Irish Ministers brief European Parliament committees on presidency priorities
Irish ministers made 17 appearances to European Parliament committees in Brussels in July.
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Irish ministers made 17 appearances to European Parliament committees in Brussels in July.
They presented the priorities of the Irish Council presidency and exchanged views with Members of the European Parliament working on different topics. In order to do the preparatory work for the European Parliament’s plenary sittings, MEPs are divided up among 22 standing committees specialising in different policy areas.
Simon Harris, ECOFIN President, Tánaiste and Minister of Finance presented to the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee (ECON) while Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Helen McEntee presented to three committees: the International Trade Committee (INTA), foreign affairs (AFET) and security and defence (SEDE).
Minister of State for European Affairs Thomas Byrne presented to two committees: the civil liberties, justice and home affairs committee (LIBE) and constitutional affairs committee (AFCO).
Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill presented to the committee on public health (SANT) while Martin Heydon, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine presented to three different committees: agricultural and rural development (AGRI), environment, climate and food safety (ENVI) and fisheries (PECH)
Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Services, Reform and Digitalisation Jack Chambers presented to the regional development committee (REGI) and Minister for Social Protection and Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht Dara Calleary presented to the employment and social affairs committee (EMPL).
Norma Foley, Minister for Children, Disability and Equality met with representatives from the women’s rights and gender equality committee (FEMM) while Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora Neale Richmond presented to the committee on development (DEVE), the only committee led by an Irish MEP, Barry Andrews.
Seán Canney, Minister of State at the Department of Transport together with Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke, presented to the committee on transport and tourism (TRAN) while Minister for Education and Youth Hildegarde Naughton exchanged views with MEPs on the culture and education committee (CULT).
All meetings were livestreamed and can be rewatched or downloaded from the European Parliament’s Multimedia Centre. Free-to-use photos are available here.