Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank all the Deputies for their contributions to this important debate. The primary function of training and educating members of the Defence Forces is to develop and maintain capabilities necessary to enable the personnel to fulfil the roles laid down by the Government. Deputies have highlighted the importance of supporting the Defence Forces in capability development, and it is my responsibility to ensure they are afforded the opportunity to keep abreast of best practice among defence forces. The debate this evening surprised me. Members have high regard for members of the Defence Forces, and nobody questions anybody's high regard for Defence Forces personnel, but when they say they should not participate in this project they are really saying to send our personnel overseas but not to give them the proper training.

Deputy Brendan Ryan of the Labour Party said something very important, which is that the modern techniques and skills required of the Defence Forces and military personnel today are totally different from those required many years ago and the threat we face today is very different from the threat we faced years ago. I commend the Deputy on what he said in the debate. As I said earlier, the Defence Forces specialist search and clearance teams are regularly deployed at home in support of An Garda Síochána and overseas in UNIFIL and UNDOF where they predominantly conduct route searches and area clearances in advance of vehicle or foot patrols.

These projects in which we are participating are linked to the work that our Defence Forces do day in, day out on peacekeeping missions overseas. This project, for example, will develop an advanced capability that has the potential to protect our personnel on overseas missions. This is the type of training and day-to-day stuff in which the Defence Forces engage during peacekeeping operations.

As stated in the Government's White Paper on Defence, published in August 2015, Ireland will continue to identify opportunities to participate in multinational capability deployment projects within the framework of the European Defence Agency and in support of the Defence Forces' operation capacity and capability. I have detailed how the European Defence Agency is focused on assisting member states in capability development, obtaining better value for existing spending levels, improving competitiveness and securing greater efficiency, particularly in the area of research technology and procurement of defence capabilities.

Day in, day out, whether in this House, in committee or in a general debate about defence matters, I am accused of leading the way to a European army. To all the Deputies who have questioned my stance on this I say I do not believe there will ever be a European army. I am not changing our defence policy on neutrality. If that policy ever is changed, whoever will be standing in this position, it will not be me. It will be the Members and the general public who will have the final say on a European army. If Deputies read the provisions within the Lisbon treaty, they would see that they clearly set out this policy. I ask Members to read those provisions. Deputy Ó Snodaigh said this person, that person and the other person were talking about a European army. I have known the Deputy for a long number of years. He does not always believe what I say, so he should not believe what everyone else says either. I ask him to take that on board.

I could go on for the next 20 minutes.

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