European Commission Representation in Ireland

19/06/2026

How can we protect children and teenagers online? Across Europe, governments are grappling with the same debate. Will Ireland wait for an EU-wide approach, or follow the lead of countries already moving to ban social media for under 16s, like Australia and the UK?

New EU data gathered from 500 Irish parents and 12,750 across Europe gives us some important context:

📱 Young Europeans spend an average of 4.5 hours online on a school day (& more on weekends)

😟 1 in 3 say social media leaves them feeling stressed, sad or excluded

🇮🇪 70% of Irish parents are concerned about harmful content exposure

✅ But 53% of Irish parents say social media has a positive impact on their child's wellbeing

At EU level, the Digital Services Act requires platforms to protect minors. An EU Age Verification App is now ready and being piloted in Ireland. And on 13 July, a Special Panel on child safety online presents its recommendations to President von der Leyen, which will shape the EU's next steps on protecting minors in the digital world.

So what should Ireland do?

🚫 Age-based ban on social media for minors?

🔒 EU-wide age verification tools?

⚙️ Stricter regulation of platform design?

💬 Something else entirely?

Tell us what you think in the comments. 👇

📊 Full Eurobarometer data here: https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/3686

16/06/2026

Pre-registration is open for the Global Summit 2026 in Dublin📍

The bioeconomy is transforming how we use our land and sea resources. Adopting a bioeconomy approach allows us to maximise the use of our crops, forests, fish, and ‘waste’ streams, to create food, bio-based materials, and bioenergy in a more sustainable and circular way.

10/06/2026

We were delighted to welcome HR/VP to Dublin 🇮🇪🇪🇺

During her visit, she met with Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen Mc Entee, and Minister for EU Affairs Thomas Byrne TD to discuss key foreign policy priorities ahead of Ireland’s upcoming EU Presidency.

With just three weeks to go until Ireland takes on the Presidency on 1 July, we look forward to working closely in the months ahead! 🤝

09/06/2026

Congratulations to Donna Gartland on winning the 2026 European Sustainable Energy Award in the Women in Energy category!

A well-deserved recognition of leadership in driving Ireland’s clean energy transition, especially through pioneering district heating, cutting emissions, and advancing gender equality in the energy sector.

👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHH8WydwSYY

08/06/2026

Ar smaoinigh tú ar phost mar aistritheoir leis an AE? 🇪🇺💼

Bí linn ar líne ar 6i Déardaoin, 11 Meitheamh le fáil amach faoin obair, faoin saol sa Bhruiséil 🇧🇪 agus faoin tacaíocht atá ar fáil chun bogadh anonn ✈️

Cláraigh anseo: https://link.europa.eu/TRMxxk

05/06/2026

🇪🇺 The European Commission has published the 2026 European Semester Spring Package, with recommendations to strengthen competitiveness, economic resilience and social cohesion across the EU.

🇮🇪 For Ireland, the priorities include:
🏠 Making housing affordable and boosting construction;
💼 Reducing over-reliance on multinational tax revenues;
🎓 Tackling skills shortages and investing in reskilling;
⚡ Reducing energy import dependency and expanding renewables;
🌿 Accelerating climate action, especially in agriculture;
💶 Improving long-term fiscal sustainability.

Read the full report: link.europa.eu/CgKcPT

03/06/2026

🌱 One month before Ireland assumes the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, 'Shared Roots, Common Shade' invited visitors at Bord Bia Bloom to reflect on what becomes possible when countries work together.

Take a look back at a memorable week!

02/06/2026

🇪🇺 Next month, Ireland will assume the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

🌿 At Bloom, we started a conversation with ‘Shared Roots, Common Shade,’ a garden inspired by a simple idea: that some of the biggest things we achieve happen when we work together.

That’s also the thinking behind Europe: The Power of Together.

Across the EU, countries pool resources through Europe’s Budget (or the Multiannual Financial Framework) and invest in shared priorities.

⚡️ In Ireland, that can be seen everywhere - from support for farmers and researchers to restoring peatlands, strengthening communities, regenerating town centres and building the infrastructure behind our energy transition.

But The Power of Together is about more than funding alone. It’s about the people, places, projects and partnerships that show what European cooperation looks like in practice!

⭐️ Over the coming months, we’ll be sharing those stories from across Ireland as we mark Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Bloom was just the beginning. 🇪🇺

01/06/2026

Peace, cleaner rivers, more nature, safety and happiness for all. There are just some of the hopes shared by children across Ireland on the wishing tree at ‘Shared Roots, Common Shade.’

During her visit to the garden, President Catherine Connolly took time to read the messages, written on seeded paper and displayed alongside the garden’s 27 native trees.

When Bloom comes to a close, the wishes will be planted alongside the garden, where they’ll blossom into wildflowers for future visitors to enjoy.

With Ireland set to assume the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in just one month’s time, their hopes for the future feel particularly timely. 🇪🇺🌿

More to come .