Speech by Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, Thomas Byrne TD ‘Ireland’s place in Europe and the wider world’

Fianna Fáil Ard Fheis, 16 May 2026

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Introduction

A chairde,

I am proud to stand before you as Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, to discuss the topic of, ‘Ireland’s place in Europe and the wider world’.

At the 2024 general election, Fianna Fáil put forward a manifesto, which called for a strong voice for Ireland, in Europe and the world.

And that message was endorsed by the electorate, when we were returned, as the largest party in Dáil Éireann.

Ireland has a seat at the table – at the EU, at the UN, at the OECD, at the OSCE, and elsewhere.

And we use that seat – we use our voice – to advance the interests of Irish households, and Irish businesses.

100 years ago, on 16 May 1926, the founders of Fianna Fáil gathered at La Scala theatre, and set out a vision for a sovereign, independent Republic.

And today, on 16 May 2026, we gather as members of Fianna Fáil – a party that leads the government of a sovereign, independent Republic.

Let there be no doubt, our sovereignty as a nation has been enhanced by our membership of the EU, the UN, and other multilateral institutions.

No longer, does Ireland stand alone.

Our EU membership

A chairde,

Our EU membership is a cornerstone of Irish foreign policy.

And like you, I take great pride in looking back on the image of our former party leader, Taoiseach Jack Lynch, signing Ireland’s EEC accession act, beside his Minister for Foreign Affairs, Patrick Hillery.

On that momentous occasion, Jack Lynch said:

“Geography has placed us on the periphery of the continent. But we are an integral part of Europe, bound to it by many centuries of shared civilisation, traditions and ideals. Ireland, because of historical circumstances, did not participate in the past, in all the great moments of European experience, but the Irish people have in many periods of our history been deeply involved in the life and culture of the European mainland. Since statehood, my country, conscious of its European past, has sought to forge new and stronger links with the continent. In this, we were renewing and revitalising historic bonds.”

And it is in that spirit, in honour of that legacy, that Fianna Fáil in government advances a foreign policy which strengthens our links with our European neighbours, and friends.

In May 1972, Fianna Fáil asked the people of Ireland to say ‘Yes’ to Europe – they gave us that mandate, we delivered on it, and we continue to do so.

We should take great pride in the fact that it was Fianna Fáil, which led Ireland, into the EU.

We are a party rooted in the ideals of the aspirational working class, and we saw that aspiration realised for many, through our membership of the EU.

Ireland’s EU membership has proved a catalyst for economic development and positive social change – the bedrock of the prosperity we enjoy.

That is our legacy, but we must not be complacent when it comes to the positivity shown by the Irish public, towards our EU membership.

We must continuously engage with Irish citizens, on the benefits that our EU membership offers to Irish households, and Irish businesses.

Because let us never forget that when we are talking about “the EU”, we are talking about what belongs to us, as citizens – we are Europe, we are the EU.

EU Presidency

On 1 July, Ireland will be asked to take on a significant leadership role, in taking on the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

The Irish EU Presidency is a generational moment.

Under the leadership of Taoiseach Micheál Martin, we approach our EU Presidency, with a genuine sense of responsibility and ambition to succeed.

We have put in the groundwork, we know what we are being asked to do, and we know the moment, in which we are being asked to do it.

And we are committed to doing it well – in the interests of Europe, and our people.

The Irish EU Presidency will advance competitiveness and simplification, work to deepen the Single Market, strengthen Europe’s security, ensure continued support for Ukraine, advance EU enlargement, and champion EU values.

At the EU General Affairs Council, which I will chair from 1 July, I will prioritise the negotiation of the new the EU's long-term budget for 2028 to 2034 – the shape of which – will determine what kind of EU, we will have, in future.

A chairde, democracy cannot be taken for granted. It must be actively defended and renewed.

Across Europe, we are witnessing increasing disinformation, attempts to undermine democratic institutions, and efforts to sow division within societies.

And I look forward to working closely, with Commissioner Michael McGrath, on advancing the European Democracy Shield proposals, during the Irish EU Presidency.

Membership of ALDE-Renew Europe

On that note, may I take the opportunity to commend Commissioner McGrath, on the outstanding job he is doing, as a European Commissioner. He is doing brilliant work and doing us all proud.

We are also deeply fortunate to have truly superb Fianna Fáil MEPs, serving in the European Parliament, and ensuring Ireland’s interests are well served.

And let us take a moment to acknowledge the great work of, Billy Kelleher, Cynthia Ní Mhurchú, Barry Cowen, and Barry Andrews – thank you all.

Through our membership of ALDE-Renew, Fianna Fáil has a strong team that is working with like-minded partners across the Europe, to deliver for our people.

Geopolitical turbulence

The Irish EU Presidency will take place at a moment more complex, more consequential – and in some respects, more turbulent – than any of our previous EU Presidencies.

We will take on this leadership role against the backdrop of widespread conflict in the Middle East, Russia’s ongoing illegal invasion of Ukraine, and the expanding humanitarian crisis in Sudan.

Diplomacy matters now, more than ever.

We hope that that talks between the US and Iran, as well as Lebanon and Israel will continue and that progress can be made, to allow all parties to build meaningful and lasting peace and security.

The conflict in Sudan is not receiving the attention it merits internationally despite the ongoing, inconceivable, suffering being endured.

Those responsible for these horrific atrocities cannot be allowed to escape accountability, and we are committed to ensuring that the dire situation in Sudan is not allowed to fall off the international agenda.

We will never lose sight of the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Fianna Fáil in government will continue to press for appropriate EU action, in response to continued breaches by Israel, in clear violation of human rights and democratic principles.

In 1980, Brian Lenihan Snr, as Minister for Foreign Affairs, said that the Palestinian people “had a right to self-determination and to the establishment of an independent State in Palestine”.

In doing this, Ireland became the first EU member state to recognise the right of Palestinians to self-determination and statehood.

That is the Fianna Fáil legacy in government, and it is one that we carried on, through our formal recognition of Palestinian statehood, in May 2024.

We remain ready to play our part, in building a sustainable peace between Israel and Palestine, through the implementation of the two-State solution.

Of course, as we gather here today, war continues to take place on our continent.

In March of this year, I had the honour of being the first Irish Minister to lead a St Patrick’s Day mission, to Kyiv.

We must maintain our solidarity with Ukraine, in supporting efforts to ensure that Ukraine can defend itself against Russia’s ongoing illegal aggression, and fully supporting Ukraine on its path to EU membership.

It is the right and moral thing to do – and for however long it takes, Ireland will stand with Ukraine.

Reform of the ‘Triple Lock’

In serving as a Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, I am deeply mindful of the legacy of Patrick Hillery, of Brian Lenihan, of my own family member – Michael Hilliard, and of Frank Aiken.

Through his work at the United Nations, Frank Aiken was the driving force behind the creation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty – an incredible achievement, which remains internationally regarded to this day.

Our UN membership is the other cornerstone of our foreign policy.

We believe in the role of the UN Charter, in providing the foundational rules governing relations between states, while UN institutions offer mechanisms for dialogue, conflict prevention, accountability, and peacekeeping.

Regarding peacekeeping, and in addressing the topic of Ireland's place in Europe and wider world, I believe we must protect our sovereignty, and make our own decisions, when it comes to our proud tradition of peacekeeping abroad.

At the November 2024 election, the Fianna Fáil manifesto sought a mandate to reform what is known as the ‘Triple Lock’, and thanks to the mandate we received, that commitment is in our Programme for Government.

We have not seen any new peace missions, agreed by the UN Security Council, in recent times, and we have seen the effective ending of UNIFIL in Lebanon, by one member of the UN Security Council.

And may I take this opportunity, to thank our Irish peacekeepers – past and present – and their families, for their work in the service of peace abroad.

Last year, I was proud to meet with member of the Irish Defence Forces, participating in Operation Irini, and working to implement the UN arms embargo on Libya.

But members of the Irish Defence Forces could not take part in this important peace work, until that mission got a UN Security Council mandate, even when it was operational as an EU mission.

If we want to maintain our proud tradition of peacekeeping abroad, we must reform the ‘Triple Lock’, by passing the Defence (Amendment) Bill, without undue delay.

A chairde, taking hold of reality, does not mean letting go of the ideals, as espoused by those that served before us.

In reforming the ‘Triple Lock’, we will remain fully consistent with our legal principles and moral values, as set out under Bunreacht na hÉireann.

And we will act in accordance with our obligations under international law.

Conclusion

100 years ago today, not very far from here, our founding members gathered to establish Fianna Fáil.

They advanced a vision, which set Ireland on a path to realising its place in Europe, and the wider world – as an independent, sovereign republic.

The work remains, but as we mark the centenary of our party, let us take pride in the legacy of those who have gone before us.

From the local cumann, to the European Council table, we in Fianna Fáil have worked to ensure Ireland’s place in Europe, and the wider world.

We are a party defined by progress, not by protest.

We are the party of Bunreacht na hÉireann, we are the party of the European Union, and we look forward to the next 100 years of service to our country.

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