Boland helps outline priorities during Ireland's EU Presidency

An Offaly native was one of the key figures in Dublin Castle on Wednesday to help launch the European Economic and Social Committee's joint work with the Irish government during the country's forthcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Seamus Boland, from the Island, Ballycumber, who was elected the 35th President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), the EU body representing civil society, in October 2025, called for civil society to be put at the heart of Ireland’s EU Council Presidency during the high-level event at which An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, and Minister of State for European Affairs Thomas Byrne were also in attendance.

The EESC has been requested by the Irish government to work on several joint priorities including housing, competitiveness, digital regulation, tackling poverty, and the EU’s approach to livestock, to ensure that the voices and expertise of civil society, employers and workers are heard in EU policy making during the Irish Council Presidency. This marks the first time the EESC will have an Irish President during Ireland’s EU Council Presidency.

During his introductory address, the EESC President said the areas of joint engagement between both parties "from democratic participation and equality, to competitiveness, small businesses, housing and digital fairness", reflect a EU Council Presidency that "seeks to combine economic ambition" with a "strong social and citizen-centred dimension".

"We particularly appreciate the emphasis placed on inclusive policymaking and democratic resilience, which are values closely aligned with the mission and work of the EESC," Mr Boland added.

An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, said constructive collaboration within civil society was "fundamental to democratic stability" and "effective policymaking".

"The ability of governments, employers, trade unions and organised civil society to engage constructively with one another is fundamental to democratic stability and to effective policymaking and in that regard, the EESC is a vital link between civil society and the European institutions.

Acknowledging that "the voice of civil society matters", An Taoiseach said that stated that "Europe cannot succeed through institutions alone".

"It succeeds when citizens feel ownership of the European project, when workers, farmers, entrepreneurs, voluntary organisations and local communities all feel that they have a stake in shaping Europe’s future," An Taoiseach said.

The EESC will prepare eight exploratory opinions on behalf of the Irish EU Presidency on areas of mutual interest and priority, including the promotion of democratic participation and civil society in communities, equality and the competitiveness agenda, the EU livestock strategy, inter-generational poverty, simplification, the single market strategy, the digital fairness act, and affordable housing construction.

These will contribute to policy discussions, formulation and the development of legislation during the Irish EU Council Presidency.

Following the opening session with the Taoiseach, the EESC President had an exchange of views on the Irish EU Presidency with Minister Byrne, followed by a session on ‘Maintaining Core Values in a New Europe’ with leaders from Irish industry, farming, trade unions and civil society.