European Council Meetings.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 November 2005

Thursday, 3 November 2005

Ceisteanna (26, 27, 28)

Simon Coveney

Ceist:

15 Mr. Coveney asked the Minister for Defence when he last attended a Council of Ministers meeting; the discussions held at the meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31943/05]

Ciarán Cuffe

Ceist:

45 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Defence if he will report on the EU Defence ministerial conference held on 13 October 2005, at RAF Lyneham, Wiltshire, England; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32042/05]

Seán Ryan

Ceist:

61 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Defence if he will report on the informal meeting of EU Defence Ministers in the United Kingdom on 13 October 2005; the issues that were raised at this meeting; if any decisions were taken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32006/05]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Defence (Mr. O’Dea)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 15, 45 and 61 together.

The Deputies will be aware that there is no Defence Ministers Council formation and that meetings of EU Defence Ministers have informal status.

Two meetings are normally held during each Presidency, one of which takes place as part of the General Affairs and External Relations Council, GAERC. I attended the Defence Ministers informal meeting, as part of the GAERC, in Brussels on 23 May 2005. Ministers discussed military capabilities, rapid response, were briefed by the Head of the European Defence Agency on the activities of the agency since its establishment, and discussed EU operations over lunch.

An informal meeting of EU Defence Ministers was held in the United Kingdom on 13 October 2005. However, due to prior engagements, I was unable to attend this meeting and I was represented by Government Chief Whip and Minister of State at the Departments of the Taoiseach and Defence, Deputy Tom Kitt.

The meeting began with a peace support operation capability demonstration by UK forces. Ministers also witnessed a demonstration of UK air-to-air refuelling capabilities. This was followed by a working lunch at which progress on Operation Althea in Bosnia and Herzegovina was discussed. As the meeting was informal, and not a decision-making forum, no formal conclusions were drawn. The informal meeting was followed by a meeting of the European Defence Agency Steering Board.