merrion street

Minister for European Affairs, Lucinda Creighton T.D., is in Strasbourg today (Wednesday) at the European Parliament plenary session. Minister Creighton is taking the opportunity to meet with key MEPs to update them on the Irish economic situation and brief them on Ireland's Presidency of the European Union in 2013. The Minister will also have extensive discussions Commissioner Maire Geoghegan Quinn and with the Irish MEPs.

Speaking in Strasbourg, Minister Creighton said: "It is very important that the Government continues to build relationships with the European Parliament. The Parliament is a key player and and we will be significantly intensifying our contacts with Parliament over coming months.

Since the Lisbon Treaty came into force the European Parliament has a much enhanced role in EU Presidencies and indeed all aspects of European legislation.

Therefore the Parliament will play an important role in the the issues that likely to feature heavily on our Presidency agenda, such as the Common Agricultural Policy, the Multi-Annual Financial Framework and Horizon 2020.