Professor Andrew Cottey:

I will not say much about PESCO. Dr. McDonagh possibly knows more on that. PESCO projects are not only things other states can propose and Ireland join. Ireland, as an EU member state, is perfectly entitled to take the initiative on PESCO projects. Ireland could think of areas in which it could take initiative on new PESCO projects. I will give two examples. One area where the Defence Forces have long-standing expertise and a strong global reputation is in countering improvised explosive devices, IEDs. The Defence Forces have played roles and provided expertise in the Balkans and Afghanistan in relation to this. Why not a PESCO project initiated by Ireland to help strengthen counter-IED and related technologies? Likewise, maybe there is scope for PESCO projects related to undersea cables. The Government should not only think of existing projects it might join, but of areas where Ireland might take the initiative.

On the defence budget and capabilities, my broad answer is that there is a long way to go. Irish defence spending is comparatively very low. Ireland is one of the lowest spenders on defence not just in the EU but globally. The capabilities of the Defence Forces have effectively been run down and declined over decades. There is much work to do.

On the Naval Service end, the radars are a necessity. That would at least give Ireland a picture of the airspace, although it would not give it any capability to intercept foreign aircraft or whatever.

Buying a fully equipped, modern combat airforce would be extremely expensive and just may not be the sensible way to go. My own view is that at least some real transparency and real public discussion about the nature of this semi-secret, undeclared air defence agreement with the United Kingdom would be very welcome. The Irish public would be able to cope with a real adult conversation about this rather than hiding this issue.