Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

I can give the Deputy the figure. The costs incurred by Ireland in respect of our participation in the EDA over the three-year period has been €1.185 million in total, comprising €585,000 in 2009, €316,000 in 2010 and €284,000 to date in 2011. The Deputy might note that the 2009 figure includes a contribution of €240,000 to a joint investment programme on force protection. On 27 September, I sought and received approval from Dáil Éireann for Ireland's participation in a category A project on chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear, CBRN, protection and a category B project on maritime surveillance, pursuant to section 2 of the Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009. The cost of participating in the CBRN project is approximately €150,000 during a period of four years. The cost of participating in the maritime surveillance project is estimated at €105,000 over three years.

The Deputy might also be interested to know that our contribution to the EU satellite centre in the past three years has been a total of €470,000 in total, comprising €178,000 in 2009, €152,000 in 2010 and €140,000 in 2011. This is essentially a joint payment by the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Defence, as data supplied by the centre are in respect of civilian and military missions.

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