Flag ceremony held in Tullamore to mark start of EU presidency
Offaly County Council Cathaoirleach Cllr Declan Harvey joined elected members and members of the local authority's management team to raise the Irish, European Union and Belgian flags today (Wednesday), marking the start of Ireland’s presidency of the Council of Europe.
The Belgian flag was raised because each county has been 'paired' with an EU member state, and Offaly has been matched with Belgium.
Offaly Fine Gael TD John Clendennen said Ireland’s presidency comes at "a pivotal moment" for Europe.
"Over the next six months, Ireland will lead negotiations on decisions that will shape the EU’s economy, security, and prosperity for the next decade," said Deputy Clendennen.
"Ireland’s presidency is a chance to demonstrate that decisions made in Brussels directly impact people right across the country.
"For example, whether you are a farmer, a small business owner, a teacher, or a healthcare worker, everyone in Offaly will feel the effects of the EU Budget that Ireland will chair negotiations on over the next six months."
Ireland will hold the rotating EU Presidency from 1 July to 31 December 2026, the eighth time an Irish government will assume the role.
Independent Offaly TD Carol Nolan highlighted the financial cost to Ireland of hosting the presidency, which some estimates have put at roughly €400 million.
"If the final cost is €400 million, then one single month of Ireland’s 2026 presidency would cost roughly €66 million," said Deputy Nolan.
"This is more than the entire 2013 Presidency, which cost about €60 million. That is an extraordinary escalation even if we do take into account the additional meetings.
"We are told that the scale of meetings has doubled, that delegations are larger, that major summits are being hosted. That is all fine. But none of that excuses the absence of full costings, or even a breakdown of estimates.
"When one month of a Presidency in 2026 could cost more than the entire 2013 term, people are entitled to demand answers and I intend to keep demanding them," concluded Deputy Nolan.