Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 30 March 2021

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence

European Defence Agency Project and Defence Forces Service in the UN: Motions

Photo of Sorca ClarkeSorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his time this afternoon. As part of the Common Security and Defence Policy, does MARSUR oblige the State to align our foreign or defence policies to those of other member states? If it does, is there a presumption that Irish interests and the interests of other member states will always align? The Minister spoke of spending money on our military and opting into projects. Is there, whether intentionally or unintentionally, a possibility of this quid pro quoof software for naval operations, creating a situation where the Government becomes over-reliant on this provision of software and hardware, thereby resulting in us not being able to withdraw at a future date?

The Minister also mentioned cybersecurity, which does not fall under the Department of Defence remit. We have spoken about this before and the Minister acknowledged his issues and concerns about that fact. How does the cybersecurity of MARSUR meet with the needs or asks of the Department of Defence?

I too would like to know the future impact of Irish participation given the retention and the recruitment crisis in the Defence Forces, particularly in the Naval Service. MARSUR ensures more funding from EU budgets for the arms industry, for obvious reasons, but it also includes technology. Technology has been developed by private companies with EU funds which has then been exported outside the EU to countries that would not, in any way, be aligned with our position on foreign affairs, humanitarian work and peacekeeping. In fact, these countries have a long and shameful track record of human rights abuses. How will the Minister address those concerns in asking Ireland to agree to this while knowing the potential is there for other countries, which have this shameful track record, benefitting from it?

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.