Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I commend the motion to approve Ireland's participation in the European Union's permanent structured cooperation framework, PESCO. I missed the beginning of the debate because I was at a committee, but I could make a fair stab at guessing some of the points raised and the scaremongering which I expect has come from the Opposition benches. It is important to set out the facts clearly when considering the motion. PESCO will ultimately enhance the capability of UN-mandated missions engaged in peacekeeping and conflict prevention and the strengthening of our international security. When one considers the fantastic reputation of Ireland's Defence Forces internationally and the amazing peacekeeping work they do, approving this proposal makes perfect sense.

We must bear in mind the many threats we face at this time. We have a tendency to feel secure in neutral Ireland, but the reality is that there are threats all over the world that could manifestly impact on us. Most of these risks cannot be faced down by a single country acting alone, particularly not a country of this size. If we take, for example, the threat of cyberterrorsim, there has been a huge increase in cyber hacking and a sense that a great deal of it is coming from Russia and a number of other countries. Computers fly aeroplanes, run transport systems and operate banks and hospitals. An attack on these computer systems could see all of our services grinding to a halt. When we see cyber hacking activities linked with the countries I mentioned, it is clear that we need a positive and proactive plan to address them. I want to see the European Union of which this country is part taking a co-ordinated approach to this issue and Ireland at the heart of it. One of the projects we will consider participating in if we do join PESCO involves tackling cyber threats and devising an incident response information-sharing platform. It makes perfect sense for us to engage actively with our EU partners in this important area.

Joining PESCO will be good for the Defence Forces. The Tánaiste was very clear earlier that there was absolutely no obligation under PESCO to increase our defence expenditure to 2% of GDP. Having said that, I want to see increased investment in the Defence Forces in the future, not just in equipment and infrastructure but also in personnel. Members saw a significant reduction in their allowances late in the past decade. If we are to continue to attract and retain the best people, we must move to reinstate these allowances.

Another project in which we might consider participating, under the PESCO framework, involves the establishment of a centre of excellence for EU military training missions. In fact, not only should we look to participate in that initiative, we should also seek to host the training. The 2015 White Paper on Defence outlined an ambitious plan to develop a peace and leadership institute in the Curragh Camp, which would help to build our international reputation as a world leader in peacekeeping and conflict resolution. I hope our joining PESCO will lead to the advancement of that proposal. It would involve the development of a state-of-the-art institute of international standing to which non-governmental organisations and politicians from all over the world could come to study peace enforcement and conflict resolution strategies. That type of investment would not only enhance our international reputation but also create significant employment in south Kildare and attract substantial investment into the area.

A previous speaker on the other side of the House expressed the view that the PESCO initiative was being driven by the armaments industry. I was at a meeting in Brussels last Monday of the chairs of national European People's Party parties, at which concern was expressed that the main opposition to PESCO would come from the arms industry because, in fact, the agreement did not suit it at all. After all, one of the objectives is to encourage the sharing of equipment by member states. Countries in Europe which currently spend a great deal of money on defence are doing so individually, without talking to others. The sharing of equipment would see lower purchase volumes and a more strategic and smarter approach to purchases made. To clarify, the view among member states is that one of the main threats to PESCO will come in the form of an attempt by the arms industry to undermine it by way of some of the scaremongering arguments we have heard from Opposition Members.

I have more to say, but I am almost out of time. Participation in PESCO will fully respect the constitutional provisions of all member states.

It does not affect our military neutrality in any way. The triple lock still holds such that if Ireland is to engage in any peacekeeping activity it must have a United Nations Security Council resolution or mandate a Government decision and Dáil approval. There is nothing to fear from PESCO. It provides a good opportunity for our Defence Forces and I commend the motion to the House.

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