107. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the range of topics covered and the outcome of her discussions in Cork with the Members of the European Commission; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53873/26]

Ireland’s EU Presidency term began on July 1. It is the culmination of a long process of planning and preparation that has been a major focus across Government.

The traditional Presidency visit by the College of Commissioners took place in Cork on 2-3 July 2026 and represented the first collective engagement between the Government of Ireland and the European Commission during the Ireland’s Presidency term. The visit provided an important opportunity to strengthen political relationships, establish a shared understanding of Ireland’s Presidency priorities and discuss how we will work with the Commission though our term to ensure we can deliver effectively on our policy objectives to the benefit of citizens in Ireland and across Europe.

During the programme, structured cluster discussions involving Ministers and Commissioners focused on industrial competitiveness and the single market; agriculture, climate, energy and economic transition; security, external relations, defence, preparedness, trade and economic security; and values, skills, social cohesion and housing.

As Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, I co-chaired a comprehensive discussion on security, external relations, defence, preparedness, trade and economic security alongside HR/VP Kaja Kallas, with other Ministers and Commissioners with relevant portfolios also participating.

The programme concluded with a plenary session, jointly chaired by the Taoiseach and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. This provided an opportunity for reflection on key themes which emerged during earlier discussions for the benefit of the wider College and Government. The plenary also provided an opportunity for Ministers and Commissioners to exchange views on the opportunities and challenges that will arise during the Irish Presidency term.

During the plenary session, I updated participants on our discussions around ongoing support for Ukraine, the Middle East, strengthening Europe’s preparedness and resilience, diversifying partnerships, humanitarian diplomacy, the EU-UK relationship, protecting critical infrastructure, maritime security, and the importance of maintaining close cooperation with our international partners.

Overall, there was a high degree of alignment between the Government and the European Commission on the priorities and objectives for the work of the EU during the Irish Presidency term, together with a shared commitment to maintaining momentum across the Union’s legislative and policy agenda.