Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

I understand there was a meeting yesterday of the European foreign affairs and defence ministers. Who attended representing the Irish Government? I understand it was agreed yesterday to establish a co-ordinated annual review on defence, CARD. The review of defence spending by the European Defence Agency covers individual member states. The aim is to provide an overview of national defence plans. Can the Minister of State confirm that Ireland's defence spending will be monitored under this new system? Can he confirm that the reviewers can put proposals to the Irish Government and State? Can he confirm that the proposals will be binding? I believed we had the troika out of this place a couple of years back but now we see European monitoring bodies, such as the one in question, making recommendations that I understand are binding in respect of defence expenditure in this State. The Minister of State might confirm that.

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