Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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A proposal to explore the potential for Defence Attaché appointments to EU member states / third countries is a component of a White Paper project which is due to commence in 2022.

The initial project sought to "progress options for building on existing bilateral relations through staff exchanges, exploring the option of Defence Attaché appointments to key EU member states/third countries where appropriate, developing bilateral MOUs and more regular civil/military staff to staff engagements".

A number of elements of the project which were outlined in 2015 have already been mainstreamed into the normal work of Department branches, resulting in a reduction in overall scope of the project. It is now expected that the initial project will merge with another project which aims to "...prepare a specific short-term review to assess the increased capacity required in staffing in international fora."

I am aware of the value and benefit that Defence appointments can bring to certain key embassies. At present Ireland provides ten Military Representatives / Military Advisors to the EU, UN, NATO (via the Partnership for Peace office) and the OSCE. Recently, the Defence representation in the Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York increased, with the deployment of a Deputy Military Advisor and an Assistant Principal from my Department to assist with the additional peacekeeping work that the Security Council seat has brought. Consideration around the potential benefits of expanding our bilateral engagement through the embassy network to include Defence Attachés will be advanced through the White Paper project commencing next year.