John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 3: To ask the Minister for Defence the reason Ireland's membership of the European Defence Agency was not brought before Dáil Éireann for consideration; the terms of Ireland's membership of the agency; if membership will require an increase in defence spending; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12589/05]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

A decision to establish an intergovernmental agency in the field of defence capabilities development, research, acquisition and armaments, known as the European Defence Agency, was formally adopted at the General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting on 12 July 2004. Following an initial start-up phase during 2004, the agency is now operational, with its senior management in place and a budget and work programme for 2005 approved by defence Ministers of the participating member states.

The overall aim of the agency is to assist member states in their efforts to improve European defence capabilities in support of European Security and Defence Policy. To achieve this, the agency has been ascribed four functions relating to, defence capabilities development, armaments co-operation, the European defence technological and industrial base and defence equipment market and research and technology.

The agency will be an important forum by which the EU can seek to improve competitiveness and efficiency in the defence equipment sector which has been notable for fragmentation and duplication. While Ireland is not a major consumer of defence equipment, we should encourage developments which improve market efficiencies or which may yield some economies of scale for equipment procurement for the Defence Forces.

Against this background, at its meeting on 6 July 2004 the Government agreed that Ireland would participate in the framework of the agency. There is no requirement for Dáil approval for participation in the agency, which is an intergovernmental agency within the framework of ESDP. Participation in the framework of the agency does not impose any specific obligations or commitments on Ireland other than a contribution to the budget of the agency. Participation in individual projects of the agency will be a matter for national decision on a case-by-case basis.

National contributions to the budget of the agency are calculated on the basis of the gross national income scale in accordance with Article 28(3) of the Treaty on the European Union. Ireland has paid a contribution of €21,733.07 towards the agency's initial general budget of €2.4 million for 2004. The budget for 2005, estimated at €25 million, includes once-off capital provisions for accommodation and infrastructure items, and means that Ireland's contribution towards the running of the agency will therefore be of the order of €315,000.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As the Minister knows, the EU constitution has not yet been approved and yet the European Defence Agency is up and running. Will the Minister indicate on what legal basis it is running or is it in a legal limbo? He says this was an intergovernmental decision. Is it not extraordinary that a move of such significance was not debated in this House? Is this considered to be so unpalatable for many Irish people that it was decided to try to hide it away until such time as the Green Party tried to expose it?

On the question of spending, as the Minister probably knows, I was on the defence working group of the Convention on the Future of Europe. It was clear there that the idea behind this was not just to co-ordinate or spend better, but also to spend more. Will the Minister agree that as a consequence we will have to increase spending? That is precisely the idea, to make Europe more significant militarily on the international stage.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I will answer Deputy Gormley's questions in sequence. The Government took a decision on 6 July 2004, to participate in this agency. Every other government in Europe is participating with the exception of Denmark, according to my information. I presume the Attorney General attended that meeting, although it was before my time in Government. I presume he would have advised the Government if it was doing anything illegal.

As regards the debate in the House, there is a number of things an Administration can do, without the requirement for a debate in the House. Sometimes matters which do not warrant debate may be decided by the Government if there is not sufficient time. The Deputy can appreciate the pressure of time in the House. I respectfully suggest to him that if he wants a debate Private Members' time is an obvious mechanism to use.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

We do not get too much of it.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Deputy Gormley will also be aware that there is severe pressure on Government time. Every morning on the Order of Business we are asked the whereabouts of this, that or the other Bill. Time is not limitless. However, I would not agree that the objective of this agency is to spend more. It seems to me from what I have read about it, that the whole focus is on better spending and that is why——

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Better and more.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As far as I can see "better" is the primary focus. I do not believe there is anything particularly sinister about this. Every country in Europe, with the exception of Denmark, has agreed to participate. At the moment, we have just agreed to be involved in the framework. No particular project has been undertaken yet. For example, a procurement project has not been undertaken and nobody has yet done anything in this regard. As a sovereign State, Ireland has the right to decide on whether to get involved in any project initiated by the agency, on a case by case basis. All we have done so far is to agree to participate in the framework of the agency, in co-operation with our European partners.