Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 246: To ask the Minister for Defence the discussions he has had with his EU colleagues in the matter of co-operation or training with other EU forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38416/05]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I have not had any discussions with my EU colleagues in the matter of co-operation or training with other EU forces. However, Defence Forces personnel have for many years attended workshops, training courses, desktop exercises, seminars and other events overseas as part of their military training and I expect that they will continue to do so. The Defence Forces have also attended training courses and workshops under PfP PARP, the purpose of which is to learn from best practices in other defence forces and includes improving the level of interoperability between forces in the context of peace support operations and the Petersberg Tasks.