Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

The justice side is somewhat different to the defence side because of the role of the EU representative for foreign affairs and security policy, Baroness Catherine Ashton. I do not wish to comment on it in advance of engaging with her on the agenda. We have particular issues on which we do want to focus which we regard as of importance and to which we believe we can make a contribution. I can mention some of these to the Deputy but I do not wish to go into them in any substantial detail. Effectively, in the context of plenary discussions that have been taking place we hope to advance priorities in the defence realm but no final decisions have been taken regarding the main priorities.

If the Deputy attended those meetings he would know there are several issues that are constantly a focal point of discussion. Some of them are of general importance in the context of the European Union, such as the difficulty with piracy in the Horn of Africa. Colonel Mike Beary is engaged in training Somali troops in Uganda to support the interim government in Uganda. The issue and the area will continue to be one of focus and concern. Issues arise as to how piracy should be addressed and the kidnapping of individuals. There is substantial co-operation between European Union countries in that regard. That area will continue to be one of substantial concern but there is a range of other issues.

Following the discussions that are currently taking place I hope to be in a position to indicate to the House some areas of priority. Unlike justice, in the defence area issues can suddenly emerge that one must prioritise. It may well be that we will not have a final and clear view of priorities until we get into the second half of this year, but I have no doubt the problems in the Horn of Africa will continue, unfortunately, for some considerable time. The European Union is playing an important role in trying to address those difficulties. In the related difficulties in Somalia, Colonel Mike Beary is in charge of a multinational training force which is making a major contribution to assisting to bring the serious problems that exist in Somalia under some level of control so that there is a working defence force within that country. That is a matter of substantial importance because of the difficulties within there.

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