Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy had his turn to speak, and he read very well. I do not know if he wrote the speech but he read it very well.

Let us be clear on what we are doing here. This is a creepy-crawly, step-by-step situation where we want to be among the big boys. The work the Army does as peacekeepers, and has done over the years, has been respected. When I went abroad as a Minister I saw the respect in which our troops were held. They integrated into the local community and became part of it. They were not outside as army people but part of the community. I do not understand why we want to join the big boys. Our Army can do far more by staying on the road it is on and in which it has been very successful. When we joined the European Union we did not join a European army or obligations in that area. It is very easy to be sucked in because one wishes to be among the big boys. We must stand up and say we are in favour of peacekeepers and that we are proud of the peacekeeping work the Irish Defence Forces have done over the years in various parts of the world.

People who get the opportunity should go and see how they operate. They do not arrive with modern equipment and armed to the teeth. They arrive with groups of people who have been trained on how to integrate into the local community, to become trusted by that community and to bring about a peaceful solution. I have no wish to see Ireland as part of a European army. I did not sign up to that. I reckon I am a good European but being a good European does not necessarily mean one must be part of a European army. There are enough people available in the world to create trouble. There are very few, and the number is decreasing, who sign up to try and bring peace. I am of the latter brigade. I want the Irish Defence Forces to engage in genuine peacekeeping.

I find this very difficult to understand. It is clearly stated that the European Defence Agency is a defence agency to support the member states and the Council in their efforts to improve European defence capabilities. It is about European defence capabilities. Rather than being pushed into something, I would prefer a proper and wide debate on where we are going, where our Defence Forces are expected to go and what we are going to do about participating in various missions.

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