Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

In his question Deputy Ó Snodaigh referred to this matter being decided in Innsbruck on 6 and 7 March. This is incorrect. No decision was taken. It was discussed in a general way and the view around the table was that it will have to be teased out more before any decision, even a decision in principle, is taken. If a decision is taken at the May meeting or a subsequent meeting to go ahead with this programme it will be for each state to decide whether to participate. Deputy Ó Snodaigh referred to a statement by Mr. Javier Solana. While I am aware of Mr. Solana's views and he has his own brief, the defence ministries of the member states have no plans, collectively or individually, to increase expenditure in the short term. Ireland is no exception.

What is proposed is a system to get better value for the money we are spending. The defence equipment, research and technology markets are fragmented. Individual countries purchase their equipment, research and technology. The goal of the EDA is to create a centralised market whereby they purchase together in the hope of getting greater value for money. It is not a matter of spending more but of maximising the value we are getting from existing expenditure. On the surface it appears we have no great reason to join this because what is proposed is joint investment in research and technology, initially in force protection such as body armour. As far as I am aware there will be no nuclear aspect to that.

Ireland spends no taxpayers' money on military research and technology. However the technology and research used by civil firms, particularly in computing and communications, is increasingly being integrated into military technology. Items produced by civil companies may be used by the military, for example truck gear boxes made by a civil company could end up in army trucks although that was not the initial intention. A number of Irish companies supply components for other companies which finish up in military hardware produced elsewhere. If Irish companies could achieve economies of scale as a result of the joint approach proposed by the EDA, I would look positively on it. It is not immediately apparent that the benefits will be sufficiently significant. We must return to the drawing board at the next meeting, in May, which I will attend, and see precisely what is proposed. I will examine it from the perspective of private Irish companies rather than that of the Government because it spends no money on military research and technology and has no intention of doing so.

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