Tánaiste on US visit to meet with G20 finance ministers

Finance Minister Simon Harris is set to meet with G20 finance ministers in the United States today as Ireland assumes its role in the EU presidency. This two-day visit to North Carolina will also see Harris engage with British Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey and Canada's Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne. The G20 event brings together finance ministers and Central Bank governors from the G20 nations to deliberate on the global economy, with particular focus on energy security and financial stability in the wake of recent geopolitical developments.

Ireland's EU presidency involves Minister Harris alongside European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde and EU Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis. Additional EU presidency meetings will occur in Ireland this week, including discussions on defense and foreign policy matters among EU member states. Tonight, defence ministers from 17 EU countries will convene in Ireland for an informal summit chaired by Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence Helen McEntee.

Tomorrow, the summit will feature a full day of talks in Wicklow, focusing on Russia's involvement in Ukraine, EU security, and other pressing issues. On Wednesday, EU member states' foreign ministers will convene in Ireland to deliberate on transatlantic relations and the situation in the Middle East.