Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

Our contribution in the eyes of the world will not be undermined. The world has shown great admiration for our contribution over the past 50 years which has been made within the constraints of the triple lock and which will continue. The rapid reaction proposal is one further element which consists of a relatively small group of 1,500 troops going in at five days' notice from the time the decision is taken by the European Council, being supplied to remain for about 30 days, and to be resupplied for a further 30 days. In the vast majority of cases I envisage that will be just a holding operation until such time as the United Nations, either by way of contracting out the job or in the traditional blue helmet way goes in itself. We will certainly be playing our part in that.

In reply to Deputy Gerard Murphy, I am conducting extensive studies at present on all the obstacles that stand in the way of our participation in battle groups to see whether we can get around them within the confines of the triple lock. If it comes to a straight choice between the triple lock and participation in battle groups, my policy will be to stick with the triple lock. We await the outcome of the studies and research that are ongoing, which should not be delayed for much longer.

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