Cabinet Committees
Dail Éireann — 2026-01-13
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Micheál Martin (FF), Cork South-Central

You basked in it nonetheless as you walked in.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 15, inclusive, together.
The Programme for Government: Securing Ireland's Future, recognises the importance of Cabinet committees to the policy development and oversight work of Government. The Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs was established by the Government on 18 February 2025. It meets quarterly in advance of regular European Council meetings and as required. Its role is to oversee the implementation of programme for Government commitments in relation to the European Union, including preparation for Ireland's Presidency in the second half of this year and international issues.
The Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs last met on 8 December in advance of the meeting of the European Council on 18 December. Matters discussed included the agenda for the December Council meeting and plans for Ireland's Presidency of the Council of Ministers in 2026.
I attended the European Council meeting in Brussels on Thursday, 18 December. On 17 December, I attended the European Union's western Balkans summit which also took place in Brussels. Leaders discussed Ukraine, specifically future financing; the next multi-annual financial framework; European security and defence; enlargement and reforms; migration; geoeconomics; and competitiveness. Other items included the pact for the Mediterranean, the fight against antisemitism, racism and xenophobia, and the fight against disinformation.
As the House will be aware, I also had the opportunity to discuss issues on the agenda of the European Council with its President, António Costa, during his visit to Dublin on 9 December. We looked ahead to Ireland's Presidency of the EU in the second half of this year and I briefed President Costa on our preparations. Accelerating our work to secure the European Union's future competitiveness as well as advancing negotiations on the Union's next seven-year budget will be important priorities for Ireland's Presidency. The date for the next meeting of the Cabinet committee has not yet been scheduled.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-01-13/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:30+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-01-13