Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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739. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to meet the UK Defence Secretary and US Secretary for Defence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50318/17]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Formal and informal meetings of Ministers at EU level provide a significant opportunity to engage bilaterally with Ministers from other member States, including the UK, on issues of concern to Ireland, both within the scope of the Ministry but also more broadly. In terms of formal bilateral meetings, I have previously met with The Rt Hon Sir Michael Fallon, MP the then Secretary of State at the UK Ministry of Defence. Our discussion covered a wide range of topics mainly in the security and defence domain but also focused on Brexit and the implications for Ireland and the EU. Last month, I met with The Rt Hon Earl Howe, Minister of State for Defence where again our main focus was in relation to Brexit.

At this time, there are no arrangements in place for meetings with the current UK Defence Secretary, The Rt Hon Gavin WilliamsonMP,or the US Secretary for Defence, Mr. James Mattis.