10 Feb 2015, 17:48
The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade will meet tomorrow afternoon with the Latvian Ambassador to Ireland HE Gints Apals to discuss his country’s priorities for its forthcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
10 February 2015
The meeting tomorrow will have a particular focus on the Presidency’s approach to dealing with issues such as global terrorism, the Ukraine crisis, EU-US trade negotiations and global development.
Latvia assumed the rotating six month presidency from Italy on 1 January. The Latvian Presidency will focus on the three overarching priorities of a Competitive Europe, Digital Europe and Engaged Europe.
Committee Vice-Chairman Bernard Durkan TD says: “On behalf of this Committee, I wish Latvia well in delivering on an ambitious programme for the next six months. The Latvians have prioritised economic growth and job creation as the main goal.
“As a Committee, we will be particularly interested in engaging with Ambassador Apals on aspects of the Presidency which focus on advancing the EU’s role in the wider world. The programme includes commitments to enhance relations with Eastern and Southern neighbours, progress negotiations with the US on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, and also deals with external security threats. We look forward to engaging with Ambassador Apals on these priorities in detail at tomorrow's meeting.”
This meeting takes place tomorrow Wednesday 11 February in Committee Room 1, LH 2000, commencing at 2:30 pm.
Committee proceedings can be followed live here.
Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the move, through the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.
ENDS/
Media enquiries to:
Paul Hand,
Communications Unit,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
paul.hand@oireachtas.ie
Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade
Deputies:
Pat Breen, Fine Gael (Chairman)
Eric Byrne, Labour
Bernard Durkan, Fine Gael (Vice-Chairman)
Seán Crowe, Sinn Féin
Olivia Mitchell, Fine Gael
Dan Neville, Fine Gael
Ruairi Quinn, Labour
Brendan Smith, Fianna Fáil
Maureen O’Sullivan, Independent
Senators:
Mark Daly, Fianna Fáil
Lorraine Higgins, Labour
Michael Mullins, Fine Gael
David Norris, Independent
Jim Walsh, Fianna Fáil