Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

The Government has taken no decision to date on participation or non-participation in the battle group concept to which the Deputy referred. I do not accept there is a widespread conspiracy to deprive the UN of sufficient troops for peacekeeping to allow the EU to develop its capacity. It came to world attention in the early 1990s, especially in the situation in the Balkans, that people can be slaughtered, murdered, raped and attacked on European soil and at that time the European Union had no capacity to do anything about it. The nations of Europe decided collectively that they should get involved in peacekeeping and peacemaking in such circumstances, not only outside Europe but also on European soil. This development is not in competition with UN policy but has occurred in tandem with it and with UN agreement. The UN specifically requested the EU to become involved in some of the missions in which it has become involved latterly, including the mission in Macedonia and the programme in the Congo in 2003, which prevented many innocent civilians being slaughtered and gave breathing space to the UN to allow it establish a permanent force in the region.

As I said in respect of the battle group concept, which is a misnomer and misleading — I will elaborate on this further in response to another question — the reality is that the developments in question are happening not only by agreement with the UN but also at its instigation. I am not aware that the Government is involved in any conspiracy to denude the UN in favour of the EU. All the missions being undertaken by the EU and some missions by NATO are being engaged in at the specific request and by sanction of the UN.

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