Ireland will host hundreds of EU meetings when it takes over the presidency of the Council of the EU between July and the end of the year.

Simon Harris said he would be open to accessing EU loans for defence spending.

The Minister for Defence told a joint committee that, despite reports, Ireland has not made security agreements with other countries.

Minister of Defence, Helen McEntee said it was ‘essential’ that Ireland’s defence continued to be funded amid ’emerging’ threats.