Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am a former Minister. What is really happening here is we do not know what we want to do. Are we going to engage in peacekeeping or are we going to extend from peacekeeping into other areas, which is not traditional for the Defence Forces? Peacekeeping is something that Ireland is proud of. Ireland is probably the best in the world at peacekeeping but now we are being dragged in to all other areas.

The wording used is "crisis management". What is crisis management? Crisis management can mean anything. Our Defence Forces have an expertise second to none in terms of peacekeeping abroad. Our Defence Forces are small. We have to look after our own country as well as engaging in peacekeeping missions abroad but we are now talking about crisis management. Crisis management extends so far that one is talking about something way beyond what was traditional for the Defence Forces. The question now is whether we are going to make up our mind that we will engage in peacekeeping only, not crisis management, because crisis management covers a multitude. We are asking for the impossible here.

The reputation we have built up in producing peacekeeping forces in various parts of the world is second to none. Are we going to drag ourselves into operations called, "crisis management"? That is a totally different scenario from peacekeeping. It involves a different form of training and having the equipment to deal with crisis management.

Down through the years, like the Minister of State, Deputy Kehoe, I am sure, I was so proud when I went to visit the troops abroad of the manner in which they became part of the community. It was incredible the way they built up this skill of becoming part of the community that they were there to protect. It was not down to the sort of machinery or the sort of tools of trade they had with them but it was down to their individual skills.

I fear we are now talking about serving overseas on peacekeeping and crisis management operations. What are we asking our Defence Forces to do? Are we asking them to serve overseas on peacekeeping and crisis management? That is a totally different area.

I ask that we revert to what we were the best at, namely, peacekeeping. We do not want all of this. Leave it to others, if they want to become part and parcel of battle groups. Battle groups are not peacekeepers. The words "battle groups" mean that they are trained to go into battle. Do we want to be part of the battle groups? Since when do peacekeepers become involved in battle groups? With the greatest respect, we are losing our way here.

As far as I am concerned, I will, for as long as I am here which, unfortunately, will not be long now, defend the role of the Defence Forces in peacekeeping. Leave it to others who want to play games with battle groups, which is a totally different skill. We were highly respected abroad. Our troops are so highly respected that they are away above all this comment on the equipment and the manner in which they go about doing what they are supposed to be doing.

There has to be a cut-off point. The Minister of State and his officials may disagree with my point of view. I am setting out my point of view that the Defence Forces are excellent, the best in the world, at peacekeeping but I doubt very much if they would have the same skills as those in crisis management and in getting involved in battle groups. There is a hell of a difference between peacekeeping and battle groups, it is as simple as that.

I fear we are losing our way because it is the in thing in Europe that we are supposed to participate in all areas of activities, including battle groups. Next we will be called on to contribute to crisis management, which involves a different aspect of peacekeeping.

I urge colleagues to be careful about extending our activities beyond our capabilities. We are a small country with an expertise in peacekeeping. We should be proud of what we are doing and proud to train others in our methods of peacekeeping and not become one of the gang which is involved in battle groups.

It is important we get a message across that we are not participating in other activities because the other boys in Europe are engaged. Just because Germany is involved in battle groups, are the Paddys going to be involved in battle groups? My answer to that is "No". We should not be and we should stick to what we are excellent at.

We have contributed to peacekeeping around the world. I was so proud when I was a Minister and I witnessed the manner in which the members of the Defence Forces integrated into the areas where they were protecting the local community. They were not hostile. They did not need the most modern piece of equipment because it was about the manner in which they went about their peacekeeping mission.

It is better to be good at something than to be half-good at many things. My argument is about letting us keep being very good at peacekeeping.