Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The White Paper published in 2000 has provided, as the Deputy is aware, the framework within which the defence organisation has responded to the significant changes in the defence and security environment. I am of the view that the preparation for the new White Paper on defence will benefit greatly from an informed and wide-ranging debate on Ireland’s defence policy. To that end and having considered the preliminary work undertaken on the new White Paper, I decided to initiate the preparation of a Green Paper on defence. The purpose of the Green Paper will be to elicit and stimulate the policy debate and discussion.

I expect a draft Green Paper will be submitted to me for consideration shortly. I will subsequently bring a memorandum to Government, early in 2013, seeking formal approval to publish the Green Paper and to initiate the consultation process to inform the White Paper. The new White Paper on defence is scheduled for completion at the end of 2013.

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