56. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to host a World Peace Summit in Ireland during Ireland’s Presidency of the European Union. [59775/26]

Safeguarding the values of our Union at home and abroad, and providing for the security of EU citizens, are two of the three pillars of the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. While there are currently no plans to organise a stand-alone World Peace Summit, the Presidency is providing extensive opportunities for engagement on issues of peace, security and international cooperation, with the involvement of EU Member States, EU institutions and civil society, as well as engagement with our international partners.

During our Presidency, we are prioritising a just and lasting peace for Ukraine, firm support for multilateralism, the international legal order and the United Nations, and supporting EU efforts to contribute to peace and security across the Middle East and in Sudan. In addition, we aim to make significant progress on EU accession negotiations during our Presidency, as we see EU enlargement as a powerful means of promoting peace, security and prosperity across Europe.

Last week I was pleased to host Foreign Ministers from the EU and our like-minded partners at an informal meeting in Druid's Glen. We had productive discussions on our approach to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine; the situation in Gaza, the West Bank and the wider Middle East; and how the European Union can act more effectively on the international stage, including through the United Nations and wider multilateral system.

Beyond the Presidency programme, the promotion of peacebuilding and conflict prevention through diplomacy and dialogue remains a long-standing priority of Ireland’s foreign policy. Informed by the experience of peacebuilding on the island of Ireland, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade works closely with international, regional and local partners to strengthen peacebuilding, mediation, conflict prevention and conflict analysis. We will also continue to support EU efforts to address conflict and instability through diplomacy, mediation, peacebuilding and conflict prevention, while strengthening the EU’s role as a principled global actor.