Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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183. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the benefits he considers are associated with membership of the Chiefs of European Navies (Chen); the conditions of membership; the resources that Ireland are obliged to input into Chen on an ongoing basis; the financial costs associated with membership of the organisation in 2020, 2021, 2022 and estimate for 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24601/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The annual meeting of the Chiefs of European Navies (CHENS) took place in Cork on 17 and 18 May, chaired by the Flag Officer Commanding the Naval Service Commodore Michael Malone.

CHENS is an informal, independent and non-political forum whose members include the Chiefs of each European maritime nation that is either a member of the EU or NATO and has naval armed forces. Due to its informal nature, each Chief of Navy attends the meeting as the senior flag officer of their respective navy, and not as an official representative of his country. There are no conditions attached to membership other than those outlined above.

I support the overall goals of CHENS which are to continuously promote cooperation among the member countries’ military navies, evaluate the common interest issues and increase awareness of the member countries in the maritime field.

CHENS meetings take place annually, usually in the month of May in one of the CHENS member countries, and are hosted by the current chairman. Chairmanship changes annually on a rotational basis- Ireland last hosted the annual meeting in 2001. The Slovenian Armed forces will assume the CHENS presidency after Ireland.

Ireland is not obliged to contribute any resources to CHENS other than the expertise of the Flag Officer Commanding the Naval Service. The only financial costs associated with membership of CHENS relate to the travel and subsistence costs arising from attendance at the annual meeting.

The estimated cost of hosting CHENS in 2023 is not yet available as the event has just concluded. However, I am advised by the Military authorities that the costs associated with hosting this event are within the limits set out in Department of Finance Circular 25/2000 on Official Entertainment.