Gerry Adams
Question:8. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach his plans for bilateral meetings with other Heads of State or Government in the period up to the end of June 2017. [15404/17]
View answerTuesday, 4 April 2017
Questions (8)
Oral answers (26 contributions)
I will meet the President of the Republic of Croatia, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovi, later this afternoon as part of her three-day state visit to Ireland. On Thursday, I will travel to Berlin to meet the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel. I will use the opportunity to participate in trade promotion events in Frankfurt and Berlin. On 29 April, I will attend the European Council meeting of 27 member states in Brussels, which will focus on the guidelines for the Article 50 negotiations on the UK's departure from the EU. As is usually the case, there will be opportunities for bilateral discussions with my EU counterparts on the margins of that meeting. These meetings and discussions are part of the Government's ongoing programme of engaging with the other 26 member states with a view to ensuring there is a good understanding of our unique concerns and particular priorities arising from the UK's decision to leave the EU. They will also allow for discussion of broader EU issues, including the Rome agenda for the future of Europe. Dates for possible meetings with other EU Heads of Government are being explored. In that regard, I have arranged a meeting with Prime Minister Rutte of the Netherlands and Prime Minister Rasmussen. I think it will take place on 24 April next.
There is no rush out the door.
He is not going anywhere.
These are the three countries that are most affected by Brexit. Confirmation of the meeting, which is not mentioned in the written reply, came through yesterday.
The question asked the Taoiseach to outline his plans up to the end of June 2017.
Yes.
He might like to take this opportunity to illuminate us further on whether he will be Taoiseach at that stage.
We discussed earlier the Council meeting of 29 April at which guidelines will be agreed. The Taoiseach and the Government have four weeks in which to speak to our EU partners. I believe it is necessary to amend the existing paragraph 11 guideline we discussed earlier. It is currently cast in a vague and unsatisfactory manner. We now need an assertive, clear and decisive position. Would the Taoiseach be prepared to propose an amendment to paragraph 11? Would he be prepared to discuss a possible amendment to paragraph 11 with the rest of us? Given that the Easter recess will begin at the end of next week, will the Government agree to hold a debate on these EU guidelines next week?
Recent references to Gibraltar have shown that Ireland is not the only country that is lobbying on the various issues at bilateral meetings. Our perspective from the outset of this process has been that the programme of top-level bilateral meetings does not seem to have been near what we would have expected. We felt that a tour like the tour of capitals that takes place before a country takes on the Presidency of the EU should have taken place to enable the Taoiseach to meet Prime Ministers across Europe in advance of the Brexit situation. That has not happened. I do not have the exact figure, but my understanding is that half of member states have yet to be visited to the requisite standard. This is unquestionably the most important issue in a generation. The trips that are made by various Ministers of State do not tend to get noticed above the radar to the same extent as the visit of a Prime Minister.
The Minister of State, Deputy Murphy, is doing his best.
He always does.
He is all over Europe.
Some Ministers of State might be noticed more than others. I will put it that way. I will not elaborate on which Murphy I am talking about.
There are two Murphys.
Will the Taoiseach tell us whether it is intended that every member state will receive a visit at Head of Government level before the most complex issues concerning Ireland arise? My second point relates to staffing. Last week, I asked the Taoiseach about the plans to address the clear lack of staff in key parts of our diplomatic service. In my view, the staffing level is not where it should be, given what is now required in terms of both British-Irish and European-Irish relations. We do not have enough people on the ground.
I think quality is more important than numbers in terms of staff. If we need to draft in extra people with specialist knowledge, we have the imprimatur of the House and we will do that. The three most affected countries here are Denmark, the Netherlands and Ireland. I am meeting the other two Heads of Government later this month. Prime Minister Rutte has to put together a Government following the recent Dutch general election. I had a meeting with Prime Minister Rajoy. I am meeting Chancellor Merkel this week. My intention is to get around to them all. I meet them at European Council meetings. I have met them twice in Malta in recent times. I intend to get around to them all to consult with them directly. They know about Ireland's position, as reflected in the European Parliament and indeed in the British Prime Minister's letter triggering Article 50. It received unanimous support in the European Council.
What about the amendment to paragraph 11?
Every time I see the two Murphys, they have been all over Europe.
Never mind the two Murphys.
The Ministers of State from Cork and Dublin are fighting the case for Ireland vigorously.
I also asked about the amendment to paragraph 11.
The Deputy is free to make any sort of proposition she wants to.
I asked whether the Taoiseach is open to amending paragraph 11.
I am open to hearing everybody's contribution and everybody's recommendation. We set out to have our priorities enshrined in the British document and the European Parliament document. They are referenced very clearly in both documents.
The European Parliament resolution is much better. We agree on that point.
They are specifically referenced in the document produced by the European Council, which is the deciding body at the end of the day, as the Deputy knows.
I know.