Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

Representation at meetings of the European Defence Agency, EDA, is a matter for the Department of Defence and I have no function in the matter.

Enterprise Ireland does not represent Ireland at meetings of the EDA and has no powers to conclude agreements relating to the EDA on behalf of the State. Meetings of the EDA are attended by staff from the Department of Defence. However, I understand that Enterprise Ireland has provided preliminary technical assistance to the Department of Defence at EDA meetings in relation to a research and development programme which the EDA has decided to undertake and in which the Minister for Defence has determined that Ireland should participate. On the basis of that decision, the Department of Defence has requested the involvement of Enterprise Ireland in identifying Irish companies which may potentially participate in this research programme and thereby benefit from the funding which is available from EDA projects. That Department has also requested the involvement of Enterprise Ireland in relation to Ireland's representation in the management of the said research programme by the EDA. These requests are currently under consideration.

The decision to establish an intergovernmental agency in the field of defence capabilities development, research, acquisition and armaments, known as the European Defence Agency, was formally adopted at the General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting on 12 July 2004. Ireland participates in the framework of the European Defence Agency, pursuant to a Government decision of 6 July 2004. The agency is an intergovernmental agency within the framework of ESDP and Ireland is represented on the steering board by my colleague, the Minister for Defence.

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