Ireland’s EU Presidency outreach reaches Laois and Offaly
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade – Community engagements ahead of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the EU, commencing 1 July 2026
Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, Thomas Byrne TD, visited counties Laois and Offaly on 27 February 2026 as part of a nationwide outreach programme in advance of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union. From 1 July 2026, Ireland will assume the six-month rotating Presidency, during which it will chair Council meetings, guide negotiations between Member States and advance the EU legislative and policy agenda.
The Minister’s visit forms part of a series of regional engagements intended to raise public awareness of the Presidency and to gather citizen input as Government finalises Ireland’s policy priorities for the term. In Offaly, Minister Byrne met with secondary-level students at Coláiste Choilm and Sacred Heart Catholic School. In Laois, he engaged with representatives from the Laois Chamber Alliance and Laois County Council.
At a community event hosted at the Europe Direct Centre in Portlaoise Library, the Minister outlined the practical responsibilities Ireland will assume during the Presidency and highlighted opportunities for Irish citizens to work within EU institutions. He referenced the Government’s ‘A Career for EU’ strategy, which aims to increase Irish representation across EU bodies and institutions.
The visit also highlighted the recently announced EU Presidency County Pairings initiative. Between July and December 2026, Ambassadors of EU Member States in Ireland, accompanied by the Irish Ambassador based in the relevant Member State capital, will visit counties nationwide for public engagements focused on Ireland’s European relationships and its role within the Union. Each county has been paired with an EU Member State for the duration of the Presidency. Under this initiative, Laois is paired with Malta and Offaly with Belgium.
Further information on Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the EU and related public engagement initiatives is available through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and local Europe Direct Centres.