Vol. 498 No. 2
167 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the discussions, if any, he or any of the military authorities have had with their European counterparts in the context of European defence or security; his intentions, if any, in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27058/98]
Matters relating to European defence and security issues arise in the course of the biennial ministerial council meetings of the Western European Union which are attended by Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Defence. The most recent such meeting was held in Rome last month during Italy's Presidency of the Western European Union. In accordance with Ireland's observer status at the Western European Union I, together with my colleague Deputy Andrews, attended the meeting.
As I indicated when I reported to the House on 11 November 1998 and again today on my attendance at the meeting in Vienna of EU Defence Ministers on the 3 and 4 of November, 1998 matters relating to such issues were touched upon.
