings which would allow us to bring in the relevant experts in order to thrash out certain proposals and views? It would be useful to pass on the substance of any such discussions to the Minister of State in order to assist her in her work.
Reference was made to the Common Agricultural Policy and Common Fisheries Policy as significant components of Ireland's concerns and as therefore playing a central role in our agenda for the Presidency. The Minister of State indicated the expectation that the multi-annual financial framework will be completed under the current Presidency. If it is not, however, it will add to the Government's workload. Has any action been taken to put in place the types of contingencies that may be required in this regard? I wish the Minister of State well in her continued efforts of preparation for the Presidency.
I thank the Minister of State and her officials for attending the meeting and providing us with the most up-to-date information on preparations for the Irish Presidency. I also welcome her offer to return when the Presidency programme is further fleshed out. The Minister of State mentioned her relationship with Cypriot representatives and the meetings she has had with them in recent months. Ireland has several similarities with Cyprus in terms of size and geography, both being island nations which continue to face the difficulties of partition. What steps or initiatives is the Government engaging in with the Cypriots on issues, for instance, of national reconciliation and peace building? I assume Cyprus will be more amenable than others to solid agreement on a new PEACE IV programme.
The Cypriot Presidency has prioritised the issues of youth unemployment in a very practical way. Given Ireland's very high level of youth unemployment, how does the Government propose to prioritise the issue under our Presidency programme and what new ideas will it bring to the table? Can the Minister of State give us an update on her engagement with the Commission's youth action team on youth unemployment and the role it might play under our Presidency?
Recent presidencies have understandably focused on economic issues. In her speech last April at the EMI-PAI Presidency conference, the Minister of State outlined a list of priorities and activities for our Presidency. I was somewhat disappointed by the lack of focus on certain social issues. Does the Government have any plans, for instance, to re-inject the social element into the EU's policy making? What social issues will it champion during its Presidency? Is there any one item of socially progressive legislation in the offing which we can focus on progressing?
I thank the Minister of State for her comprehensive overview of the plans for 2013. There is now major funding available within Europe in the area of research and development in medical science. One of the major complaints in Europe relates to the lack of sharing of information in that area and the failure to encourage member states to work together rather than independently. In countries such as the United States, India and China, research and development is proceeding at a very fast pace. Europe must not only keep pace with those competitors but seek to stay ahead. The Presidency offers an opportunity for ensuring greater co-operation between member states in research and development, particularly given the availability of such a large amount of funding for that purpose. How does the Government propose to use the Irish Presidency to ensure better co-operation in this regard and how is it envisaged that Ireland might benefit from a closer alignment of efforts in this regard?
I thank the Minister of State for attending the meeting and wish her and her Government colleagues well in their pursuit of the various objectives that will emerge in the course of the six-month Irish Presidency. This is a time of great challenge for Europe. It is also an opportune time for a small country to assume the Presidency, particularly those small countries which are prepared to do what must be done, even in difficult circumstances, and to make sacrifices. All of our European colleagues must acknowledge that countries such as ours have a contribution to make.
As I and others have said on many occasions, this is a time to move away from isolationism. There must be less focus on member states looking to their own concerns and a greater focus on the needs of the collective, both within the European Union and within the eurozone. It is a time when we can redefine the entire concept and appearance of the Union. In a situation where we have co-operated extremely well for more than 50 years, the challenges that have come in the past three or four years are unprecedented. We have been on a steep learning curve. One would hope that everybody has learnt the lessons of recent times and that the practice of sniping at each other which emerged at the very beginning of this crisis will not be allowed to continue into the future. Our future is together. As a symbol of our vision for the future of Europe, I strongly recommend John Donne's observation that no man is an island. The Chairman will be glad to hear that I do not intend to labour the point this morning, but I urge each member of the Council and the Commission to have that as an objective as we seek to move forward in the coming years. Unity of purpose, cohesion and a sense of common cause have never been more relevant than they are.
It must be recognised that some of the events which have taken place not only in Ireland but throughout the remainder of the European Union should never have occurred. I hope that in the past couple of years we have learned the importance of having the ability to respond quickly and effectively in certain circumstances. If we have not learned our lesson in this regard and there is indecision for five years, we will be in a difficult position from which we will not be able to extricate ourselves.
The Minister of State has a great opportunity and faces a major challenge in this matter. She has an important role to play. Never since Ireland's accession to the European Union has this role been more importan, but I have no doubt she is up to the challenge. She can assist in shaping the future of the European Union, particularly as we are already aware of the issues with which we must deal. We must assuage people's doubts. As the Minister of State is aware, there are many doubters and we must seek to reassure those who have raised questions about the Union in recent times.
Turkey has not been mentioned for a number of years in the context of enlargement. We are all aware of the reasons for this and I have no intention of discussing them now. It might not, however, be a bad idea to monitor the position, particularly in the context of Turkey's potential influence in, for example, the western Balkans. It is usefully placed in the context of its geographic location and there are potential benefits to be examined in this regard. We must continue to monitor the position on stability in the western Balkans where the issue of enlargement is progressing.
I will return to my initial point. It is of fundamental importance that member states recognise that we are all part of the European Union. The Union and the euro currency belong to us. Attempts to undermine the stability of the Union and the currency in various ways or cast doubts on their viability are not in the interests of any member state.
The Minister of State will be next, followed by Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn, Ms Phil Prendergast, MEP, and Deputy Dominic Halligan.
I was offering.
I apologise. I did not see the Senator indicating.
The Irish Presidency will be over before I have an opportunity to speak.
I will ensure the Senator has a chance to speak long before then.
It is a question of saving the best until last.
Absolutely.
I thank members for their questions and comments. Deputy Timmy Dooley referred to budget constraints and bean counters. Every aspect of spending is the subject of rigorous stress-testing both internally within Departments and by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. In that context, every cent or bean must be accounted for. That is not to say we will not run an effective and efficient Presidency. It is a question of being smart in how we spend our money. We have a duty and obligation to ensure we obtain the best possible bang for the Irish taxpayer's buck. We must not, however, unduly constrain or limit the ambitions for our Presidency of the European Union. I would always like to have more money at my disposal in financing the Presidency. However, we have reached a good balance in this regard. The Deputy may rest assured that every single cent will be used efficiently and effectively.
I hope the cultural programme we are going to run will be of benefit to every county in the country. We are going to try to raise the profile of the Presidency and assist citizens to understand the value of our membership of and contribution to the European Union. We will also try to outline what it means for Ireland, as a country, to provide leadership in the form of the Presidency of the Council. We are going to use our embassy network and Enterprise Ireland during the Presidency. We will tie our activities in with the Gathering because this will give us great scope to promote Ireland not only throughout Europe but also across the world. It is often the case that the further one travels, the more impressed people are that a small country such as ours can actually lead the European Union for six months. That has certainly been my experience. I am not concerned about the budget and we will certainly make the most of the money available.
On jobs and growth and the potential to have an input and receive feedback, there is a great opportunity. I have been informing the committee for well over six months that it has a role to play in this regard. However, it is not for me, as a Minister of State, to tell it how to conduct its business. It has responsibility in that regard. I strongly support the idea that it should hold hearings on the Presidency. However, it would want to begin doing so quickly. It will not be of much use if these hearings are held in December because the programme for the Presidency will have been completely finalised at that stage. If the committee were to hold hearings at that point, it would merely be a cosmetic exercise. Since last autumn I have been encouraging the committee to take a leadership role in respect of our preparations for the Presidency. I take the opportunity to ask it to act quickly if it intends to do something along these lines.
In the context of the structures involved, there are two co-ordinating committees for the Presidency, one of which deals with planning protocol, arranging the agenda and working with the OPW on building, logistics, etc., and the budget. Mr. Tim Mawe chairs that group, the work of which is driven by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The second committee deals with policy co-ordination. All Departments are represented in both groups. The group I chair is putting together the policy priorities for the Presidency and meets every month. There are a number of sub-committees of this group which meet on a more regular basis and deal with issues on which there is an overlap between Departments. Effectively, the group I chair is focusing on pulling together the themes and priorities with which the Departments and the Government as a whole will deal during the Presidency. These formal structures have been in place for almost two years. A great deal of planning has already been done. We are certainly on target in planning for the Presidency.
On the Common Agricultural Policy and the Common Fisheries Policy, the budget for the multi-annual financial framework may not be finalised during the Cypriot Presidency. However, it is the ambition of Cyprus to ensure it will be finalised. We will give the Cypriots every support in this regard. They have begun with great gusto in dealing with the multi-annual financial framework. I will travel to Brussels next week for a bilateral meeting with the Presidency. This is the first occasion on which member states have been invited to meet the Presidency on a bilateral basis. My officials and I will meet Cyprus's Minister with responsibility for European affairs, his officials and representatives from the Council's secretariat in order to try to isolate the issues of concern to us and move matters forward. Every other member state will be doing likewise during the next week.
The Cypriots have also brought forward the date of our informal ministerial meeting which will now take place at the end of August. They are really determined and certainly stepping up the pace in moving matters along in order that progress can be made prior to the October summit. Their objective is to finalise the budget for the multi-annual financial framework by the time the December summit is held and I hope they will be successful. We will certainly not shirk responsibility in this regard and if Ireland is obliged to bring the budget to finality, there is no doubt we will conclude the negotiations. However, it would be much better if the budget was agreed to prior to our Presidency because this would allow us to proceed with the 56 legislative packages relating to the Common Agricultural Policy and the Common Fisheries Policy which will all have to be agreed on foot of agreement being reached on the budget for the multi-annual funding framework. It will be an enormous task. This is the agenda which, one way or another, is going to dominate our Presidency and the more progress the Cypriots can make the better.
I thank Senator Kathryn Reilly for her questions. The position on national reconciliation and peace-building is extremely difficult. This is because Cyprus is a member state of the European Union and Turkey is an accession country. It is a sensitive and bilateral issue between these states and there is a process in place under the auspices of the United Nations.
The European Union has not interfered in this process and nor has this State. While I have visited Cyprus and am just back from Turkey, we engage and have a dialogue on this but it would not be appropriate for us in our role of the incoming Presidency of the European Union, especially following hot on the heels of the Cypriot Presidency, to involve ourselves in what is internationally recognised as being called the "the Cyprus question". It would not be appropriate for us to interfere in that matter and, while I may have my own views on the matter, I have no intention of doing so.
On the question of youth unemployment, I have been preparing a full update for the Senator because he has asked me about this on a number of occasions. I was working on it but I have been away for the last week. I will happily circulate it to all members of the committee. It will set out where the Commission is at, the various schemes and proposals that are in place and those that are proposed. If it is agreeable to the Deputy, I will return to him and forward him an update in writing probably by Monday as I need a little time to work on it.
On the Deputy's point on the lack of focus on social issues, it will always be a risk that if we focus on economic progress and growth we can be accused of ignoring social issues. All I can do is assure the Deputy that is not the case. There is a basic point, namely, that if we do not achieve growth, we will not achieve employment, social marginalisation will deepen and the social disconnect in Europe will become more profound. We must generate growth and employment if we want to be in a position to strengthen social cohesion in the European Union. I feel strongly about that but we are not ignoring social policy. The Minister, Deputy Burton, is actively engaged both with European Commission and has had a variety of exchanges in advance of our Presidency on a range of issues and through the education field. One of our major priorities will be to reach agreement with the European Parliament on the new Erasmus for All programme which is an important one in terms of activation for young people. There will be a major focus on the education and training agenda.
One item, about which I feel very strongly which will be a priority for us on the education side, is the recognition of professional qualifications across the European Union. This is one of the biggest barriers. We allegedly have free movement of workers in the European Union but if one cannot have one's professional qualifications recognised in other member states, it is not worth a great deal. We have an abundance of qualified solicitors and various other professionals in Ireland who cannot have their qualifications recognised in other EU member states. That must be addressed. That is a hot topic and one on which I believe Ireland can make significant progress.
The Minister, Deputy Burton, is determined to focus on the area of social inclusion, concrete poverty reduction targets and related links to employment. Everything will be linked to the growth in employment agenda. There will be a drive to achieve Council conclusions at EXCO on child poverty, which will be an important step, and everything will focus around the social inclusion agenda of Europe 2020. I am very optimistic that we will have a very strong social dimension. I have met the Minister, Deputy Burton, on this and we have discussed it and we have met the NGOs. The Deputy should not be under any illusion that this is not an important aspect of our Presidency but we are linking all of it to the training side and to the area of opportunities in terms of growth and the employment agenda. I consider them as being completely interlinked and indivisible.
Senator Colm Burke asked about research and development and the better capacity of the EU to attract research and development to the Continent. He asked me this question on the last occasion I was before the committee. The Commission is due to publish proposals in September, certainly in the early autumn. As soon as that happens, I will happily come back to the Senator and give him some detail on that. Horizon 2020 is the focus for us and we will be involved in progressing that agenda in conjunction with the Commissioner, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn. Mr. Seán Kelly, MEP, and I are working on a joint initiative in the European Parliament. President Schulz confirmed to me last week that he is giving us the use of the hemicycle in Brussels for a major conference on innovation and research and development specifically. I am due to meet a group of people involved in organising that this evening. That will be a high profile big ticket event, involving MEPs, Commissioners, Ministers and people from the private sector. It will be an interesting and exciting project.
I agree with Deputy Durkan about the common approach. It is difficult at times of crisis to convince people to see beyond the end of their nose. It is human nature and understandable. It is the kind of nationalism we risk seeing flare up, which thankfully we have not seen flare up during this crisis. That is the kind of nationalism that caused the First World War and the Second World War. People can criticise the Europe Union for all of its faults and it is not perfect, but it has ensured that during this grave and deep crisis nobody has gone to war, that we have by and large co-operated with each other to find solutions, although they may not be the perfect solutions and they may not have happened as quickly as we may like. Nevertheless, we have come a very long way. I am very proud of that and that is why I am committed and passionate pro-European and I always will be because it is an extraordinary achievement. We continue to make small but important extraordinary achievements every day of the week in the European Union. I agree entirely with the Deputy on that.
I agree with the Deputy in terms of Turkey and the Balkans. I have just returned from a successful two-day trip there. There is an obvious difficulty with the Cypriot Presidency. We are not in any sense engaging with the Turks from a Presidency point of view until our Presidency begins - I want to make that very clear. Cyprus has the Presidency at present and the Cypriots deserve the respect of every other member state and every candidate country. The Turks are excited about our Presidency in terms of being able to build some momentum. They want to align their legislative system, all of their systems of governance and so to the European acquis communautaire, to our system of regulation and laws, and that is a very good thing. Turkey is a key country. It is of vital strategic importance and we need to keep working in that direction. People may have differing views about where it will ultimately end up, including the Turks, but that is not the point. The point is that we are on a track with Turkey. That is very important and we need to continue on that track. We are a country that is trusted and liked in Turkey and we need to build on that.
I visited Montenegro, Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina but I also met Ministers from the other three countries in the western Balkans and I will return there. A delegation from the committee is due to visit there in September. Deputy Dooley was with me at the Croatia summit. This is a key region for us. It is key for a variety of reasons, one being stability in Europe. Regional stability there and on the borders of the European Union is hugely important. This is a region that has great potential to grow and become much more prosperous in the years ahead. Potentially it could become a vital market for us if these countries continue to join the European Union in that they would become part of the Single Market. There are so many logical reasons as to why this region is key but we also owe it in terms of its development. We owe those countries the same opportunities that we have enjoyed as members of the European Union They are European countries that have undergone untold division.
It is clear that many tensions still exist but we have to give them hope and what is naturally their entitlement, namely, to enjoy the same levels of prosperity, peace and unity that we enjoy as members of the European Union. This country has a great opportunity to be a leader in that regard. People talk about slowing down the process after Croatia and enlargement fatigue. They find new reasons that did not exist previously to slow down or block the accession of some of those countries. This country has never gone down that road nor will we. We are in favour of enlargement. It is good for us, good for those countries and good for the European Union as a whole. If we want to be relevant in a modern, globalised world we must be big, strong and coherent. We need all of Europe to work together and therefore we need those countries to join the European Union. I am a passionate believer in that approach.
I visited Bosnia-Herzegovina. It is a country that hopes to lodge an application for EU membership by the end of the year. I have personally committed that I will do everything in my power to assist it in that endeavour. It will not be easy to even get to the point of lodging an application but we as a country will support it in doing that. I have committed that if Bosnia-Herzegovina gets an application lodged by the end of the year I will return there early next year during our Presidency of the European Union to support it in the process and to build momentum. We must engage with all of those countries and we must show that we are a supporter of enlargement. When others in Europe might flail and lose their commitment this country will not do so and we will continue to advance and support progress in the western Balkans.
I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Creighton, for her presentation and comments to date. I have a number of questions. The first relates to the Presidency of the European Union. Does it still hold the same weight now that we have a President of the Council and how has the role changed? Could the Minister of State outline what is the role of the Presidency in the context of the changes that have taken place in recent years?
The secondment of staff has taken place with staff from the North. What is the all-Ireland dimension of the Presidency that we will hold for the first half of 2013? There are shared objectives on an all-Ireland basis in terms of farming, fisheries and the development of infrastructure. As a representative of Donegal my focus is on the A5 and developing links through the use of European resources for such projects. There might be potential to use project bonds and the matter must be examined.
My next question relates to the opportunity for the Irish Presidency in the context of our neighbours in North Africa and the Middle East in the context of the Arab Spring. The Palestinian Ambassador appeared before the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade. His presentation was most sobering. The lack of progress there is deeply frustrating.
I am sorry, who was in before the committee yesterday?
It was the Palestinian ambassador to Ireland, Dr. Hikmat Ajjuri. His presentation was sobering and worrying in terms of the lack of progress. The United States is focused on the presidential election and it is unlikely that there will be any real input by it in the near future. A welcome joint statement was made at the European Council recently on the range of challenges, focusing in particular on the issue of settlements, which is the core issue that is blocking progress. What emerged from yesterday's presentation by the Palestinian ambassador is the concern he put to us, and that was put to me by a range of NGOs based in Palestine, namely, that there would be a third intifada. There is growing and alarming discontent among young Palestinians at the failure of the moderate leadership to make progress towards a resolution. They are looking at the Arab Spring and what is happening in Syria, Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Bahrain and there is no doubt that their time will come. There is a critical role for this country to play, be it during the Cypriot Presidency in the next six months or during this country's Presidency. The European Union must urgently intervene and take leadership of the crisis because it is clear that the United States is not going to do so in the short term. It is an opportunity for Europe and Catherine Ashton to assert the role and collective position of the European Union. Those countries are our neighbours. There are obvious geopolitical interests in terms of North Africa and the Arab Spring. If we can resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict it could unravel a period of goodwill in the Arab and Islamic world in terms of the difficulties we have had historically. I would like to hear about the Minister of State's vision for this country's Presidency and what we intend to do in that regard.
I am pleased to hear that the Minister of State has been in the Balkans recently as she flagged the matter with us. Previously, I raised the issue of Republika Srpska and the concerns that the law that is being developed in its courts is directly challenging the state judiciary, which is the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council. The concern is shared by the European Commission and it has been articulated on a number of occasions. As Minister of State with responsibility for European Affairs, did she have a chance to discuss the unacceptability of such matters? I do not need to remind her about the awful history we will hear about next week when the distinguished journalist, Ed Vulliamy, is before the committee to give us his analysis of the current state of affairs in Bosnia. He famously reported on the devastating impact of the genocide, brutality and horror that was visited upon the poor people there. There is a critical need to bed down respect for international law and the protection of human rights. What is the state of play in that regard and how did the Minister of State get on during her visit?
My final questions have come from some of the NGOs and they relate to this country's role in the Presidency. We will hold a high level event on hunger. We have led on hunger. The Tánaiste in particular has been working with the Secretary of State in the United States. However, what is the position with climate change? How do we view sustainable development goals? Hunger and climate change are interconnected. Will we do something on climate change when we have the Presidency? This is a key issue, in particular for Africa.
What role can this country play in terms of the millennium development goals and helping the world's poorest people beyond 2015? Are high level events planned to examine the implementation of the millennium development goals and sustainable development goals? What is the Department's vision in that regard in the context of the Presidency?
My final question relates to the European consensus and the response to humanitarian aid and humanitarian principles. The Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade had a briefing from an Irish NGO, and correspondence from other NGOs, on the situation in South Sudan and South Kordofan. There is genuine concern at the slow response of the international community. How do we co-ordinate a faster response? There is difficulty in getting humanitarian access to those regions and get the agreement and facilitation of the Sudanese Government. What is the Minister of State's big picture vision? This country's legacy is significant. We were one of the drivers of the non-proliferation treaty. We were a driver of the League of Nations. We have led in terms of human rights issues globally. We are a world leader in overseas aid. No country has given more per capita to overseas aid. For a small country we have a considerable legacy. What will be our leadership vision in terms of all of those key issues when we have the Presidency for those six months? How do we intend to persuade our European partners to take leadership of those crises in North Africa, the Middle East and on other global issues?
I thank the Minister of State for her contribution. It is timely to have an opportunity to reflect on four decades of our membership of the European Union on the 40th anniversary by holding the Presidency. I have recently been running a series of meetings around the Munster constituency on CAP reform because the amendments were due to be submitted this week. One of the great difficulties is not knowing the actual budget because, when one is talking about cuts, one needs to know their extent. Not knowing has created a difficulty.
I very much welcome the fact that we will have a dedicated website as a portal of information. It will be very helpful.
The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, ACTA has been very much a subject of the committee of which I am a member, the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection. In Strasbourg last week, a large majority voted against it. It has been referred to the European Court of Justice and we await the outcome. This has been an issue.
The professional qualification directive was mentioned. It is one of the main subjects of the committee on which I serve. It is important that this committee be aware of the directives coming down the track on which there will be a vote during the term of the Presidency. If this committee is aware of these, it might be opportune for MEPs to give a small presentation and written resumé to the members of this committee on the main European Parliament committees on which they, the MEPs, serve. Thus, there would be more joined-up thinking. When the ACTA was being considered, we had a huge campaign and there were many meetings. As the Minister of State is well aware, since she is regularly in Brussels and Strasbourg, meetings last all day. With 27 member states, there are many representatives who want to have an input. It would be helpful if there were more interaction between MEPs and this committee in particular.
I have no questions because questions I might have asked have already been addressed.
I do not want to be seen to be putting a damper on the exuberant views on the benefits of the Presidency over the coming months. Twice in her opening remarks, the Minister of State mentioned greater growth and job creation across Europe. Many people across Europe, particularly Government parties, talk about shaping the future of Europe, but we are talking about it in a Europe that is very much divided, with millions of citizens unemployed throughout. Opinion is very much divided among citizens on the benefits of the Union in the first instance. I believe in a united Europe and do not have a problem with that. If one listens to the very many citizens across Europe, particularly the millions who find themselves disenfranchised and abandoned by the Union and particular parties, one realises the best way forward is surely not that of Mr. Mario Draghi, which would involve the whole of Europe facing further austerity whether it likes it or not. That, in itself, would not stimulate growth and would certainly not create jobs. This has been stated by very many political observers and economists across Europe.
I hope emphasis will be placed on jobs and growth and that we will do all in our power to make our views in this regard known right across Europe. I do not want to be ideological but believe firmly that austerity has not worked across the Union. It is responsible for politics having gone wrong and citizens not wanting to know what the Union is about any more. It is responsible for their not even believing in the European mission. With the Presidency, we have an opportunity to state clearly that jobs and growth present the way forward. I agree with the Minister of State in this regard but I contend it is a question of how we grow economies across Europe. If the Irish economy were to grow while the Greek, Spanish and Italian economies were to falter, it would certainly not benefit us. This is why I believe in a united Europe and that our way forward is within the European Union. However, we must find some method of tackling the considerable jobs crisis across Europe.
I concur with my colleague on the Middle East. We should not underestimate the potential for the reignition of the conflict in the region. I have been there on a number of occasions. Like my colleague in Sinn Féin, I have met on a number of occasions delegations of Palestinians. I am a friend of the Palestinians. The delegates I met face very grave difficulty at present, both in the West Bank and Gaza, in that they are now considered too moderate by swathes of people in the area who seem to want back Hamas or other such groups. This is solely attributable to the intransigence of the Israeli Government, which almost continuously refuses to engage in meaningful negotiation with the Palestinians. It continues to break UN and EU resolutions on a grand scale. We really have a part to play.
If the crisis in the Middle East is to reignite, it could do irreparable damage to our economy and the renewed growth of the Union over a period of ten to 15 years. I urge the Minister of State not to underestimate the seriousness of circumstances in Gaza and the West Bank. I have met youth groups and other groups that are facing absolute deprivation. The youths have no hope of work and find themselves interned. While the Minister of State has spoken about human rights, which I acknowledge, she should take the opportunity to make our views known to both the Americans and Israelis. If we do not address how people are being treated in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, the conflict will most certainly reignite. If there is a reignition, I fear that the very many moderates among the Palestinians will be removed from power, which I know from meeting people would have the potential to do irreparable damage to the European economy.
I wish the Minister of State well. This is a very difficult time for her and this will be a difficult time for Ireland. I hope the Minister of State will take on board the many sensible recommendations made by members. We look forward to hearing from her again.
I welcome the Minister of State, her officials, the ambassadorial staff and press to our meeting. I wish the Minister of State success under Ireland's Presidency. I am one of the few in the House who were Members during the Presidency in 1990. It was a very successful Presidency and the reunification of Germany took place during our watch.
It is vital that Ireland be seen to be open for business. It is only in this way that the Presidency can be very successful. I know it will be successful. As members know, many officials have been seconded to other countries during their Presidencies owing to the success of ours. While that is not being modest about it, it must be stated we had a certain technique and style.
The 40th anniversary of Ireland's membership of the European Union will fall during our Presidency. This is significant and ought to be marked by significant events around 1 January 2013. I suggest that there be a massive concert in Dublin or other cities so Ireland can display itself as holder of the Presidency for its six-month term. There will be 28 member states at the end of that period.
It will be 2027 or 2028 when we next assume the Presidency. Therefore, our Presidency presents a unique opportunity. Very few current Members of the Oireachtas will be Members when Ireland next holds the Presidency; that is a fact and Members may check the records to confirm the trend. This is why a special effort must be made and why there should be excitement. At all our airports, references to Ireland's Presidency should be displayed. When one arrives in Dublin from the airport, or from Cork or Limerick, for example, one should see advertisements for our Presidency. Schools and all Government buildings should fly the EU flag during the Presidency. It should be clear and no one should be in any doubt that Ireland holds the Presidency of the European Union for the period. I recall that on the first day of the Presidency of 1990 the European Commission met in Dublin to indicate this was where the Presidency resided. While that might be costly, it is extremely important to put down a marker and that Ireland be perceived to be leading the European Union for this time. I make these points on the overall effect Ireland can have from a logistical perspective because we can show we are open for business and that Ireland is a highly business-oriented country. During the aforementioned Presidency of 1990 I was a Minister of State with responsibility for trade and the Government pushed for trade for our companies. It led trade missions because it held the Presidency of the European Union. Moreover, the utilisation of the President of Ireland, the Taoiseach and all other Ministers will be vital because the Presidency offers an opening that will not appear again to go to America, the Middle East, China and elsewhere in that role. The point is we should create such excitement in the Presidency and use it to the best of our ability. In addition, as a member of the Council of Europe, I invite the Minister of State, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Eamon Gilmore, or the Taoiseach to address that body during Ireland's Presidency. For example, there will be an opportunity to address the General Assembly of the Council of Europe next April and so doing again would provide Ireland with another platform on which to display what it is about.
As for policy issues, it is vital for Ireland to use the Presidency to create, maintain and develop jobs, create and develop trade and showcase Ireland. Moreover, the Minister of State's Department should encourage all multinational companies operating in Ireland to hold their board meetings here during the Presidency. The Department should get them involved and switched on to the opportunities afforded by the Presidency to enhance their own status and position in Ireland throughout the world.
On the other issues, I concur with my colleagues that the Government faces serious and pressing political issues. The Government has no idea as to what may arise during the Presidency and will be reacting to other issues. It is absolutely vital for Ireland to have a particular role in respect of the Middle East. Ireland was the first country that recognised the right of Palestinians to self-determination. Brian Lenihan was Minister for Foreign Affairs at the time and Ireland has a proud record in this regard. Moreover, we are doing this not for self-interest but in the interests of a small oppressed nation, namely, Palestine. As my colleagues mentioned, I hope the Government will push the issue. In addition, even though Cyprus holds the Presidency at present, Ireland can use its influence in dealing with the division of that beautiful country and the fact that Famagusta is the only ghost city in Europe. This beautiful uninhabited city is divided between Turks and Cypriots and a no-go zone.
As these all are issues in which Ireland can play an important role, I wish the Minister of State well on a personal basis. I also thank her for sharing information through discussing these issues in the Seanad and before the joint committee which should have an important and active role in working with her and the Government in this regard. Speaking on behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party, she will have its full co-operation in respect of anything it can do as a party to assist her in her work. She will be more than welcome to call on us.
I welcome the Minister of State and thank her for the time she has given to the joint committee. As all of the other members have suggested, this is a wonderful opportunity for Ireland to give leadership on key issues affecting both its own citizens and the citizens of Europe. While I appreciate I was absent from the earlier part of the meeting owing to Seanad business and other meetings, I wish to ascertain how this will be organised. Will the Presidency be organised by themes and how can one ensure certain items or themes will be on the agenda? Obviously, the Common Agricultural Policy will be on the agenda, but as members, including me, have indicated previously, youth unemployment must also be on it. Does the Government have plans to fit it in? There are some good models across Europe and globally such as in New Zealand and Denmark where the issue of youth employment is being handled well.
I note that in her paper of last April the Minister of State also spoke about a healthier Europe. I refer to one nice initiative about which I have written to the secretariat of the joint committee. Some 711 colleges in the United States have smoke-free campuses, but I am unsure whether there is any such campus in Europe. This is an initiative in which there is much interest and on which much could be achieved. As the compelling evidence on damage to health from smoking is known, as is the future cost to the health service, something like this initiative should be included as an agenda item.
In particular, consideration should be given to how one can manage budgets and cuts, while maintaining priorities and standards, for example, in education, across Europe. All member states are in a period in which they must cut back and much reform is needed, but one must ensure quality is protected to protect and provide for our futures, as education is a driver of growth. Will there be an opportunity for those who wish to make an input to sessions during the Presidency? There is sufficient time in which to carry out decent research on some of these themes that are good for both Ireland and the European Union and I am keen to ascertain whether there are such opportunities.
I agree with other members' comments on the need for relevant and high quality engagement by citizens. The European Citizens' Initiative came with the Lisbon treaty and while I acknowledge it has not yet been rolled out, are there plans to engage citizens throughout the European Presidency, be it through social media, Twitter and so on? This should be done to provide a means for citizens to access and have an inputs into sessions as they happen because that is the democratic piece which must be fleshed out to ensure Irish people do not always feel the European Union is remote from them. We are getting much closer to it because we have so many referendums, but nevertheless, there are many views on the subject. I am keen to learn how Ireland can genuinely influence the agenda in order that everyone truly participates and that we can make a difference. It is a wonderful opportunity for the country.
I have three questions to put the Minister of State. First, I endorse the question put to her by Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn on the structured dialogue between the European Commission and Bosnia-Herzegovina on the issues of how minorities are treated and the impartiality of the justice system. My second question pertains to the aftermath of the recent Heads of State and Government summit and the ECOFIN meeting that took place at the start of this week. In their aftermath the borrowing rates of Italy and Spain have remained at or near the levels they reached before the meetings took place. They are at levels that would make it very difficult for these large economies to borrow sustainably on the open markets. From the perspective of preparing for the Presidency, what is the Government's position in this regard? Third, again arising from the Heads of State and Government meeting, there has been a focus on the creation of what will resemble a banking union. Does the Government anticipate that Ireland will have a role to play in developing the framework during the Presidency? I thank the Minister of State for taking all of the questions posed by the joint committee.
I thank the Vice Chairman and members. I could be here until after lunch, as many issues have been raised.
On the question relating to the Lisbon treaty and how it affects the Presidency, perhaps I should have included this point in my opening remarks because there have been changes. The Presidency is an entirely different beast from what it was and is much more challenging. The perception might be that it has almost been sidelined because of the creation of the office of President of the European Council, currently held by President Van Rompuy, and his secretariat, as well as the new role of High Representative Catherine Ashton who now chairs the Foreign Affairs Council and that of her new secretariat and the European External Action Service. Obviously, this represents significant change and perhaps it reduces somewhat the visibility of the Presidency in member states because one no longer has the big summit that previously would have taken place, as all meetings now take place in Brussels. On the other hand, one could argue that the effective work of the Presidency is much greater because, for example, of the need for co-decision with the European Parliament. That constitutes an important and democratic shift, albeit one that still is bedding down. What we have seen is that the EU presidencies which worked closely and developed good links with the European Parliament and understood the dynamics involved, have run the best presidencies since the Lisbon treaty changes and, therefore, there is a big potential. I will be heading up our work in the European Parliament and to this end I will be in Strasbourg for every plenary session and Brussels for lots of committee sessions. Our Ministers will be expected to be extremely well briefed to attend committee meetings when necessary in the European Parliament, as well as being able to answer questions, interact with MEPs and demonstrate a significant level of expertise. All our success in almost every aspect of the legislative agenda will depend on being able to get things through the parliament. It is an interesting new dynamic.
As I mentioned, the European Council meetings will not be chaired by the Taoiseach, they will be chaired by President Van Rompuy. Similarly, the Foreign Affairs Council meetings will not be chaired by the Tánaiste but by Catherine Ashton. There is of course still a very significant role both for the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste in terms of representing Ireland abroad, including in other EU member states. The Taoiseach intends to embark on a significant number of bilateral visits to other member states in advance of and during the Presidency. I have already spoken to him about that. By the end of December, I will have visited every member state and every candidate country. That is significant because I am not aware of any other Presidency which managed to do that, although I could be wrong. The visibility for Ireland is important that regard.
Nine of the informal EU ministerial meetings that will take place in Dublin will be chaired by Irish Ministers. All the Council formations will be chaired by Irish Ministers throughout our Presidency, while high level official working groups will be chaired by Irish officials. The quality of the Presidency will be judged on how those meetings are chaired and followed up. Obviously, there will be behind-the-scenes negotiations but we have always excelled as regards the competency of our people. We have the potential to have a bigger impact during this Presidency than ever before, which is not to take away from the enormous impact we have managed to have in all our previous six presidencies.
There will certainly be an all-Ireland dimension. We are looking at some events in Northern Ireland and members of the secretariat in the Northern Ireland Assembly are being seconded to our permanent representation in Brussels. We have good co-operation between the permanent representation in Brussels and the Northern Ireland Assembly's representation. Ministers will invite their Northern Ireland counterparts to attend all of our informal Council formations.
I was asked about the opportunity to exploit the potential of the Project Bond initiatives, but there is already constant co-operation between Departments on those issues. There will be an informal meeting on energy and technology here in Dublin to which our Northern Ireland counterparts will be invited.
From a cultural viewpoint there will also be an opportunity to co-operate with Northern Ireland. All the semi-State bodies are involved, including tourism organisations and Enterprise Ireland, so we will be examining all possible opportunities to co-operate with our colleagues in the North. There will be as full an all-Ireland dimension as is possible, which is important because it is mutually beneficial.
As regards the Arab Spring and the Middle East generally, there has been a significant shift. Catherine Ashton is the EU's high representative on foreign affairs and we speak with one voice on these issues at European level. There is a propensity to invite the foreign Minister from the Presidency country to deputise for Ms Ashton at various events, but it is very much a question of co-ordinating diaries. Our position on the Middle East and human rights has always been abundantly clear. We will continue to promote respect for human rights and democracy-building as core elements of our foreign policy and the values of the EU, which are completely in sync.
I do not want to pre-empt anything but the Tánaiste is appearing before the Committee on Foreign Affairs next week in advance of the Foreign Affairs Council. I will also attend the Foreign Affairs Council, but Members of the Oireachtas will have an opportunity to explore some of these issues in more depth with the Tánaiste at next week's meeting. Suffice it to say that we have been promoting, and will continue to promote, a rigorous EU position in respect of Palestine. That has been our position all along. Catherine Ashton has really stepped up to the plate and the EU is now trying to fill a vacuum that has been created by the US, as was rightly pointed out earlier. We discussed this matter at a previous committee meeting, but we are certainly determined in this regard.
In respect of North Africa and the Arab Spring, there has been significant progress. We have seen various elections along with constitutional changes. Nonetheless there is a lot of work to be done and Syria is likely to continue to be of major concern. The Tánaiste has been participating in various international fora, trying to work with partners under the Annan plan to find a solution, although it is not easy. It is a very complex situation and, given the disunity within the UN Security Council, it is hard to see an easy way forward but we will continue to persist.
It is important to note that Ireland is a candidate for the UN Human Rights Council, elections for which will take place in the autumn. We pride ourselves on our strong record in promoting human rights. If we are successful in that election it will also bolster our capacity in the United Nations forum and we may be in a position to further that agenda in the context of the EU Presidency.
I was asked whether I communicated the need to respect human rights and the rule of law as regards the issue of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Republika Srpska. That is the message I went there with and of course I communicated it everywhere I went, to all sides and all communities. Although it is easy to be negative about Bosnia-Herzegovina, always focusing on the problems and never looking at the positives, I am encouraged. The first positive development was the high-level dialogue that took place in Brussels last week where all representatives from the political parties came together from the three communities. They have reached agreement on a roadmap, as well as agreeing to submit an application by the end of the year to join the EU. That is a significant development. There is a high bar and they must take significant steps over the next two or three months.
There was a certain amount of cynicism about it even when I visited Mostar and Sarajevo. One positive development, however, is that they are holding a meeting next week in Banja Luka, which was not anticipated, between all the party leaders from all sides to progress the agreement made in Brussels last week. While many people thought it was great that we had an agreement, they also thought that nobody would progress it because local elections were coming up in October. In fact, however, they are coming together of their own volition to work on it, which is a really positive step.
I am not in any sense turning a blind eye to a lot of the violations, there is a momentum there which, if it develops and is built upon in the coming weeks and months, could bring about a breakthrough in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
I was asked if we were going to do something major on the climate change agenda. The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government has identified a series of priorities, with climate change being very much to the forefront. During Ireland's EU Presidency, there will be a high-level event organised in conjunction with Mary Robinson's foundation. She is a significant global figure who, thankfully, is of Irish origin and we can be very proud of that. It is absolutely fitting that Ireland, in its EU Presidency role, should join with her organisation's expertise and network of contacts to have a high-level event. That will happen and it will be very exciting.
I will circulate a briefing note to all members of the joint committee with some of these key points, so that they can analyse them a bit more. It would be useful to do so. There are many matters that I have not touched on today that I can circulate further information on later.
I agree with Ms Phil Prendergast, MEP, that it is difficult to identify a policy agenda with regard to reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, without a figure. We have been having this phoney war at European level for some time. The European Parliament will adopt its own approach to the budget. It is not really for me to advise the Parliament on how to approach it. There are a very clever bunch of negotiators representing the European Parliament who attend every General Affairs Council and are briefed before and after the meetings. I have met with all of them and will meet them again when I am back in Strasbourg in the autumn. It is about having that line of communication open. From our point of view during the Presidency, it is for the Parliament and each respective committee to come up with its own proposals on how it wants to see policies emerge. I encourage the Parliament to keep doing that. Just because we do not have a figure, I would say the Parliament is well capable of coming forward with its own figures.
The Presidency website will be important too and much work is going into it. We will have to wait and see what comes out of the European Court of Justice on ACTA, the anti-counterfeiting trade agreement. There have been protests all over Europe about the agreement with significant concerns raised, so we will have to wait and see. On the point about interaction between MEPs and this committee, it is an ongoing struggle for both to find their own suitable arrangements. I always contended having meetings on a Friday might be the way forward.
I agree with Deputy Halligan on a divided Europe and negative public opinion towards the Union. One would have to be living with one's head in the sand not to know there is a major challenge with public opinion in the Union. Much work has to be done on this. During the Presidency, we will run a major information programme across the country to involve communities at grassroots level in the Presidency. It will also be the European year of the citizen and we will be looking for plenty of opportunities to highlight and showcase this across the Union.
On the Deputy's question on austerity, my straightforward view is that we cannot continue to spend money we do not have. I do not like austerity any more than anyone else. However, I do not believe one can have growth if deficits are being run up while accumulating enormous debt levels. If we want to realign the European economy, we must reduce spending. We have to spend much more intelligently and have the right activation programmes in place to prevent people becoming long-term unemployed. We must avoid people falling into long-term unemployment through internships, activation schemes, education, training, reskilling and upskilling. The Government is trying to do it here with limited resources. There are significant programmes across the European Union which are increasing in number. This will be a major priority for us during our Presidency.
I agree with Senator Leyden that we can be very proud of our 1990 and other EU Presidency terms. We are developing plans for marking the 40th anniversary of our accession to the Union. There will be an event on New Year's Eve to mark the beginning of the Presidency and celebrate 40 years of membership. It will also probably tie in with the Gathering 2013. We are working hard on branding and there are talks with the Dublin Airport Authority and other airports on this. We are also talking with Dublin City Council about having European flags along the Liffey and Government buildings will fly European flags. I hope members will come forward with other ideas. We want to have it visible and showcase Europe in Ireland as well as Ireland and Europe to the world.
I also agree with the point on trade missions. The further one goes away from Europe, the more it is appreciated. I was in Brunei and Singapore recently where people barely knew who we are. I hate to say it but we have a big opinion of ourselves. When one goes to the other side of the world, not everyone knows who we are. When one says Ireland is taking over the European Union Presidency, they then say that it is important. There is a big opportunity for us to leverage this across the globe. I certainly intend to do that. There are many trade missions in the pipeline but we will focus on them as much as we can. It must be borne in mind that all Ministers will have significant responsibilities during the Presidency.
The Government could utilise Oireachtas Members a bit more too.
Absolutely, we will explore all opportunities.
We will ask Senator Leyden in private session if he has anything in mind.
On Senator Healy Eames's questions, the Presidency programme will be organised on themes. The health committee will go through the priorities in this area for the Presidency. I am not going to speak for the Minister for Health on the issue of smoke-free campuses. He has already initiated proposals for smoking in open-air spaces.
The country specific reviews of the European semester are all about managing cuts while maintaining standards. This goes back to spending wisely and smartly. We will have a significant role in this in the Presidency. We will be responsible for implementing it but will not be subject to it because we are a programme country. We have our own requirements for smart spending which is already happening under the troika. We will not come into the semester process ourselves until we end being a programme country. We can ask the European Union to put in place standards but if they are not implemented then there is no point.
We will be engaging with citizens on Twitter, Facebook and other social media. The Presidency website will go live in November. As we did during the recent referendum, we will have tailored and specific social media sites. This is a No. 1 priority.
Deputy Donohoe stated the borrowing rates of Italy and Spain have remained at or near the levels they reached before several European meetings took place. I am not sure whether he was referring to the eurogroup or the European Council meeting. It does not matter as the bottom line is that the markets have lost faith and confidence in our ability to implement decisions. Decisions no longer have a major impact until there are signs of actual action. The markets are looking to see what will happen in September and October. Will the eurogroup and the European Council implement decisions already taken? I believe they will as we have not seen such clarity as we have seen over the past ten days. However, the days of nice words and solemn agreements are over because people do not believe them and want to see concrete action.
On the question of a banking union, a banking oversight authority is meant to be in place at the end of the year. This is an ambitious proposal given the various stages that need to be reached to get to such a point. Even if we do, there is a whole range of elements of a banking union that will have to be progressed. We were probably the first member state to propose banking union. Therefore, we have a clear interest in driving it forward and ensuring we deliver on it. The Minister for Finance will be keen to see progress on that issue.
As always the Minister of State has given extensive answers.
There will be a summit on the millennium development goals in September 2013. The Minister of State said she would send us a list of events. What is the approach of the Irish Presidency leading into that summit? European Consensus on Humanitarian Aid will have a new action plan in place. I presume the Presidency will be working towards that action plan towards the end of 2013. I would ask the Minister of State to come back to me on those issues.
I thank the Minister of State for her comprehensive answers.
