Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

What impact, if any, will this decision have on funding? Will additional funding be required and, if so, will it come from the present resources of the Defence Vote or will additional resources have to be obtained elsewhere? When will the Minister bring forward legislation? Will the Minister confirm what legislation, if any, is necessary to implement this proposal?

Will the report the Minister was given in November be made public? If it is to be published, when will it be made available? In his reply, the Minister stated that he did not have formal discussions with any of our EU partners but did he have informal discussions with them? Why did we pick Sweden and, it appears, that country alone? I am not saying there is anything incorrect in that as we have served with it in Liberia. It strikes me, however, that in view of the Good Friday Agreement, the so-called special new relationship with our nearest neighbour and the fact that it speaks the same language, we should have consulted the British on joining them. In the recent past, we have served alongside British forces in Cyprus. It would be much easier from an interoperability viewpoint to deal with the British who are very near to us.

I understand from the Minister's statement that Ireland will not be involved in such a battle group before 2010. If I am wrong, the Minister may correct me. Will the Minister not agree that the triple lock mechanism will give rise to efficiency? It is time for the Government to examine this neutrality rubbish we have spoken about. Ireland is not neutral so it is time we decided what our foreign policy should be. We should be mature enough to make such decisions in this House. I realise that the Minister is a bit concerned about scaremongering from certain quarters.

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