Minister Byrne visits Laois and Offaly for EU Presidency engagements

Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, Thomas Byrne TD, visited Laois and Offaly today as part of his community outreach programme ahead of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the EU. From 1 July, for a six-month term, Ireland will guide negotiations, broker agreement between Member States, and lead the EU agenda.

Minister Byrne is engaging with communities across the country to raise awareness of Ireland’s upcoming Presidency and to hear the views of citizens on how to frame Ireland’s EU Presidency policy priorities for the six-month period.

Minister Byrne met with secondary-level students at Coláiste Choilm and Sacred Heart Catholic School in Offaly, as well as local business and government representatives from the Laois Chamber Alliance, and the Laois County Council.

Hosting a community event at the Europe Direct Centre in Portlaoise Library, Minister Byrne spoke of ongoing preparations for Ireland’s EU Presidency and the key role Ireland will play in driving forward the EU agenda.

The Minister also spoke of the diverse professional roles available to Irish people interested in working in EU institutions, and underlined the Government’s support through the ‘A Career for EU’ strategy.

Minister Byrne commented: “It is great to visit Laois and Offaly and meet with students and community members to talk about the importance of our EU membership, and the role that Ireland will play during our upcoming EU Presidency. I valued hearing their perspectives, especially as we continue to develop an agenda for the Irish EU Presidency, which will be designed to deliver for Europe and our people.”

Under the recently announced EU Presidency County Pairings initiative, Ambassadors of EU Member States in Ireland, accompanied by the Irish Ambassador in the relevant EU Member State capital, will visit counties across Ireland between July and December 2026, to undertake a programme of public engagements focused on Ireland’s European relations and its role in the EU.

Each county in the State will be “paired” with a specific EU Member State for the period of the Presidency. Under the initiative, Laois is paired with Malta, and Offaly has been paired with Belgium.

ENDS

Press Office
27 February 2026