Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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322. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the recent Memorandum of Understanding between Ireland and the United Kingdom has been placed before the Dáil (placed in the Dáil Library); and if not can the Minister advise when it will be. [39118/26]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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On March 11 last, I signed an updated Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with my UK counterpart, the Secretary of State for Defence, John Healey, MP.

This Memorandum of Understanding is a refresh of the existing Memorandum agreed in 2015 and focuses on providing a framework for developing and furthering bilateral co-operation and relations between my Department and the UK Ministry of Defence. It also takes into account training, staff exchanges and education related matters and promotes cooperation that includes both military and civilian personnel.

There will be a continued focus on the already existing co-operation arrangements in the Defence area between Ireland and the UK on a more formal and transparent footing, which respects fully the differing policy positions and security arrangements of both countries and continues to underpin the longstanding and positive engagement that exists between the Defence Forces and the UK Armed Forces, particularly in the area of training and staff to staff meetings.

While Dáil approval was not required for either the original, or for the refreshed, Memorandum of Understanding between Ireland and the United Kingdom, in the interests of transparency and good administrative practices, and as with the 2015 MoU, arrangements will be made to lay the Refreshed MoU before the Houses of the Oireachtas in due course.