Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I move:

That Dáil Éireann approves Ireland's participation in four European Defence Agency Projects:

i) Category B Collaborative Procurement of Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Equipment,

ii) Category B Collaborative Procurement of Soldier Equipment,

iii) Category B Collaborative Procurement of Ammunition, and

iv) Category A Military Computer Emergency Response Team Operational Network (MICNET), pursuant to section 2 of the Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009.

In commending this motion to the House, I want to take the opportunity to outline the function of the European Defence Agency and to provide the House with the background to the projects in which Ireland wishes to participate and the clear rationale for doing so. The European Defence Agency was established by a joint action of the Council of the European Union in 2004:

to support the Member States and the Council in their effort to improve European defence capabilities in the field of crisis management and to sustain the European Security and Defence Policy as it stands now and develops in the future.

On 6 July 2004, the Government approved Ireland’s participation in the framework of the European Defence Agency. Since then, Ireland has participated in a number of European Defence Agency, EDA, projects. These projects span a range of capability development areas including force protection; chemical biological radiological and nuclear, CBRN; counter-improvised explosive devices, C-IED, training; military search training; cyber ranges; and a joint procurement project for satellite communications and maritime surveillance. As Deputies will be aware, participation in any EDA project is voluntary and countries decide to buy into them only if and when they want to. At no point are they forced to.

That being the case, the Government is today seeking the approval of Dáil Éireann for Ireland to participate in four EDA projects, all of which have been deliberately chosen, with appropriate military advice, to enhance the capability of the Irish Defence Forces. Before elaborating on the specific projects for which the Government is seeking approval to participate, I should also recall that the European Defence Agency is just one of the EU defence-related initiatives and frameworks with which Ireland is engaged. The European Union's Common Security and Defence Policy sets out the EU’s framework in the field of defence and crisis management, including defence co-operation and co-ordination between member states. Ireland is a strong proponent of the important role the EU can play in support of international peace and security, and of the UN. At its core, defence remains a national competence, something borne out by the differing responses and actions taken by EU member states in the aftermath of Russia’s illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine. Participation in the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy, CSDP, does not prejudice the security and defence policy or obligations of any member state. Nor does participation in EDA projects or engagement with any other EU defence-related initiative have any impact on Ireland’s policy of military neutrality. Indeed, Ireland’s position of military neutrality was once again recognised by our EU partners just last week, when EU leaders agreed to language in the European Council conclusions that security commitments towards Ukraine will take account of Ireland's longstanding position on military neutrality.

As the House will be aware, the Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 requires Dáil approval for Irish participation in any EDA project. This statutory requirement ensures complete transparency and proper parliamentary scrutiny and oversight of the Government's proposals. Three of these projects relate to joint procurement, namely the procurement of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear, CBRN, equipment, soldier equipment and ammunition, and the fourth relates to building cyber defence capabilities.

The war in Ukraine has brought unforeseen and indeed unprecedented demands for military equipment. The limited availability of military equipment and depleted stockpiles are recognised by EU member states as constituting a critical operational shortfall. This affects the readiness of member states' armed forces and their ability to protect their soldiers and enable mission accomplishment. The overall objective of these three projects is to support member states in their efforts to replenish stocks of vital and potentially life-saving equipment: CBRN equipment, soldier equipment and ammunition. There is nothing new in the procurement of these items. They are essential requirements that enable the Defence Forces to train for and undertake the roles assigned by the Government at home and in overseas missions. In fact, failure to procure these items exposes the Irish Defence Forces to unacceptable vulnerability, which no government could countenance. There are no obligations arising from participation in these joint procurement projects. Put simply, they will give Ireland options for procurement. Merging orders with other member states' orders to procure this equipment will bolster Ireland's buying power, thus ensuring improved security of supply and delivery. Smaller countries like Ireland can experience particular challenges in seeking to have their orders met and achieving value-for-money, given the modesty of those orders. It is important to point out that there are no joining costs associated with these projects. Costs will arise only if a procurement order is placed. Each of the three procurement projects is for a duration of eight years, with the option to extend for a further eight years on a continual basis if agreed by the member states.

The primary objective of the ammunition project is to fast-track the procurement of ammunition for supply to Ukraine. Member states procuring ammunition to supply Ukraine can be reimbursed via the European Peace Facility, EPF. The project also provides an opportunity for member states to procure ammunition for their own national needs.

Consistent with Ireland's position with regard to the EPF, Ireland will not participate in that element of this project that procures ammunition for Ukraine. Instead – I want to be clear about this – Ireland's proposed participation in the ammunition project will be exclusively for national Defence Forces needs only.

The fourth project is called Military Computer Emergency Response Team Operational Network. This cyber project will facilitate information exchange and improve the response to cyber threats to the EU and member states' defence structures, including those associated with the EU-led operations and missions, which will ultimately improve the overall resilience of the EU defence community.

Ireland's participation in this project will enhance national military computer emergency response team capability through increased training and education, participation in cyber-related exercises and the sharing of information between member states' cyber defence experts. The cost of participation in this project is €60,000 per year for its life. The duration of the project is four years, with the option to extend on a continual basis if the member states agree. Building cyber defence capabilities requires broad engagement, which goes beyond our capacity acting alone.

As was highlighted on several occasions during the meeting of the recent consultative forum on international security, cyber threats are moving at a speed that is difficult to keep up with, let alone overtake. Moreover, such is their nefarious nature that no country is immune, as highlighted by the ransomware attack on the HSE.

Cyber defence is something we need to enhance, but it is not something we can do on our own. We need to collaborate with partners. We live in a digital world of unparalleled connectivity where borders are irrelevant. This project allows our Defence Forces experts to gain insight into cyber threats experienced by other member states and, importantly, learn from these in an effort to mitigate any national attacks.

The White Paper recognises that opportunities will continue to be identified to expand Ireland's participation in multinational capability development projects within the framework of the EDA in support of Defence Forces' operations, capacity and capability. It also encourages the exploration of joint procurement options, noting that procurement approaches will be developed further through more robust planning, through more collaborative or joint procurement through direct engagement with other countries, or through the EDA. The high-level action plan for the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces accepts the recommendation to deepen Defence Forces' involvement in relevant national and international forums to enhance capability development in the cyber domain.

Participation in projects such as those we are proposing will allow Ireland access to areas that we simply cannot develop on our own. I commend the motion to the House.

See this speech in context