Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

I am sure we all feel better for that. I thank Deputy Calleary for his considered and constructive contribution to this debate. The issues we are dealing with are of importance. I never fail to wonder at what particular world Deputy Boyd Barrett inhabits. He has yet again given us an example of his contrived, selective ideological outrage. I presume he approves of our engagement in peacekeeping. I presume he approves of the Defence Forces engaging in the Lebanon to try to maintain a degree of peace and contribute to a troubled region so that a part of might not be engaged in conflict. I presume he approves of the work done by individuals such as Colonel Mike Beary of our Defence Forces who is trying to train members for an army in Somalia to protect the existing Government there and end the slaughter by the Al-Shabaab group. I recall Deputy Boyd Barrett, in his detestation of NATO, believing that the residents of Bin Ghazi should be left to be slaughtered by Colonel Gadaffi's forces when the French and the British intervened to try to prevent the murder and mayhem that Colonel Gadaffi intended. If we lived in an ideal world, no one would have guns, but it seems to be his perception that, when the Defence Forces are engaged in serious peacekeeping operations, they should be equipped with water pistols rather than any meaningful military supports of any description.

This project is not about armaments, their manufacture or spreading them around the world. In the context of EDA programmes, Ireland participates in the joint investment programme on force protection. This is a research and technology programme that focuses on technologies for protecting EU armed forces against threats such as snipers, booby traps and improvised bombs. Force protection involves measures to protect defence forces engaged in peace support and crisis management operations overseas. It is one of the main factors considered when undertaking any operation. As such, the development of enhanced capabilities in this area is one in which our Defence Forces have a great interest. It was only last week that a report was published about the circumstances in which three members of the Defence Forces tragically lost their lives in 1989 as a consequence of an improvised explosive device. Are we supposed to send our Defence Forces out untrained, helpless and without modern technology to ensure that they can properly engage-----

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