Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

The European Defence Agency was established under a Joint Action of the Council of Ministers on 12 July 2004, "to support the member states and the Council in their effort to improve European defence capabilities in the field of crisis management and to sustain the European Security and Defence Policy as it stands now and develops in the future". Following Government approval, Ireland joined the EDA when it was established during the Irish Presidency in 2004. Ireland participates in the framework of the agency and I represent Ireland on the EDA steering board. The steering board acts under the Council's authority and within the framework of guidelines issued by the Council.

Since its inception, the agency has made significant progress on many projects and programmes. Ireland is a contributor to initiatives and the ongoing work programme of the EDA, which includes identifying and overcoming shortfalls in capabilities development to increase the capacity of the Union to undertake appropriate peace support operations. These include initiatives in relation to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosives protection, CBRNE, communication and network systems and improved Counter-IED, improvised explosive devices, capability to enable military forces to operate safely.

In 2007, Ireland joined the Joint Investment Programme on Force Protection, which has a budget of €55 million over three years. Ireland's contribution amounts to €700,000 over the three years. Force protection involves measures to protect personnel engaged in peace support and crisis management operations overseas and is one of the main factors considered when undertaking any operation. Ireland's key interest in the programme is in the development of technologies and capabilities to protect troops from threats such as snipers, booby traps and improvised explosive devices. Body armour, sensors and counter explosive devices are all key elements of the programme.

Ireland also participates in the EDA's code of conduct for defence procurement and a code of best practice in the supply chain, developed to ensure transparency in procurement and security of supply of defence equipment. The EDA have also developed a European bulletin board, which acts as a single portal for defence contract opportunities. This has enabled wider advertising of Ireland's defence force contracts so as to achieve better value for money for Ireland's expenditure on defensive equipment.

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