Brendan Ryan (Dublin Fingal, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The term "battle group" sounds quite dramatic, proactive and aggressive. For anyone with a tradition rooted in neutrality and peacekeeping, the instinct is to baulk at the idea of supporting such a thing. EU battle groups exist in a state of preparedness to deploy within five to ten days of a Council decision to a range of possible missions, including crisis management and humanitarian assistance missions. As is referenced in documents supplied by the Minister, the term "battle group" is unfortunate, as it is a standard, technical military term referring to a battalion-sized force with support elements, including logistics and transport. This has been the Irish experience in battle groups since 2008.

It is important to reiterate that Ireland's participation in a battle group operation would be subject to the usual triple lock requirements of a UN mandate, Government approval and Dáil approval, in accordance with the Defence Acts. We in the Labour Party support Ireland's right to determine for itself on a case-by-case basis whether it will participate in any battle group operation. As ever, the Labour Party is committed to protecting Ireland from involvement in any wars or battles of aggression. We have a proud tradition as a neutral arbiter in world conflicts and are synonymous with peacekeeping and peacemaking. Last week, we objected to the motion on sending troops to Mali, as we felt that it breached our standards of what kind of operations we should and should not be involved in. This motion on EU battle groups does not breach that threshold.

We need to have honest debates in this Chamber about our Defence Forces. It is easy to vote against this on the basis of the name including the word "battle". It is also easy to raise alarm bells about super armies and rampant militarisation, but we should vote on the detail of the motion and how it would play out practically in the real world. Involvement in these battle groups provides the members of our Defence Forces with modern training and interesting exercises, and builds up positive relationships with our European partner states. Some in this House might be happy to see our Defence Forces wallowing in domestic barracks with very little to do. However, I have met members of our Defence Forces and know that they want to be active, to travel and to learn. I want that for them as well. They want to mix with other forces and exchange expertise and experiences. Ultimately, our members can learn from these experiences and that assists in the practical application of peacekeeping, which is where Ireland's Defence Forces are in active operation.

We need to be honest and true to Defence Forces personnel and to our principles as a neutral state. We have been in battle groups previously. In 2008, 2011 and 2015, we were members of Nordic-led battle groups, and in 2016, a member of an EU battle group. We have not compromised our values, nor have we supported sending our troops into any battle of aggression. That will not change. Arguments about European super armies are a red herring when it comes to battle groups. There is no appetite in the Labour Party, this House or the country for us to be in any sort of super army. The triple lock will remain in place and we are satisfied with those safeguards.

It is worth acknowledging that the Minister did not have to bring the motion to the House for agreement. He has done so to keep the House up to date and included in the plans and operations for our Defence Forces.

If the House has not gathered it already, Labour will be support the motion.

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