Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 97: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his most recent diplomatic contacts with other EU states regarding possible Irish involvement in EU battlegroups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39309/05]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 189: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his most recent diplomatic contacts with other EU states regarding possible Irish involvement in EU battlegroups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39682/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 189 together.

As reported previously to the House in reply to Questions Nos. 241 of 2 February, 36 of 28 April and 45 of 2 June, I met the Foreign Ministers of Sweden and Finland in January and the Foreign Minister of Austria in April of this year. I discussed a range of issues, including possible Irish participation in battlegroups. I have not had any more recent discussions with EU counterparts on the matter.

As Deputies will be aware from previous replies to questions on this issue, most recently by the Minister of State, Deputy Kitt, on behalf of the Minister for Defence, Deputy O'Dea, on 7 December, the question of participation by Ireland in battlegroups has been examined by an interdepartmental group established by the Minister for Defence. The legal, operational and other issues surrounding participation, which have been examined by the interdepartmental group, will shortly be considered by Government.