Vol. 567 No. 7
141 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on proposals for closer co-operation in EU defence as represented in the proposed draft EU constitutional treaty and the recent mini-defence summit held by France, Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13157/03]
165 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government's position in relation to the recently announced European military alliance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15137/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 141 and 165 together.
On closer co-operation issues, I refer the Deputy to my reply to Priority Question No. 3. As regards the recent so-called mini-summit on security and defence and the matter raised by Deputy Durkan, the Government considers the event itself and the issues raised to be matters for the four countries concerned. For our part, Ireland's consideration of these issues in so far as they arise at EU level will continue to occur via the ongoing Convention on the Future of Europe and at the forthcoming intergovernmental conference.
