Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

I extend my sympathy to Deputy Deenihan on the passing of his mother. Accordingly, he is not available for the remainder of this debate.

This is a simple Bill and, in many respects, unnecessary. However, Fine Gael supports the concept of it. I realise the Minister in a pragmatic gesture of co-operation decided with his Green colleagues to bring forward this legislation.

There are two main parts to the Bill, one dealing with the issue of the European Defence Agency, EDA. It is important in the first instance to point out that the European Defence Agency assures us that European soldiers participating in peace support operations have modern, safe equipment. In other words, Irish soldiers can participate in operations with soldiers from other countries, including neutral countries like Austria and Sweden, with modern equipment to ensure their safety. Not having the best equipment puts soldiers' lives at risk. Over the years since 1955, 85 soldiers have died in the service of peace.

Participation in any EDA programme is on an entirely voluntary basis. Ireland has participated in programmes in the past. This legislation will bring the matter to the Dáil for approval before we participate in any further programmes with the EDA.

Much was made of this issue during the debate on the Lisbon treaty, with the incorrect suggestion from some quarters that there would be a requirement on us to spend more money on military equipment. The EDA is basically about pooling military resources and availing of economies of scales. It is certainly to Ireland's advantage to participate in such an initiative. I am confident that expenditure on military equipment will ultimately decrease across the European Union as a result of these economies of scale and the pooling of resources. This type of co-operation will also ensure there is greater interoperability between the various forces involved.

It is interesting to note that the United Nations fully supports the development of the European Union's capacity to respond to crises, as outlined in the Petersberg Tasks. The former Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Kofi Annan, in the course of an address to the National Forum on Europe stated:

I want to leave you in no doubt of how important strengthened EU capabilities are to the UN. The EU is in a position to provide specialised skills that our greatest troop contributions may not be able to give us and to deploy more rapidly than we can.

The current Secretary General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, made a similar point when he said in Dublin last July:

The United Nations has an ever expanding relationship with the European Union. Indeed, the EU is one of our most important partners. Let me assure you that Ireland's participation in EU military and civilian missions is fully compatible with its traditional support for the United Nations. This is not a zero sum game in which more support for one institution means less for the other. We are in this together.

Involvement in the European Defence Agency will ensure a more efficient expenditure of resources as we benefit from economies of scale. It will also allow our troops to operate with the best equipment and in a safer environment.

The Bill also addresses the concept of permanent structured co-operation. It was mooted during the campaigns on the Lisbon treaty that developments in this regard would oblige us to participate in certain actions against our will. Realistically, however, it is far more likely that we should be obliged to seek assistance from other member states than vice versa. We have not expended the necessary investment in military equipment and capability to allow us to cope unaided should we encounter any major threat. Under permanent structured co-operation, smaller groups of member states may decide to participate for the purposes of training, logistics or capability deployment. It will not oblige us to engage in missions on behalf of the Union which have not been approved by all member states. In short, Ireland can choose to participate or not in future permanent structured co-operation arrangements. The legislation before us today provides that any proposal to engage in any aspect of such co-operation must receive the approval of the Dáil. While I stated at the outset that the Bill is not strictly necessary, it will be helpful to underline the openness and transparency that will attach to the process. That will allay the fears that have been expressed in this regard by a sizeable section of the population.

Our contribution to peace throughout the world has been significant and has been beneficial to our troops and to our international image. It is very important that everything possible is done to ensure the safety of our troops abroad. Irish troops operate in some very volatile situations, including those engaged in our current largest deployment in Chad. We all welcome the release of Sharon Commins and her Ugandan colleague. Such incidents bring home to us the dangers for Irish personnel, whether peacekeepers, aid workers or others, operating in regions of acute political sensitivity. I ask the Minister for Defence, in conjunction with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, to work with the various aid agencies to review the mechanisms they have or do not have in place for the security of their personnel. It is vital that adequate security arrangements are in place for Irish people working with aid agencies in these sensitive areas. We are all very thankful that the two hostages were released unharmed at a very difficult time, but others have not been so lucky in the past. There must be a review of the security procedures operated by the aid agencies. Not only are individuals at risk but there may be a knock-on effect, for example, for our troops in Chad. I support the Bill.

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