Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 October 2022
400. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Defence the meetings of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group that have been attended by representatives of Ireland in which those meetings took place; and on what date those meetings took place, and the person or body that has represented Ireland at those meetings. [51668/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing Russia’s unprovoked, illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine, a conference was organised by the United States to discuss the Russian invasion of Ukraine at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany on 26 April. This was the first meeting of what became known as the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, which Ireland, along with a number of other countries, was subsequently invited to join.
Since the formation of the group, Ireland has participated in five meetings which took place on 23 May, 15 June, 20 July, 8 September and most recently on 12 October. On each occasion, Ireland was represented at senior official level from the Department of Defence and at senior military level by the Defence Forces. These meetings have alternated between video conferences and in-person meetings.
This Group provides a forum to discuss the response of the international community to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Ireland has provided military equipment in the form of body armour and ready-to-eat meals to the Ukrainian Armed Forces and has committed to contribute a further €55 million through the European Peace Facility.
The contact group has grown to more than 50 participating members, including almost all NATO and EU Member States as well as a number of African and Asian countries.
It is useful for Ireland to avail of all appropriate opportunities for high-level and diplomatic engagement on issues relating to Ukraine, particularly as regards the long-term perspectives for the conflict, the potential scenarios ahead, including any eventual pathway to a negotiated solution, as well as the wider transformation of the European security landscape.
