Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

133. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the engagements that he has had with the National Security Committee; if the Committee has reviewed Ireland’s international position in the National Security Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22969/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As Minister for Foreign Affairs, I do not have a direct engagement with the National Security Committee. The Committee is chaired by the Secretary General to the Government and is comprises senior level official representatives from the Departments of Justice, Defence, Foreign Affairs, Environment, Communications and Climate and of the Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces.

The Committee is concerned with ensuring that the Taoiseach and Government are briefed on cross-cutting national security issues.

Having regard to the confidential nature of the work of the Committee, it is the long-standing practice not to disclose information about individual meetings or their proceedings. However, in addition to regular meetings, the members of the Committee liaise on an ongoing basis to monitor and coordinate on issues related to national security. 

In relation to the National Security Strategy, this is being coordinated by the Department of the Taoiseach and I understand that work on the document is ongoing. The Department of Foreign Affairs is inputting into this work.