Helen McEntee warns against growing Euroscepticism

By Cillian Sherlock, Press Association

There is a rising level of Euroscepticism in Ireland, according to the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Helen McEntee said populists are presenting the European Union as a “convenient” target of blame for the country’s problems.

The minister is to deliver her first significant policy speech on Ireland’s upcoming EU presidency on Thursday.

At the event hosted by the European Parliament Liaison Office and the European Commission Representation in Ireland, Ms McEntee is to outline the latest preparations for Ireland’s presidency in the second half of this year as well as positions on EU values, security and competitiveness.

She will say the world is in “a new moment in history” where “assumptions we once took for granted are being challenged”.

Ms McEntee believes Ireland has high levels of support for the EU but will say she is “concerned by a rising level of Euroscepticism”.

She is expected to say: “It’s still a whisper but it’s growing louder.

“It puts forward the seductive populist claim that our problems – and like everybody else we have our problems – do not lie in our own hands, they must be the fault of somebody else – and the EU or Brussels is a convenient somebody.

“I want to foster a national conversation on Europe because we cannot cede the stage to these voices – we cannot allow these whispers to go unchallenged.”

Ms McEntee will add: “Without security, there can be no prosperity; without competitiveness, we cannot sustain our societies; and without values, none of it matters.”

The Council of the European Union is made up of ministers from EU nations, grouped by policy area, which discusses legislation and helps set the EU’s agenda.

Ireland will hold the presidency of the group from July to December, which will include hosting an informal meeting of EU leaders and a summit of the European Political Community.