Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chairman and members for this opportunity to exchange views on defence matters. I welcome this opportunity to engage with the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence and provide an update on Ireland’s position and role in regard to the European Union Common Security and Defence Policy, CSDP, and my recent attendance at the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council on defence matters on 6 March. My opening statement will provide an update to members on several of the main developments in the EU defence dialogue in recent times. I would also like to provide members with an overview of current peacekeeping missions and to acknowledge the vital role played by the Defence Forces overseas in this anniversary year of Ireland’s first participation on a UN mission in 1958.

In terms of CSDP, Ireland is a strong proponent of the important role the EU can play in support of international peace and security and the UN. It is important, therefore, to remain fully engaged in all CSDP processes. Fully participating in these developments ensures that we have a voice and can influence their evolution. At a time when the world has become a more unstable and insecure place, Ireland remains fully supportive of the efforts of EU member states, within the treaty provisions, to improve the Union's capacity to respond to the challenging security environment, including in the area of defence. Those efforts are being advanced through the implementation of the EU global strategy of foreign policy and security, the Commission’s European defence action plan and enhanced co-operation with international partners, including the UN and NATO.

Ireland's approach to these matters will always be both constructive and realistic. We remain strong supporters of initiatives which improve the capacity of the EU to contribute to international peace and security, particularly in support of the UN and to delivering the necessary capabilities in this regard. Our engagement with our EU colleagues through CSDP currently involves participation in a number of areas.

The Foreign Affairs Council (Defence) held in Brussels on 6 March included an exchange of views on PESCO and on CSDP missions and operations. This was an important opportunity for Ministers to come together to take stock of the PESCO initiative to date and to chart a realistic yet progressive way forward. Discussions were open and constructive and were followed by the adoption of a Council decision detailing the first set of PESCO projects and a Council recommendation on the way forward regarding PESCO implementation. Key areas discussed in respect of the way forward for PESCO were the specific rules governing PESCO projects and the participation of exceptional third states. As members are aware, the Government and the Dáil approved Ireland's participation in PESCO - along with 24 fellow EU member states - last December. The establishment of PESCO represents a further important development in EU co-operation in support of international peace and security under CSDP. Under PESCO, member states will come together in different groups to develop and make available additional capabilities and enablers for peacekeeping and crisis management operations. Participation in PESCO and specific PESCO projects will enable our Defence Forces to further develop their capabilities in support of peacekeeping through collaboration in joint projects with like-minded partners. Joint projects should also drive down the costs of developing and procuring capabilities. Ireland is participating in two PESCO projects as part of the first tranche of PESCO projects agreed via the Council decision by the Foreign Affairs Council (Defence) in March this year. Ireland is participating in the German-led project to develop a centre of excellence for EU military training missions and the Greek-led upgrade of maritime surveillance systems. Ireland's participation in PESCO also involves fulfilling a number of common commitments that are detailed in the national implementation plan, NIP. Ireland and other participating member states recently received general feedback on the first NIPs and will participate in further discussions in this area.

Improving military mobility also features as one of the PESCO projects, with the Netherlands as the lead nation and with the participation of 24 member states. Ireland has observer status on this project for the purpose of keeping abreast of developments in the area. This issue has gained prominence on the EU agenda given difficulties that countries have experienced in moving their troops through other EU countries for the purposes of training and exercises. Perceived obstacles, such as diplomatic clearance and customs requirements, as well as the ability of the EU transport infrastructure to carry heavy military equipment, have been identified. On 28 March 2018, the joint communication regarding the action plan on military mobility was published by President Juncker and the High Representative, Ms Mogherini. The action plan builds on the roadmap on military mobility developed in the framework of the European Defence Agency, EDA, and covers a number of areas, which are military requirements, infrastructure, dangerous goods, customs and VAT, as well as cross-border movement permission. These actions are not restricted to the defence area alone but affect areas for which the Departments of Transport, Tourism and Sport and Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Revenue Commissioners, among others, are responsible. The action plan recognises that full respect will be given to the sovereignty of EU member states over their national territory and national decision-making processes regarding military movements. Ireland welcomes this recognition that our constitutional requirements and national sovereignty relating to this issue cannot be overlooked. The action plan is submitted to the EU member states for consideration and endorsement with the first actions expected to be carried out in the coming months.

The co-ordinated annual review on defence, CARD, aims to create greater transparency amongst member states by sharing information on future defence policy, capability development, budgets and investment by member states. Ireland recognises that CARD could potentially offer opportunities to pool capability requirements and provide a more economic and efficient means of equipment procurement. It could also assist capability development for the Defence Forces by combining with others procuring similar equipment and services. Participation in CARD is open to all member states on a voluntary basis, recognising that the defence policies of member states, including defence spending and capabilities, are entirely a national competence. The detailed implementation and information sharing requirements for CARD have been developed by the EDA and are currently being tested through a trial run that commenced in the autumn of 2017. Ireland is co-operating actively with regard to CARD and a bilateral meeting as part of the CARD trial run took place between Ireland and the EDA on 14 December 2017. A report to Ministers on the trial run will be made in November 2018 with the first full CARD expected to be launched in autumn 2019.

Following on from the adoption of the European defence action plan by the College of Commissioners in November 2016, the European Commission launched the European defence fund last June. The purpose of the fund is to promote research and innovation and contribute to the strengthening of the European defence technology and industrial base and to further stimulate the development of key defence capabilities. The fund is divided into two strands or windows, namely, research and capability development and acquisition. The main feature of the capability development and acquisition strand is the proposed European defence industrial development programme. It is proposed that the programme will be funded from the EU budget. The focus of the fund is on the development of new research and technology in the defence sector. Activities under both the research and capability development and acquisition windows will be linked to defence capability priorities agreed by member states. Ireland sees the fund as a means of supporting the development of EU military capabilities for CSDP operations. The regulation on the European defence industrial development programme is expected to be finalised in May 2018 in order to facilitate financing of projects in 2019.

A key embodiment of CSDP in real terms is Ireland's participation in EU battle groups. Participation in EU battle groups supports the development of rapid deployment skills and capabilities within the Defence Forces, together with improved interoperability with like-minded states. Ireland's participation also reflects our support for the UN. Successive Secretaries General of the UN have endorsed the development of the EU battle group concept and our participation therein. Ireland's active engagement in EU battle groups demonstrates its commitment to the development of EU capabilities in the area of crisis management and contributes to our overall credibility within the Union. It also enhances our capacity to influence the ongoing development and evolution of the rapid response capacity of the EU, particularly the role battle groups can play in reinforcing and acting as a strategic reserve for UN blue-hat operations. Participation in EU battle groups further supports our international security and defence policy by helping to secure essential partners for future UN operations. Ireland has participated in the EU battle groups on a number of occasions commencing with the Nordic battle group in 2008. On 6 February 2018, the Government approved Ireland's participation in the German-led EU battle group 2020, which will be on stand-by for the second six months of 2020. The total number of Defence Forces personnel expected to be involved will be approximately 148. However, this level of resource commitment will only arise should the battle group be called on to undertake an operation and should Ireland agree to participate. The Government decision to participate in the 2020 battle group does not presume any future decision regarding deploying the Defence Forces on an actual battle group operation. Ireland's participation in an actual battle group operation would, as always, be subject to the usual triple-lock requirements of a UN mandate and Government and Dáil approval, as appropriate, in accordance with the Defence Acts. Ireland continues to retain the absolute right to determine for itself, on a case-by-case basis, whether it will participate in any particular battle group operation.

In July 2017, I secured Government and Dáil approval for the deployment of a contingent of the Permanent Defence Force to serve as part of the EU naval operation against human smugglers and traffickers in the southern central Mediterranean entitled Operation Sophia. In the course of the subsequent deployment of LÉ Niamhfrom October to December 2017 as part of Operation Sophia, the crew took part in search and rescue operations rescuing 613 migrants and assisting with a further 107 migrant rescues. In addition, the Irish vessel also undertook activities in support of the core task of the mission including gathering information on oil smuggling, patrols focusing on countering illegal arms trafficking, operations to intercept smugglers and monitoring the effectiveness of the Libyan navy and coastguard activity.

Together with other European Union member states, Ireland must continue to play its part in addressing the migrant crisis.

In February the Government again approved the continued participation of the Naval Service in Operation Sophia. This will involve a total of two naval vessels deployed consecutively during the year for approximately 30 weeks. The Naval Service deployment will run from mid-April to the end of November. Operation Sophia’s mission is to identify, capture and dispose of vessels and enabling assets used or suspected of being used by migrant smugglers or traffickers, which includes the capture and disposal of weapons and oil in the possession of smugglers or traffickers. The objectives of the operation are not only to disrupt the activities of smugglers and traffickers but also to prevent further loss of life at sea and reduce the suffering and exploitation of migrants by countering and challenging the criminal organisations engaged in such activities.

EU-NATO co-operation is a feature of the defence landscape within the European Union, given that 23 of the 28 member states are also members of NATO. Sharing strategic interests and facing similar security challenges, NATO and the European Union co-operate on issues of common interest, particularly in the areas of crisis management, new security threats and capability development. A key focus of this co-operation is to avoid duplication of effort in the development of military capabilities and structures, systems and interoperability standards. Co-operation across both organisations also ensures maximum synergy where both are deployed in the same theatre, for example, in the Balkans, the Mediterranean, the Horn of Africa and Afghanistan. In the face of new and emerging security challenges, in particular, cyber and transnational crime, as well as international terrorism, co-operation is essential in developing an effective and comprehensive response to these more complex security challenges.

In 2017 work continued on a common set of proposals for the implementation of the joint declaration on EU-NATO co-operation. The declaration was made on 8 July 2016 and highlights areas for further co-operation. They focus on co-operation in the key areas of countering hybrid threats, operational co-operation that includes maritime issues, cybersecurity and defence, defence capabilities, defence industry and research, and exercises and capacity building. On 14 June 2017 a joint progress report on implementation on the common set of proposals was issued. A further set of new additional proposals building on the key areas set out was agreed to on 5 December 2017, including new topics such as counterterrorism, military mobility and women, peace and security. In conclusions from 14 December 2017 the European Council requested that work proceed in implementing the full set of proposals, including the additional proposals agreed to in December 2017.

Ireland welcomes greater EU-NATO co-operation where it contributes to international peace and security and is focused on avoiding duplication of structures, systems and interoperability standards. This ensures better coherence and effectiveness on the ground in peace support and crisis management operations. It is important to note that the 2016 declaration confirms that EU-NATO co-operation will fully respect the decision-making autonomy of both organisations and not prejudice the specific character of the security and defence policy of any member state. This is a strong acknowledgement that Ireland’s policy of neutrality and non-NATO membership will in no way be affected by enhanced co-operation.

Ireland has always been a strong supporter of the United Nations and UN-mandated peacekeeping operations. Participation in overseas peacekeeping missions is a key element of Ireland’s foreign policy and has been an important dimension in meeting Ireland’s international obligations as a member of the United Nations and the European Union. A central tenet of Irish foreign policy is support for the multilateral system of collective security represented by the United Nations. In that regard, Ireland has taken seriously its obligation under the United Nations charter to make available to the Security Council armed forces, assistance and facilities in order to contribute to the maintenance of international peace and security.

Ireland’s peacekeeping story began in the Lebanon in 1958, when 50 members of the Permanent Defence Force were deployed as military observers with the UN observer group in Lebanon. Ireland’s first troop contribution came shortly after in 1960, with its deployment to the UN mission in the Congo. Defence Forces personnel have since served in peace support missions all over the world, including Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the Far East and South America. Ireland’s participation in UN and UN-mandated peacekeeping missions is a tangible demonstration of its commitment to the pursuit of international peace and security. We can be justifiably proud that since our first deployment to the Middle East in 1958 not a day has passed without a member of the Permanent Defence Force being on peacekeeping duty somewhere in the world. It is a very practical expression of the values in which we believe and our commitment to the United Nations. This commitment is also expressed in our engagement in the European Union's Common Security and Defence Policy.

Today over 640 Irish men and women are serving on UN duties, with the majority serving in the Middle East, including Ireland’s current contribution of some 375 personnel participating in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL. This is a very significant contribution in the context of the resources available for defence. In all my interactions with mission and political leaders in the host countries during my recent visit overseas what was clearly evident was the respect and high regard they held for the professionalism displayed by Irish peacekeepers. When abroad on peacekeeping duties, the Defence Forces are representing Ireland in a very visible and special way and it is a source of pride for people at home in Ireland.

The Defence Forces and the wider defence organisation are making an invaluable contribution to international peace and security and conflict resolution. This is achieved through their professionalism and competence by engaging with the United Nations, the European Union, NATO, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and other international engagements within a bilateral context.

I have broadly outlined the current state of play in a number of international dimensions of Irish defence policy. Committee members have been provided with briefing material on the specific topics mentioned and I look forward to positive engagement on matters they wish to discuss. Next week I will be travelling to the informal ministerial meeting in Sofia where some of the issues I have highlighted will feature on the agenda for further discussion. I welcome opportunities such as this which stimulate debate in the area of security and defence and can ultimately contribute to public discourse. I thank the committee for its kind invitation.