Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

With the defence spend of EU member states on research and technology at an all-time low, the funding provided by way of the preparatory action will advance current capabilities in a way that would not be possible otherwise. The European Defence Agency was established to support member states and the Council in their efforts to improve European defence capabilities in crisis management and sustain the CSDP as it stood and was developed. Ireland has been a strong supporter of the role of the European Union in international crisis management through the CSDP and there is a clear need to ensure that collectively it has the capability to undertake crisis management operations and that member states can commit to support operations mandated by the Council. To this end, it is important that there be the industrial capacity in the European Union to ensure the requisite capabilities. In many instances, we rely on European suppliers to provide the Defence Forces with the defence equiipment necessary to undertake the roles assigned to them by the Government. When Defence Forces personnel travel overseas, we must have the best equipment available to protect our personnel. It is important, therefore, that we partake in such initiatives.

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