Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said British prime minister David Cameron is willing to show some flexibility on the issue of social welfare reform, a key "red line" issue for the Conservatives in the debate on a British exit from the European Union.
At the EU summit in Brussels on Thursday, Mr Cameron is scheduled to make a presentation on Britain’s position on the union, and the changes it is seeking ahead of holding an in-out referendum.
What was required was a strong outcome from the discussions in Brussels, said the Taoiseach, that would give Mr Cameron a “saleable package” to convince British voters of the merits of staying in the union.
Speaking during a group interview with the media in Government Buildings on Wednesday, Mr Kenny said of Mr Cameron's position on social welfare, which has the potential of becoming a major stumbling block in the debate between Britain and other EU states: "We recognise the sensitivities that surround the issues of welfare and welfare payments in the United Kingdom for workers who come there.
“David Cameron has told me himself of his flexibility in regards to the detail of that and how it might operate.
“That’s an issue we will focus on in the discussions. We will see what the debate and the contributions from the other members throws up,” he said.
The Taoiseach stressed that social welfare reform would be discussed this week and the expectation was a final decision would be taken in February.
Support
He said the Government was prepared to support the British where it could.
“Clearly we will support the prime minister where we can by emphasising our particular interest in this, our unique economic relationship with the United Kingdom.
"We [will emphasise] the importance of this issue for one of the great success stories of the EU which is the peace process in Northern Ireland. The representatives of both the Executive and the Assembly faced up to their responsibilities recently in agreeing to implement the Stormont Agreement. We will now work to implement it in full with them.
“It is important to say that what is required out of discussion are the indications for the prime minster to get a strong and a saleable package that will benefit the members of the European Union.
“You know Ireland’s view, our nearest closest neighbour, €1 billion of transactions across the Irish Sea, the absolute of importance of having the European Union continuing to have the UK as a strong and central member of the union,” he said.
Mr Kenny said the end-of-year summit would also address the migration issues, particularly the 2.2 million Syrian refugees in Turkey. He said that a plan was need to provide proper facilities for registration in "hot-spots" for refugees.
“We will also look at the question of terrorism and the implications following Paris and other locations around the world,” he said.
