Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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237. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the engagement he has had with the UK Secretary of State to date in 2021 with regard to the defence memorandum of understanding between Ireland and the UK; the number of meetings he has had to date in 2021 on this matter with the UK Secretary of State; the details of the matters discussed at such meetings in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35621/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I spoke by telephone with the current UK Secretary of State for Defence, Ben Wallace, MP in July of 2020. The main focus of our discussion related to areas of mutual interest covered by the UK-IRL Memorandum of Understanding on aspects of defence cooperation.

An in-person meeting which was planned to take place in April of this year in London was unfortunately cancelled. It is hoped to reschedule this meeting when circumstances permit. I have not, therefore, had any official engagement with the UK Secretary of State this year with regard to the defence memorandum of understanding between Ireland and the UK.