Ministers Creighton and Hayes lead a busy plenary session for the Presidency

As part of this week's plenary schedule, President Higgins will also travel to Strasbourg to address the European Parliament on Wednesday.

UPDATE: Read speeches from the European Parliament Plenary Session.

Read speech by Minister of State Brian Hayes on the EU budget.

Read speech by Minister of State for European Affairs Lucinda Creighton TD, on the current situation in Cyprus.

Read speech by Minister of State for European Affairs Lucinda Creighton TD, on the constitutional situation in Hungary.

Read  speech by President Higgins.

Ministers Creighton and Hayes will continue the Presidency's engagement with a key institutional partner, the European Parliament, by representing the Council in a number of important debates in this busy plenary session this week.

On Tuesday morning, Minister Creighton will participate in the debate on the agreement reached last month between the Presidency and the Parliament on new rules to strengthen European banks (CRDIV) ahead of the Parliament’s formal vote on the issue. Read the full text of the Minister's speech.

Minister Creighton - “The Presidency’s agreement with the Parliament on CRDIV is a major step towards better regulation of the financial services industry and a fundamental building block of banking union."

Minister Creighton said:

“The Presidency’s agreement with the Parliament on CRDIV is a major step towards better regulation of the financial services industry and a fundamental building block of banking union. I look forward to hearing MEP’s views on this issue, as well as on the other important topics on this month’s agenda, including progress on the enlargement process in Croatia, Turkey, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo.”

On Tuesday afternoon, Minister of State Brian Hayes will participate in the debate on the 2011 EU budget discharge. Also on Tuesday afternoon, Minister Creighton will appear before the Conference of Committee Chairs to present a mid-term review of the progress made by the Irish Presidency.

Minister Hayes said:

“This week’s debate on the 2011 budget discharge is important in giving assurance to EU citizens that programmes financed by the EU are soundly managed. In the current difficult economic climate, many Member States have had to cut their national budgets and keep their expenditure under strict control. Our citizens therefore rightly expect us to be particularly attentive to the quality of EU spending.”

Minister Hayes - “This week’s debate on the 2011 budget discharge is important in giving assurance to EU citizens that programmes financed by the EU are soundly managed."

In a busy day for the Presidency in plenary on Wednesday, Minister Creighton will participate in key debates on the Constitutional situation in Hungary and on the current situation in Cyprus. The Minister will also speak in the debate on multi-annual fisheries management plans and in several debates on the progress of enlargement. President Higgins will deliver a speech about European citizenship and European Year of Citizens to the European Parliament at midday.

Also, as part of the week-long “Les Journées d’Irlande” event taking place in Strasbourg this week and organised by the European Parliamentary Association (APE), Minister Creighton will be speaking at the launch event on Monday evening.

Read the Minister of State’s programme for the week.

ENDS