Murphy ready for challenges of ministerial role

Fine Gael TD for Cork North Central, Dara Murphy TD has, today (Wednesday), taken his seat for the first day as Minister of State at the Departments of An Taoiseach and Foreign Affairs with Special Responsibility for European Affairs and Data Protection.

“I am very pleased to take up my new role as Minister of State. Today I travelled to Brussels and I am already working with my colleagues in the Department of An Taoiseach, as well as those in Europe, to assess the work that lies ahead.

“As Vice Chairman on the Oireachtas Committee for European Affairs, I have been involved in the workings of Europe for some time, and I am very familiar with the interactions that take place between Ireland and our fellow EU member states.

“The workings of the EU impact directly on many aspects of Irish life; the economy, transport networks, education systems and agriculture. I intend to work tirelessly to improve engagement with the institutions in Brussels, and to communicate effectively about EU issues.

“I intend to contribute to the implementation of Europe 2020, the EU’s ten-year growth and jobs strategy. This is about overcoming the economic crisis, and working towards smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.

“One of my visions for Europe is to make it more relevant to our people here at home and to develop a better understanding of Europe in a post Troika setting. Therefore, an important priority for me in my role as Minister of State for European Affairs, is to bring Europe back to the Irish people now.

“My portfolio, for the first time, also covers the increasingly important area of Data Protection. We are all online nowadays; everyone, be they young or old, are ‘google-able’, and this is an area where there is currently an absence of sufficient protection and legislation. The internet has made life easier in so many ways but if we are socialising and doing business online, we are making our personal data available in new ways and we need to make sure that this is safe.

“I am aware that the job I have been tasked with is not as easy one, but it is one that I am excited about and one I am confident I can do well. I want to thank all those who have been in touch to congratulate me since my appointment, and I especially want to thank my supporters and constituents in Cork North Central. I will continue to represent Cork North Central locally, in Dáil Éireann and at an EU level.”