Brendan Ryan (Dublin Fingal, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Labour Party supports the project to increase the military search capabilities of the Defence Forces. Increasing the skill set of our military forces in the search and detection of improvised explosive devices is a much-needed skill. We got a stark reminder of this need a few weeks ago in Derry when a car bomb was detonated within the city walls. Most of us in this Chamber have memories long enough to a time when bombs and bomb threats were a part of our life. What happened in Derry reminded us that a return to such times could happen if we lose sight of what is important and weaken our commitment to peace. It is our job as politicians to strengthen peace, to build it, to nurture it and to protect it, not just on our island but throughout Europe and the world. It is the job of our Defence Forces to be prepared to act to protect us if we fail.

Across the water, the politicians are failing and the UK seems to be careering towards political insecurity. What will that do for overall security in Ireland and Europe? I believe that straw man arguments about a European super army are not relevant here. The Labour Party is implacably against such a prospect but is not against training our Defence Forces to be as professional as possible and to ensure they can act to protect our safety.

The threats that the world faces today are much different than the threats we faced in the past. The level of military search capability directly impacts their ability to resolve those conflicts. Our Defence Forces’ training needs to evolve as explosive weapon development also continues to progress. If our forces are going to continue to do effective work while maintaining their own safety, they must be trained in modern techniques and skills. Agreeing to this project is a good step towards modernising our Defence Forces without backing down from the country’s agreement with the people to remain uninvolved in shows of military aggression or in compromising our neutrality.

We cannot continue to be distracted by these false arguments. It does the issue itself a disservice and it does a disservice to our Defence Forces. The current Lisbon treaty in effect prevents the formation of an EU army and if motions to create one were seriously proposed, Ireland obviously steadfastly would oppose such a plan.

With regard to this specific project, the Netherlands and Sweden - two countries that have already agreed to this project - have both made statements saying that they do not see the need for an EU army. In this time of EU uncertainty, Ireland should be more focused on showing the current strength of the Union Ireland holds with the rest of Europe. With the threat of a no-deal Brexit a mere 38 days away, any show of division threatens the stable future of the Continent.

I believe we absolutely should be having this discussion today in order that Ireland can defend its decision to defy an EU army when the time comes, but this is not the time to do so. Beyond displaying an act of solidarity with the EU during this tumultuous time of uncertainty, this training provides our Defence Forces with very important new skills. The State's unwavering commitment to neutrality has not only left the Defence Forces underfunded, it could also put our forces in danger as they complete peacekeeping missions abroad.

Maintaining a strong and effective peacekeeping force requires up-to-date training. Not joining the project in order to send the EU a message would only put Irish lives at risk. These Defence Forces act with the intention of one goal, which is protecting innocent civilians from violence and conflict.

Expanding the Defence Forces engineer specialist search and clearance, ESSC, teams’ military search capabilities allow for the teams to protect these civilians to the best of their ability. By no means should Ireland move away from its status as a neutral country but that neutrality must be viewed in a greater context. Joining this project allows the Irish Defence Forces to work capably and safely with other peacekeeping groups where they have been mandated to participate in such missions by the UN.

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