Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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103. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the details of any meetings of the Ukraine defence contact group attended by Ireland in October and to date in November 2022; if he will provide an update on the topics discussed at these meetings; the details of the next meeting of the group; if Ireland will be represented at the next meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58224/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Following Russia’s unprovoked, illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine, a conference was organised by the United States to discuss the Russian invasion of Ukraine at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany on 26 April. This was the first meeting of what became known as the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, which Ireland, along with a number of other countries, was subsequently invited to join.

Since the formation of the group, Ireland has participated in six meetings, with the most recent meetings held on 12 October and 16 November. As on all previous occasions, Ireland was represented at senior official level by the Department of Defence and at senior military level by the Defence Forces. These meetings have alternated between video conferences and in-person meetings.

This Group continues to provide a forum to discuss the response of the international community to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Ireland has provided military equipment in the form of body armour and ready-to-eat meals to the Ukrainian Armed Forces and has committed to contribute a further €66 million through the European Peace Facility.

The contact group has grown to more than 50 participating members, including almost all NATO and EU Member States as well as a number of African and Asian countries.

It is useful for Ireland to avail of all appropriate opportunities for high-level and diplomatic engagement on issues relating to Ukraine, particularly as regards the long-term perspectives for the conflict, the potential scenarios ahead, including any eventual pathway to a negotiated solution, as well as the wider transformation of the European security landscape.

While there is no date agreed yet for the next meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, it is due to take place at Ramstein and, as with previous meetings, it is expected that Ireland will again be represented by a senior Department of Defence official and a senior Defence Forces' officer.