Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State said that he would not answer my question on whether the Government will support the proposal that the EIB might fund armaments and defence spending in advance of the meeting. What is the point of us being here if we cannot get some sense of the Government's position in advance of a European Council meeting? As I understand it, we are encouraged to have an understanding of our own position in advance of a decision of the European Council. It is not a difficult question, a sensitive question or a question of military secrecy. Can the Minister of State indicate whether the Government has a view on whether the EIB should be lending for armaments and defence spending? If he will not tell me, will he tell me why he will not tell me or will he explain the position? His refusal to answer the question because the meeting is coming up next week is something with which I fundamentally disagree. That is not what this House is for or how we should approach EU Council meetings. It is not a secret. I wish to know in advance what is the Government's position on this issue.

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