Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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42. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the input his Department has made to the EU’s White Paper for European Defence – Readiness 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60380/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The White Paper for European Defence – Readiness 2030, published on 19 March 2025, is a Joint Communication by the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and the EU Commission that seeks to mitigate some of the threats and challenges Europe collectively faces.

It outlines a strategic direction with proposals aimed at closing critical capability gaps, enhancing military mobility, and strengthening the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base. It also encourages voluntary cooperation among Member States to strengthen their security.

The proposals present options on how Member States can make the investments necessary in the coming years in a collaborative way that strengthen the European defence industrial base and reduces dependencies outside of the Union. As such, the matters proposed within touch upon not just the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces, but cut across a range of other Government Departments.

Prior to the Paper’s publication, Ireland engaged constructively at political and senior official level with relevant counterparts both in Brussels and across European capitals. In addition, there was close cooperation with colleagues across Government, where matters proposed within the Paper fell across the agenda of the various relevant Council formations. This engagement ensured that Ireland’s national position in this regard was understood.

We will continue to engage constructively on the various initiatives that are being progressed at EU level.