Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 512: To ask the Minister for Defence the date on which he will lay the text of the memorandum of understanding regarding the Austro-German battlegroup 2012 before Dáil Éireann; the reason this was not laid before the motion to refer the memorandum to committee without debate was taken in Dáil Éireann 24 January 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5123/12]

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 513: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will ensure that in future the text of all motions and memorandums are available to members of Dáil Éireann before motions on them are taken. [5124/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 512 and 513 together.

Following a Government Decision to (a) lay a Memorandum of Understanding for the Austro-German Battlegroup before Dáil Éireann, and, to (b) the moving of a resolution in Dáil Éireann seeking its approval, my Department notified the Journal Office of the intention to move the motion. This notification issued on 10 November, 2011 and the Journal Office was requested to circulate the motion to the members of Dáil Éireann. A copy of the Memorandum of Understanding was also forwarded to the Dáil Library on the same date. As I am sure the Deputy will agree the prior notification of both the motion and the actual memorandum of almost 12 weeks is sufficient. My Department will continue to ensure that sufficient notice, as it is in this case, will be provided to the members of Dáil Éireann.