Ireland's preparations for its presidency of the Council of the EU in the second half of 2026 are underway.

As part of these preparations, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, visited his former secondary school in Co. Kildare with the Austrian Deputy Head of Mission, Edmond Ramja.

The visit formed part of the government’s county pairing initiative, under which Co. Kildare has been paired with Austria to help promote awareness of Ireland’s upcoming presidency and strengthen local engagement with European issues.

Speaking during the visit, Minister Heydon said: "This county pairing initiative is a positive way of bringing Europe closer to communities across the country.

"I am delighted to have the opportunity to mark Kildare’s pairing with Austria."

Importance of young people

The school visit "provided an opportunity to engage directly with students on the role of the EU, the significance of the presidency, and the importance of young people in shaping Europe’s future". 

Speaking at the school, Minister Heydon highlighted: “The future of Europe matters to young people more than anyone else.

"The decisions taken during our presidency will shape the world you grow up in and the opportunities available to you.”

Ireland will hold the presidency from July 1 to December 31, 2026.

CAP

Minister Heydon said previously that Ireland will be expected to play a "significant role" in shaping the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) during its upcoming presidency.

“There is an expectation that Ireland will do a lot of the heavy lifting on CAP during the presidency,” he said.

"We have experience, credibility and a strong civil service. That brings responsibility."