Simon Harris: Ireland's EU Presidency - A People’s Agenda

Thank you very much, President António Costa, President Vladimir Zelensky, colleagues, friends, distinguished guests from across the European Union, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome. Once again, welcome to Dublin Castle. One hundred thousand welcomes to Dublin Castle, this historic landmark which has played host to key events in Ireland's evolution and Ireland's transformation since our independence. It is a great honour to welcome you here today to Ireland as we assume the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the eighth time. President Costa, dear António, thank you for those thoughtful and compelling words. Your remarks have set an appropriate tone for this Presidency, reminding us that our work together is rooted in shared values and shared purpose. And President Zelensky, dear Vladimir, thank you for those powerful remarks, remarks that will resonate across this island and beyond. Your courage, your resilience and that of all Ukrainian people will be a guiding inspiration to us here for the next six months. And allow me to echo the Taoiseach's sentiments and make clear that throughout all the work Ireland does as our Presidency takes hold, we will seek to strengthen our solidarity with Ukraine and stand with Ukraine and its people for as long as it takes. Slavia Ukraini. Friends, today marks more than the beginning of a Presidency. It marks a moment for Ireland to serve, to lead and to step up. And it marks a moment for the European Union to reflect on what we have achieved together and on what we must do next. For six months, Ireland will have the privilege and the responsibility of helping to guide and shape the work of our European Union. We do so at a time when our continent faces significant challenges. Geopolitical uncertainty, technological transformation, climate change, security threats and pressures on social cohesion. But we approach this with confidence because the story of the European Union and the story of this Republic is fundamentally a story of success. It's a story that we know in Ireland very well. For our country, membership of the European Union has been transformative. It is the single best decision we have taken since our decision to become an independent nation. The European Union opened opportunities for our people, our businesses and our communities. It helped create the conditions in which Ireland could become a modern, outward-looking and innovative economy and society. It supported our farmers, our workers, our students, our entrepreneurs. It connected us to our neighbours and to the wider world. And it helped ensure that our young people could imagine futures that previous generations could scarcely have dreamed possible. But the success of Europe can never be measured by economic growth or economic success alone. Because the European Union is also fundamentally a social project. It's about creating opportunities for people. It's about protecting rights. It's about making sure that no community, no region, no citizen is left behind. And above all and most importantly, Europe is a peace project. And nowhere is that more evident than on this island. For generations, conflict cast a long and dark shadow over the island of Ireland. Today, we can see clearly what partnership and dialogue can achieve. The European Union was always a steadfast supporter of peace and reconciliation on this island. Its contribution to our peace process, through practical support and through the values it embodies, has been profound. And as we begin this Presidency, Ireland brings that experience with us. We know that dialogue matters. We know that compromise matters. And we know that lasting progress is achieved when people choose cooperation over division. That is why this Presidency won't just be a Presidency for governments or institutions or politicians alone. It will be a Presidency for people. For the people of Ireland, for the people of Europe. For the student preparing for opportunities that extend across Europe. For the worker whose job depends on trade and investment. For the young person who should have the legitimate expectation of affordable housing. For the researcher developing the technologies of tomorrow that will transform our world for the better. For the farmer supporting rural communities and feeding our people. And for the family seeking security, opportunity, a safe online world for their children and a better future. So over the coming months, we want the people of our island to see themselves reflected in this Presidency. We want communities from Cork to Letterkenny, from Galway to Wicklow, from Castlebar to Wexford to feel ownership of this moment. Because Europe belongs to its citizens. And the success of Europe must always be measured by the lives of the people it serves. Our Presidency will be ambitious, will be practical and will be outward looking. We'll work with our European partners to strengthen our economy, enhance our competitiveness, advance the green and digital transitions, support innovation, deepen security and defend our democratic values. And we will work to ensure that Europe remains a global force for peace. Peace in Ukraine and peace in the Middle East. And we will work with determination to bring people together. That has always been one of the strengths of this nation. So it's our privilege to serve Europe in this leadership role at this important moment. To all our European partners, we look forward to working together, to seeking common ground. To the people of Ireland, let's embrace our European identity. And to our friends across Europe who will visit Ireland for the next six months, Céad míle Fáilte. Together let us begin this Presidency with confidence and belief and hope in the European Union, with pride in what it can achieve together and with a determination to deliver the change and the progress that Europe needs. This is Europe's moment. This is Ireland's moment. This is our moment to lead together. Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir.