Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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518. To ask the Minister for Defence the extent to which he continues to influence Defence policy at European Level, with particular reference to the need to ensure that Defence Forces throughout Europe are sufficiently co-ordinated to ensure their capability in the event of a terrorist attack; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22399/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I am regularly in touch with my EU colleagues both in the context of European Defence and Security and other matters. In addition to bilateral contacts two official meeting of EU Defence Ministers are held during each six month EU Presidency. The most recent meeting that I attended was the meeting of Foreign Affairs and Defence Ministers, which took place in Brussels on 18 May 2015. Discussions at the meeting covered a wide range of European Defence and Security issues and associated challenges.

I am also kept fully apprised of issues arising from meetings which officials from my Department attend in the area of European Defence and Security. As with the formulation of any policy, best practice and lessons learnt in other jurisdictions will always inform EU policy formulation to ensure that it is robust, coherent and meets the needs of member States.

As previously advised in response to the Deputy's Question No. 416 of 24 March 2015, the response to acts of terrorism within the borders of the EU falls outside the remit of the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). This is an issue for the national security authorities of each member State and the EU does not deploy military assets under CSDP within the borders of the EU.