Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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570. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence when the next meeting of EU defence Ministers will take place; the agenda for same if decided; his priorities for it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40589/16]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The next expected meeting of Defence Ministers is the informal meeting to be hosted by Malta as part of their Presidency of the EU Council scheduled to take place on 27 and 28 April, 2017. The agenda will not be issued until closer to the date but it is anticipated that discussions will revolve around progress on recent FAC Council Conclusions on Implementing the EUGS on Security and Defence, recent Council Conclusions on Implementation of the EU/NATO Joint Declaration as well as the Commission's European Defence Action Plan (EDAP). Discussions can also be anticipated on ongoing Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) military operations. Priorities for the meeting will be determined on foot of receipt of the formal agenda and issues ongoing at that time.