58. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 46 of 1 May 2025, the current situation regarding the drafting at a national level on the proposed EU National Regional Partnership Plans; how this process has been taking place and the input at parliamentary and civil society level to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51969/26]

The National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRPP) Regulation is part of the European Commission's package of legislative proposals for the EU Budget Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034 which were published in July and September of 2025.

In June, Council reached a Partial General Approach on this file. Once the European Parliament adopts its position, Council and Parliament will begin trilogue negotiations with a view to finalising the legislative text.

The Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine lead these negotiations at EU level, in close cooperation with my Department and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, in the context of our roles on the overarching MFF negotiations.

Further certainty and agreement are needed at EU level on the implementation rules of the NRPPs within the overall establishment of the MFF 2028-2034 framework before substantive drafting on Ireland's plan can begin by relevant Government Departments.

Notwithstanding this, consultation is likely to be a key feature of the future EU agreement on the NRPPs, as it has been on EU funds in the past, and Ireland recognises the value of such an approach. Indeed for example, the CAP Consultative Committee and a public consultation was launched in February 2026 to gather views from farmers, stakeholders and the wider public to inform Ireland’s approach to ongoing EU negotiations.

The Council’s Partial General Approach on the NRPP Regulation provides for a central role for civic society and for each Member State to organise and implement a comprehensive partnership in accordance with its institutional and legal framework. That partnership shall include a balanced representation of the following partners:

(a) regional, local, urban, rural and other public authorities or associations representing such authorities;

(b) economic and social partners, including farmers, fishers and their organisations;

(c) relevant bodies representing civil society, such as environmental partners, non-governmental organisations, youth organisations, and bodies responsible for promoting social inclusion, fundamental rights, rights of persons with disabilities, gender equality and non-discrimination, national human rights institutions and organisations;

(d) research organisations and universities, where appropriate.

The Council’s Partial General Approach on the NRPP Regulation also requires that these partners are involved in the preparation of the Plan and throughout the preparation, implementation and evaluation of chapters, including through participation in monitoring committees.