Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I note the breathtaking speed with which the Government and the Minister of State have advanced this business through the House. It is disappointing the defence matters of pay and conditions that we often discuss do not receive the same level of attention. We have had many promises about deadlines around quarter 1 - quarter 2 and we have had continuous delays, yet this proposal is being advanced within a two-week window. Perhaps the Minister of State could address pay and conditions and the core issues regarding defence-related expenditure in this House with the same degree of urgency and at a similar pace.

I welcome that we have a formal declaration of support from military management for this project. I support it and I will outline the reason I do so shortly. However, we know that military management has not supported everything the Minister of State's Department has progressed in recent months. It is unfortunate that some of the recommendations from military management around the pay commission were dropped and ignored by his Department. We need to see greater collaboration and agreement on many defence matters. I ask the Minister of State to bring a similar urgency to bear on other matters this year.

Everyone in this House will be aware of Ireland's proud history of peacekeeping. As I said previously when debating this motion, my party is supporting this proposal as it allows for us to develop our role further as a nation committed to promoting peace, understanding and co-operation. Having listened to the Deputies who spoke against this motion on the last occasion, it seems this point is lost on them. I note that Deputy Barrett, who is seated behind the Minister of State, has voiced many grievances but the Deputy needs to engage in internal discussions within Fine Gael. It will be interesting to see how his votes on this matter if he is fully supporting the Government's position on this defence motion.

Many of the Deputies opposed to this proposal argue that our involvement in projects such as this somehow contravenes our role as a neutral country which proactively engages positively with other European states in the pursuit of peace. This is not true but I expect we will hear more of the same arguments again today. Matters such as a European army were mentioned time and again at the committee. It is important we outline, as stated by the Minister of State at the committee, that the European treaties do not allow for that rhetoric. People can talk about it at a European level in an Irish context but it is not allowed for within European treaty law. It is important we reiterate that whenever we are debating defence motions in this House.

From my perspective, it is vital that the men and women of our Defence Forces have access to the very best in training, expertise and modern technologies in order that they are property equipped in their peacekeeping duties. Ireland's internationally renowned reputation for peacekeeping is only strengthened by our involvement in the European Defence Agency projects such as this one. As I have said previously, we have been participating in programmes under the European Defence Agency for the past decade and have benefited enormously from this participation. Our Defence Forces now have world class skills and abilities in the area of peacekeeping that we would not have otherwise.

Participation in the European Defence Agency has also allowed us the chance to foster better relationships with fellow EU member states, which has netted considerable savings for this State. As we look at what is happening next door in Britain, and other isolationist policies being pursued in other parts of the world, everyone in this House should support and allow for co-operation on matters such as this.

Ireland's involvement in European Defence Agency projects is underpinned by the Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009. It is important to remind everyone that the legislation states that any participation in such can only be for the purpose of enhancing capabilities for UN missions. In addition, our participation is also contingent on the UN missions having the stated aim of peacekeeping, crisis management and conflict prevention. The project being debated today, military search capability building, fits into this space. Moreover, participation in European Defence Agency exercise is also subject to the triple lock mechanism we use for Defence Force involvement in overseas operations, meaning we must secure approval from the Government and the Dáil before participating in UN peacekeeping missions. This mechanism further strengthens our right to opt in and out of any missions as we deem appropriate, worthwhile and beneficial.

All member states retain full control over defence budgets. By approving this motion, we are approving the continued co-operation with eight other European countries, namely, Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Sweden.

Our position as a nation that is serious about playing an active peacekeeping role also provides us with opportunities to benefit ourselves. Participating in projects such as this allows us to keep track of the most modern and up-to-date peacekeeping practice, including training and IT developments, while also managing to keep costs down. Ultimately, this means our Defence Forces are fully equipped and prepared to take part in these peacekeeping operations. Furthermore, those who participate in this project are trained to instructor level and the value of what they have learned can then be shared with other personnel.

Fianna Fáil will be supporting this motion. It is important we build capability at a domestic level in order that we can defend ourselves and have the relative capability if there was a threat. Participating in this project facilitates that.

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