1. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his pre-EU Council meeting with the incoming European Commission President regarding the appointment of Mr. Phil Hogan as an EU Commissioner. [35213/14]

2. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the position regarding the appointment of Federica Mogherini as High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy; if he has spoken with her recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35628/14]

3. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the position regarding the appointment of Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk as the next President of the European Council; if he has spoken to or met him recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35630/14]

4. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Taoiseach if he has had contact with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk; and the position regarding his appointment as the next President of the European Council. [41696/14]

5. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he has spoken with Federica Mogherini since her appointment as EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy; if so, the issues that were discussed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44907/14]

6. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Taoiseach his views regarding the current leadership of the European Commission in view of the President of the Commission having executive responsibility for the taxation policies of the State of Luxembourg over the past 18 years and in view of recent disturbing revelations regarding the administration of those policies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44952/14]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 6, inclusive, together.

As I have said previously, most recently in my statement to this House on 5 November after the October European Council, I warmly welcome the appointment of the new European Commission, which took office on 1 November. This is a critical time of institutional change and renewal for the European Union. President Juncker and the 27 other new Commissioners were formally appointed by the European Council on 24 October. Earlier that week, they had been approved in a plenary vote of the European Parliament.

Ireland enjoyed a strong relationship with the previous Commission, most particularly in our shared work of addressing the challenges of promoting job creation and economic growth at home and across Europe. Ministers have already begun meeting formally with the relevant new Commissioners, and I look forward to strengthening Ireland's relationship with the college of Commissioners during the legislative term ahead.

After the Government's nomination of former Deputy, Phil Hogan, to be a member of the Commission, I wrote to and spoke with President Juncker about his possible portfolio. I was delighted that the former Minister was nominated as Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, one of the most important commisionerships in Europe. This is not only testament to his considerable experience and abilities, but also recognition of Ireland’s sustained commitment to the EU, and follows on from our success during last year’s Presidency of the EU, including in securing agreement on the Common Agricultural Policy reform package.

I was also pleased with the appointment of Federica Mogherini to the pivotal role of High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and I look forward to working with her in her new capacity.

President Juncker has set out a clear agenda for the Commission for the next five years, focusing on jobs, growth and investment, on energy union and climate and on the digital single market. His agenda, and the Commission's work programme for 2015, both reflect the strategic agenda for the EU. That agenda was set out by the European Council in June this year.

President Juncker has my full support and I am delighted he is President of the Commission. He is a very experienced and capable politician. He understands that the European Union must remain focused on jobs and growth and on delivering for our citizens. I look forward to working with him.

He organised tax evasion on an industrial scale.

In addition to the new Parliament and Commission, the new President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, the former Polish Prime Minister, took office yesterday. I believe President Tusk will provide excellent leadership for the Council. His appointment is recognition not only of his own wide experience and knowledge, but also of how far EU integration has progressed since 2004.

Although I have not recently held formal meetings with President Tusk or with the High Representative, I have spoken with both of them at the recent European Council meetings which I and they attended. I also wrote to Mr. Tusk at the time of his appointment to congratulate him and reiterate our commitment to a strong working relationship. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade has also written to Ms Mogherini in similar terms and he met her in her new capacity at the Foreign Affairs Council meeting on 17 November.