Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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220. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he and or his officials staff met with Russian officials, diplomats or military staff in respect of Russian plans to conduct artillery drills off the coast of this jurisdiction (details supplied); if so, if he will publish minutes and or memos attached to those meetings; and if he will provide the date on which he was informed of Russian plans to conduct these drills. [4135/22]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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222. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which concerns are being expressed to the Russian authorities in regard to the use of a sea area close to Irish territorial waters for military manoeuvres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4172/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 220 and 222 together.

The Government is aware of planned Russian naval exercises taking place off the south west coast of Ireland in early February. The exercises are not taking place within Ireland’s territorial waters, but 240 kilometres off the south west coast and within Ireland’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Under international law, states are entitled to freedom of navigation in another state’s EEZ, having due regard to the rights and duties of the coastal state. The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) was informed of the exercise via standard procedures and issued a statement to that effect.

However, in light of the current political and security environment in Europe, I have raised a number of concerns with the Russian Ambassador to Ireland in respect of these exercises. Officials from my Department, including the Secretary General of the Department of Foreign Affairs, have also held several additional discussions with the Russian Ambassador in this regard.

In the course of these conversations, I have clearly outlined to the Russian Ambassador our concerns in relation to both the timing and the nature of these planned naval exercises. As I have previously stated, we find ourselves at a moment when there is a need for de-escalation, to lower tensions and to avoid military activity that could be seen as unhelpful.

During the meeting of EU Foreign Ministers in Brussels, our discussions focused on the security situation in Europe, with a focus on Ukraine. During the discussions, I also informed my EU colleagues about the planned Russian naval exercises.