Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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150. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of formal and informal Council of the European Union meetings that have been held since 27 June 2020 under the remit of his Department; and the number of formal and informal meetings, respectively, held virtually. [10811/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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During each European Union Presidency, both formal and informal meetings of Defence Ministers are held within the Council of the European Union. There is no separate Defence Ministers' Council within the Council of the European Union.

Twice a year - once during each Presidency - Defence Ministers attend the formal Foreign Affairs Council in Defence Ministers' configuration.

In the period from 27 June 2020 to date, two Council of the European Union meetings relating to Defence have taken place, one informal in August and one formal in November.

I was regretfully unable to attend the Informal Meeting of EU Defence Ministers hosted by Germany on 26 August 2020 but Ireland’s Ambassador to Germany attended in-person on my behalf. I attended the formal Meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Defence Ministers configuration which was hosted via videoconference on the 20 November 2020.

The informal Defence Ministerial Meeting which was scheduled to be held in Lisbon on 2-3 March 2021 was postponed by the Portuguese Presidency until late spring. No revised date has been provided yet.