Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is great the Taoiseach was able to welcome the Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Xavier Bettel, to Dublin recently. The Prime Minister is a great friend of Ireland ever since he studied here as a student learning English in Malahide in north Dublin. I heard him speak at a conference of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, ALDE, Renew Europe group in the convention centre last year and confirmed that he was really popular among the delegates who attended.

It is clear from the Taoiseach's meeting that Ireland and Luxembourg share many common values at EU level, as the Taoiseach has just outlined. Indeed, both lead three-party coalitions which include the Green Party, so they have a lot in common. It should also be noted that Luxemburg stood solidly with Ireland during the prolonged Brexit negotiations.

According to press reports, the Taoiseach briefed the Prime Minister on the consultative forum on international security policy which no doubt included Ireland’s traditional policy of military neutrality. Did the Taoiseach discuss the future of the EU’s common security and defence policy with Mr. Bettel and how he sees the security and defence of the EU evolving? I understand a number of embassies have contacted the Department of Foreign Affairs on the consultative forum to seek more information about it and on the Government’s position on security and defence. Perhaps it is a matter for the Tánaiste but is the Taoiseach aware of interest internationally and at EU level in the consultative forum?

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