"This month’s European Council is a key and busy one, with Leaders due to decide on the top-level appointments in the Institutions, including the Presidents of the European Commission and of the European Council.

"The European Council will also adopt the EU’s new Strategic Agenda setting out the main priorities to be pursued over the next five years. Ireland wants to see an ambitious Agenda adopted and particularly one which seeks to strengthen and deepen the Single Market as the basis of our prosperity and competitiveness.

"The new Agenda must also uphold our values in relation to Rule of Law and the rules-based international order while we also need to continue working to advance the Climate and Digital transitions.”

"Our strong support for the Rule of Law as a fundamental value of the EU complements our support for Enlargement. I and my colleagues will be discussing the current rule of law situation in Hungary. I will raise concerns about LGBTQI+ rights in Hungary, including the stigmatising and repressive effects of the so-called ‘Child Protection’ Law that Hungary passed three years ago this month.

"Alongside the European Parliament, Ireland is amongst a majority of Member States to support the Commission in its infringement proceedings on this matter. Over the past year, the stigmatising effects of that law have become increasingly apparent, notably in the restrictions placed on depictions of LGBTQI+ persons in books, cultural institutions, and in the media."

"Importantly, the European Council will also discuss Ukraine and Russia’s continuing war of aggression as well as the catastrophic and unacceptable situation in Gaza. Our support for Ukraine remains steadfast and I will be honoured to represent Ireland at the opening intergovernmental conference at which formal accession negotiations with both Ukraine and Moldova will be launched.”