Simon Coveney to recommend major rise in defence spending due to invasion of Ukraine

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence said: "There is debate happening across the European Union...around how the EU secures its future and protects its people."

Mr Coveney said he plans to bring a very significant memo to Government recommending a significant increase in expenditure on defence. Picture: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin

Simon Coveney has said he intends to bring a memo to Cabinet shortly recommending a significant increase in Ireland's defence spending.

Speaking from Helsinki this morning, as Finland sits poised to join Nato, Mr Coveney, who holds the defence and foreign affairs portfolios, said discussions on military spending have been ramped up since the invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces.