A Cheann Comhairle,
At the outset, I want to express my deep sympathy to the victims of the horrific bomb attacks that took place in Brussels this morning. These acts were utterly indiscriminate and I condemn them in the strongest possible terms - as I also condemn the attacks in Mali last night. Those who seek to use death and violence in this way must be confronted and will be defeated. Reports are still coming in from Brussels and our Embassy there is seeking to establish further details. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is monitoring the situation carefully and has activated its incident centre to deal with queries. The relevant contact details have been made available to the media and the public. Obviously our thoughts are with the people of Brussels and of course particularly the many Irish citizens living and working there, including Irish public servants.
A Cheann Comhairle,
The European Council has met twice recently – on 18 and 19 February, and on 17 and 18 March - and there have also been two EU Summits with the Turkish Prime Minister, Ahmet Davutoðlu (DA-VO-TOG-LU) - both in March.
I would like to focus my remarks today on the two main areas addressed by these meetings, the EU-UK relationship and the recent discussions with Turkey in relation to the migration crisis.
I will also touch on discussion of important economic issues.
I have asked Minister Murphy in his wrap-up statement to outline broader developments in relation to migration that have been discussed at these European Council meetings, as well as some other issues addressed last week.
I would note that the European Council on 18 March also adopted conclusions on Climate and Energy, recalling the need to reinforce energy security and to sign and ratify the Paris Agreement as soon as possible, as well as on agriculture and on the steel sector. The European Council in February also adopted conclusions on Syria and Libya.
The Council Conclusions agreed in February and in March have been laid before the House.
EU/UK
A Cheann Comhairle,
I would like to first address an issue of great strategic relevance to Ireland - that is, the UK’s relationship with the European Union.
This is also of great international interest, and I was pleased to have the opportunity to update President Obama on the latest developments when I met with him in the White House on 15 March.
As I have stated many times, Ireland’s approach to EU negotiations on this issue, which culminated in the ‘New Settlement’ deal last month, was consistently constructive and pragmatic. We have always been clear that we believe the UK’s continued membership of the European Union is in our best interests, and in the interests of the EU as a whole.
Discussions at the February meeting of the European Council were lengthy and detailed, as there were many complex and sensitive issues to be addressed. The objective was to reach an agreement which allowed Prime Minister Cameron to launch his campaign for the UK to remain in the Union while also being acceptable to EU partners. In my view, the agreement achieved these aims.
In my own intervention at the European Council, I acknowledged the work of Presidents Tusk and Juncker and their teams in preparing a balanced and detailed text for discussion. I outlined the importance of the issue for Ireland and for the Union as a whole. I emphasised the wider benefits to us all of some of the reforms under discussion, as well as of the UK’s continued membership of our Union, and I urged partners to support Prime Minister Cameron in seeking to secure agreement.
The Decision of Heads of State and Government that emerged on 19 February is a binding agreement under international law and, as such, it was registered with the United Nations in New York on 24 February. Some of the measures will be implemented by amending existing EU Regulations while others, for example those in relation to economic governance and sovereignty, will be incorporated to the EU treaties whenever the treaties are next being amended.
The measures agreed were in four key areas, namely:
(1) Economic governance
(2) Competitiveness
(3) Sovereignty, and
(4) Social benefits
On economic governance, principles were agreed to ensure a balanced and equitable relationship between the Eurozone and non-Eurozone Member States, such as the UK. Ireland’s position, while supporting this objective, was also to ensure that the euro area has the capacity to do what is necessary to ensure financial stability and economic growth. However it must also act in full respect of the Single Market and of the integrity of the Union as a whole, and without prejudice to the interests of other Member States. We were satisfied that the agreement delivers on these important points.
Under the competitiveness heading, it was clear from the outset that Ireland shared the UK’s enthusiasm for reform in this area. The agreement commits the EU to further strengthening the Internal Market - including the Digital Single Market, where Ireland has been particularly active. The agreement also contains new mechanisms and commitments to review and as far as possible reduce regulatory requirements; and to accelerate work on international trade agreements, including TTIP.
On sovereignty, the language agreed regarding ‘ever closer union’ struck a careful balance between the British requirement that it be clear that it was not committed to further integration and the importance that many partners attach to this integration. There was also welcome agreement on a ‘red card’ procedure, which enhances the role of National Parliaments.
Measures to prevent abuse of free movement were also agreed.
Finally, on social benefits, after lengthy negotiations, we reached agreement in two key areas: child benefit and in-work benefits.
On child benefit, our Programme for Government already contained a commitment to modifying this to reflect the cost of living in the Member State where a child resides; so Ireland was supportive of the concept of indexation. The measure, which will be open for any Member State to implement, will apply in respect of the children of all new EU workers, and of existing EU workers after a four year period. From Ireland’s perspective, the question of whether we would seek to avail of this mechanism is for future Government decision, when the appropriate financial and administrative factors have been considered.
On labour migration, a safeguard mechanism was agreed that would allow access to in-work benefits to be limited for a total period of up to four years. The measure is designed to reduce the pull factor of the distinctive UK social welfare system and the intention is that it applies to the UK only, certainly at this stage. Like other partners, Ireland was insistent throughout the negotiations that any changes in this area not undermine fundamental principles such as freedom of movement or equal treatment. In this respect, the Decision was prepared in full consultation with the Council and Commission Legal Services and has been judged by them to be compatible with the Treaties.
Although it was not raised in the negotiations at EU level, the Government is aware of the possible implications of these changes for Irish workers in the UK. Let me assure the House that this matter has been raised with our British counterparts, including in my own discussions with PM Cameron. The UK administration is therefore well aware of our concerns and is sympathetic to them. The unique status of the Irish in Britain over very many years is fully recognised. This issue will have to be taken forward by the next Government as a detailed scheme is prepared.
Immediately after the European Council, the British Government announced that the referendum will take place on 23 June – three months and a day from now. As we are all aware, a very vigorous debate is under way. The outcome is of course in the hands of the UK electorate. However, I believe that it would be appropriate that efforts continue to ensure that the Irish perspective is presented to them. I hope that voters – including the Irish in Britain and the people of Northern Ireland - will be aware of our very close economic ties, of the importance of the EU to the development of Northern Ireland, and of the importance of the EU partnership between Ireland and Britain.
Migration: Engagement with Turkey
I now turn to the EU’s engagement with Turkey, which was the focus of the European Council on Thursday and Friday of last week.
These discussions were framed by the set of principles agreed at the previous meeting with the Turkish Prime Minister, on 7 March. In the interim, European Council President Tusk advanced work to elaborate the details of a potential agreement, to ensure that partners’ concerns were addressed and that the proposed deal was compatible with EU and international law.
The joint statement agreed commits Turkey to readmit from Greece all irregular migrants and to protect them in accordance with international standards; to tackle people smugglers; and to help prevent new migratory routes to the EU opening up. As from last Sunday, the new rules will apply to all new irregular migrants -and it is planned that their implementation will start in a matter of weeks.
For its part, the EU will resettle Syrians currently in Turkey on a “one-for-one” basis where other Syrians are returned from Greece. This is to be within the framework of commitments already made, in our case up to an overall ceiling of 4,000 people. Visa liberalisation for Turkish citizens travelling to the Schengen countries will be accelerated, as will preparations to open new EU accession negotiation chapters – but in both cases existing criteria will continue to apply. If the one-for-one scheme is working, the EU is also committed to deciding on further financial assistance for refugees in Turkey, in addition to the €3 billion already agreed.
We also agreed to work together to improve humanitarian conditions inside Syria so that safe areas might be established there.
The core intention of this agreement is to break the business model of the people smugglers who are profiting from the suffering of the vulnerable, and to stop migrants attempting the treacherous journey across the Aegean.
We know that this agreement alone will not resolve the crisis. It will not stop people leaving Syria and it will not prevent people from wanting to come to Europe. But it should help us to manage the flow of asylum seekers more effectively, more humanely and more fairly.
Critically, it should stop people getting into unsafe boats and risking their lives.
Implementation will be crucial. Both Greece and Turkey have to take important measures. The European Commission has already presented its first analysis of what is needed to help Greece deliver on the deal and is now actively engaging with Member States to clarify and respond to its needs for a large number of personnel with a range of expertise.
Ireland will make its own contribution to this collective effort and we are very urgently considering how best to do so.
The need to comply with international law was at the heart of our discussions. The legal advice of the EU institutions is that there is such compliance. That is also the view of the UN High Commission for Refugees, which has however emphasised the need to ensure that all commitments are met.
I should note that I used the opportunity of the Summit to tell Prime Minister Davutoglu about the concerns raised by the aid agency, Goal, in relation to the possible closure of the border crossing between Turkey and North-Western Syria at Bab Al-Hawa. I outlined the vital humanitarian aid which is transported across this border - to which Ireland is a very significant contributor - and said that, if it closes, peoples' lives might be endangered. The Prime Minister acknowledged these concerns and gave me his assurance that the Bab Al-Hawa crossing would not close.
The EU has also been clear that Turkey’s desire to progress towards EU membership cannot be realised without meeting all the standards and benchmarks that EU membership requires.
Of course, the agreement with Turkey is only one part of a multi-faceted response to the migration crisis, which has also included extensive cooperation with other regional partners in the Western Balkans and in Africa.
The European Union has engaged in serious efforts to develop a comprehensive response to the crisis, with many difficult discussions along the way. As mentioned, Minister Murphy will elaborate on these aspects. But I would like to stress that Ireland has made an important contribution to date including in relation to humanitarian assistance; the efforts of our naval services; our participation in resettlement; and our decision to voluntarily ‘opt in’ to the relocation measures.
European Semester: Jobs, Growth and Competitiveness
A Cheann Comhairle,
In February, the European Council agreed that economic policy should have threefold emphasis on re-launching investment, pursuing structural reforms to modernise European economies, and ensuring responsible public finances. In my view these remain the right priorities for supporting growth and jobs over the period ahead.
The discussion last week aimed at providing further guidance to Member States. In the run up to the European Council the Commission produced individual Country Reports and In-Depth Reviews on individual Member States.
The Irish Country Report was in general very positive, and underlines that there is a broad-based economic recovery under way. The issues, both economic and social, which it highlights for further action - such as housing and increased investment in infrastructure - are well-known to us all.
The European Council also committed to further implementation of all aspects of the Single Market. This includes delivering on the Commission's Single Market and Capital Markets Union Strategies but also, on a point which is key for Ireland and on our insistence, on the Digital Single Market. Ireland has strongly supported the further deepening of the Single Market and the Digital Single Market with a view to exploiting their untapped growth and productivity potential.
A Cheann Comhairle,
As I have outlined, these two meetings of the European Council addressed a diverse range of issues although the focus was very much on migration and the EU-UK issue. I look forward now to hearing Deputies’ statements.
Thank you.