Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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245. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he and or the Defence Forces 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); and if so, if he will publish minutes and or memos attached to those meetings. [4134/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I have not met with any Russian officials, diplomats or military staff in relation to plans for Russian naval exercises off the south-west coast of Ireland in early February. In my capacity as Minister for Foreign Affairs, I have spoken to the Russian Ambassador to convey the Government's concerns in respect of these exercises, particularly in light of the current political and security environment in Europe.

The Russian Ambassador paid a courtesy visit to the new Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces on 21 January. It is normal practice that foreign ambassadors and or defence attachés would pay routine courtesy calls on a newly appointed Chief of Staff. Since his appointment in September 2021, he has had a number of such meetings with foreign ambassadors and defence attachés and others are foreseen over the coming weeks.

There was no discussion in the course of this meeting about the forthcoming Russian naval exercises in the Atlantic.