Taoiseach travels to Strasbourg to outline Ireland's priorities for EU presidency

It is expected that Micheál Martin will focus on Ireland's three priorities for its EU presidency: Competitiveness, values, and security

Taoiseach Micheál Martin at the opening ceremony of Cork Week at the Royal Cork Yacht Club in Crosshaven. Photo: Darragh Kane

Taoiseach Micheál Martin will travel to Strasbourg on Tuesday to outline Ireland’s priorities for its presidency of the EU to the European Parliament.

Mr Martin will address a plenary sitting of the parliament and will also hold meetings with its president, Roberta Metsola. It is expected that Mr Martin will focus on Ireland's three priorities for its EU presidency: Competitiveness, values, and security.

Following Mr Martin's speech, political group leaders and MEPs will be permitted to respond. The Taoiseach is also due to meet with a number of Irish MEPs, alongside Irish officials who work within the European Parliament.

In a statement ahead of his visit, the Taoiseach said he was delighted to visit Strasbourg.

"I look forward to presenting the Irish EU presidency priorities, which will focus on enhancing the competitiveness of our economy, safeguarding the values of our union at home and abroad, and providing for the security of our citizens," Mr Martin said.

"It is essential that we work closely with our European partners and make our presidency a truly collaborative effort between member states, the European Parliament, and the European Commission."

On competitiveness, Mr Martin previously said there would be a focus on simplification, alongside a further integration of the single market, "an ambitious trade policy agenda", and strengthening the EU's AI and cloud computing capacity.

On security, the Taoiseach said Ireland wanted to address challenges caused by Russia's war in Ukraine, conflicts in the Middle East, and how "new forms of warfare present serious challenges”.

The presidency programme, published last month, states that support for Ukraine will be a “defining priority” of Ireland’s EU presidency.

On values, the Government has said it will focus on tackling disinformation, online criminality, and child safety online.

Mr Martin had signalled that Ireland wants to see progress made towards a social media ban for under-16s across the EU. However, he has stopped short of guaranteeing it could be achieved during Ireland’s six-month presidency.

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Ireland's EU presidency formally began last Wednesday, taking over from Cyprus, with a series of meetings being held in Dublin and Cork. Among the visitors for the opening day of the presidency was Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

It was followed on Friday by a visit of the European Commission to Cork, with meetings between the College of Commissioners and the Irish Cabinet in UCC.

Throughout the six months of Ireland's presidency, more than 270 meetings are due to take place.

• Tadgh McNally is reporting from Strasbourg as a political reporter for the Irish Examiner