Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 185: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of Council of Ministers meetings attended by Ministers at his Department for each of the past three years in tabular form; the number of decisions made by the Council at those meetings; the number of occasions on which those decisions were decided upon by a vote; the number of occasions on which Ireland voted against a decision which was adopted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19041/08]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that there is no EU Defence Ministers Council. However, twice a year — once during each presidency — the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC), which comprises Ministers for Foreign Affairs, meets with Defence Ministers in attendance.

Attendance at GAERC meetings is set out in tabular form above. On my behalf, Minister of State Kitt attended one of these meeting in November 2006. I plan to attend the GAERC scheduled to take place in Brussels on Monday the 26th May 2008. Consolidated details of decisions taken at the GAERC's will be given by my colleague the Minister for Foreign Affairs in reply to PQ 19046/08.