Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have answered parliamentary questions, both written and oral, about PESCO. I replied to written Parliamentary Questions on 16 December 2016, 17 May 2017, 12 July 2017, 27 July 2017 and 17 November 2017. I replied to oral parliamentary questions on 11 July 2017, a Topical Issue debate on 21 November 2017 and a Commencement debate in the Seanad on 21 November 2017. PESCO has also discussed in the Dáil by the current Taoiseach and the former Taoiseach. It was addressed in statements on the European Council on 8 March 2017, 21 March 2017, 18 October 2017 and 25 October 2017 and in oral parliamentary questions on 8 November 2017 and 14 November 2017. The Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs, Deputy McEntee, has discussed PESCO on a number of occasions, as has the Oireachtas Committee on European Affairs on 5 July 2017 and 9 November 2017. The matter was also addressed in statements on the European Council on 25 October 2017, as well as in parliamentary questions to the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. If the Deputy looks at the Lisbon treaty, she will see that PESCO is very well documented in it.

I have no issue with a national debate. Such a debate is a matter for the Oireachtas and the people. The Chairman has invited me here to give quarterly updates to the committee and I have committed to that. I have no problem with it whatsoever. I have never refused to come to this committee to debate any defence issue. Never have I failed to come to the Dáil to answer parliamentary questions or reply to a Topical Issue matter.

The Deputy spoke about our neutrality. The final wording of the document on PESCO states:

Participating Member States will meet their binding commitments, confirming that the establishment and implementation of Permanent Structured Cooperation will be undertaken in full compliance with the provisions of the [Treaty on European Union] and the protocols attached thereto and respecting constitutional provisions of the member States

This is something we had stitched into the final PESCO documentation four days before it was cleared on 13 November last. I brought this to the Government on 21 November. I then sent notification to the Oireachtas that the Government wished to bring this measure through the Dáil before 11 December. Our neutrality is not undermined in any way in this document. Legal advice we have received states that we are fully compliant with our policy on neutrality. I am very proud of the work Irish Defence Forces do at home and abroad. The Deputy mentioned its humanitarian work. The Defence Forces carry out a considerable amount of humanitarian work that goes unnoticed.

The Deputy spoke about a military solution. If she visits Mali, she will see the great work that Irish Defence Forces members are doing there to bring stability to that country. This is the work of which I am proud. The Deputy mentioned Denmark. She forgot that Denmark is a member of NATO and has its own opt-out policy. The threats we face as a country are totally different to those we faced ten, 15 or 20 years ago. I really believe we must man up to that and be prepared for it.