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

If all ten of us ask questions on every subject, it may be difficult for the Taoiseach to answer. I do not know whether one can break them up.

My question is similar to the Minister's - I mean, Deputy Howlin's - on defence co-operation. I am interested in the possible development of us joining a Nordic-Baltic group on the fringes of the Council. Did the approach to defence co-operation arise in that group? I ask this question specifically because, as Deputy Howlin stated, the Council meeting was held just after the meeting with the French President. While the Taoiseach's comments after that meeting did not refer to defence as being one of the issues for discussion, the French President - I only have the French version with me - stated: "sur les politiques de défense, il y aura des discussions en politique interne en Irlande, mais la France continue à promouvoir [my French is not very good] cet agenda de convergence et de coopération renforcée". My French is only leaving certificate French like the Taoiseach's, but if mine is up to it, the French President was pushing the issue of defence co-operation and internal Irish political discussions around that were centre stage. How will the question of defence co-operation play out in that regard? Are we working with other countries on a common response? When I asked Mr. Brian Hayes, MEP, a similar question two weeks ago, he was in favour of further defence co-operation. If I am interpreting him correctly, he views it as something that we should be promoting. Where will Ireland have that discussion on our internal political view of that approach? As Deputy Howlin mentioned, this issue is imminent. It was not referred to in any of the Government publications afterwards, but it was by the French President following the meeting.

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