“At the European Council, I look forward to hearing from President Zelenskyy on progress in peace talks, and to considering with EU colleagues how we can best contribute to ensuring a just and lasting peace for Ukraine. Part of this is continuing to increase pressure on Russia to end its illegal war. I fully support plans to use frozen Russian state assets to support Ukraine, and I hope it will be possible for the meeting to reach agreement on that. I will also be arguing strongly in favour of accelerating Ukraine’s EU application.

“Membership of the EU for Ukraine is also important for its future security. Our meeting is an opportunity to send a clear message that EU enlargement will happen, and that the reform efforts by countries aspiring to join our Union will be matched by our ambition to advance their path towards EU membership.

“There are malign actors, including Russia, who are seeking to destabilise the EU and our neighbours, attacking our shared values and posing a real threat to our security. As recent events have shown, Ireland is not immune to these threats and we must continue to work with our EU partners to combat them.

“Leaders will also take stock of the situation in the Middle East. I will use the opportunity to highlight the critical humanitarian situation in Gaza. Two months into the ceasefire, aid has still not reached the levels required and as agreed in the peace plan. I will be stressing the need for the EU to do all it can to get this much-needed assistance to the people of Gaza, especially as winter closes in, and to contribute to the next phase of the peace plan, which supports a two-state solution.

“The challenging geopolitical situation also impacts our competitiveness. I welcome the opportunity for a strategic discussion on how best the EU can respond to external pressures and ensure that our economies remain competitive. I will make clear that for Ireland, this response should be balanced, outward-looking, open to trade and which invests in innovation. We must all continue our efforts to strengthen the EU’s Single Market, including through an ambitious simplification agenda aimed at cutting red tape for our businesses.

“I also look forward to the Leaders’ first discussion on the European Commission’s proposal for the next Multiannual Financial Framework. I will set out Ireland’s clear priorities for the next MFF – a ringfenced and fully funded CAP and Common Fisheries Policies, an ambitious research programme based on excellence and innovation and a well-funded competitiveness fund that supports SMEs to scale up, as well as supporting energy affordability, connectivity and the digital transition.

“We were all deeply shocked and appalled by the terrorist attack on the Jewish community in Sydney. There can be no place for antisemitism and hatred in our societies. I welcome that this meeting of the European Council will commit us to intensify efforts to rid our societies of the scourge of antisemitism.”

“It was a welcome moment to reaffirm our commitment to the EU membership perspective for the countries of the Western Balkans - an investment in peace, security, stability and prosperity in our neighbourhood. Ireland is ready to do all that we can to make progress on their journey towards membership during our EU Presidency in the second half of next year.”