Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 51: To ask the Minister for Defence if he has received the interdepartmental reports of possible Irish involvement in EU battle groups; the recommendations of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38254/05]

Tom Kitt (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I apologise for the absence of the Minister for Defence, Deputy O'Dea, who is in RTE at the moment on budget matters. The background to the rapid response element concept, sometimes referred to as battle groups, is that at the European Council in Helsinki in 1999, member states set themselves a headline goal that by 2003, co-operating together and voluntarily, they will be able to deploy rapidly and then sustain forces capable of the full range of Petersberg Tasks as set out in the Amsterdam treaty. In short, these are humanitarian, rescue, peacekeeping and crisis management operations, including peacemaking. This included, inter alia, a capability to provide rapid response elements available and deployable at very high readiness. The ambition of the EU to be able to respond rapidly to emerging crises has and continues to be a key objective of the development of the European security and defence policy, ESDP.

Ireland supports the development of the EU's rapid response capability in support of UN authorised missions and is positively disposed towards participation in the rapid response elements in this regard. However, it is important that the full implications of our participation are assessed and, to this end, the Minister for Defence established an interdepartmental group which includes representatives of his Department, the Defence Forces, the Taoiseach's Department, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Attorney General's office to consider the policy, legislative and operational issues arising from participation.

The Minister received the report from the interdepartmental group last week and is reviewing it. The report deals comprehensively with a range of issues related to rapid response elements-battle groups and issues arising in the context of overseas service by the Defence Forces generally. Once the Minister has had an opportunity to consider the matter he plans to consult his colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, with a view to bringing proposals to Government as to how we then proceed. In advance of the Government having had the opportunity to consider the issue, it would be inappropriate to comment on the relevant actions which may be taken pursuant to the group's report.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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It is a welcome change to have the Minister of State at the Department of Defence, Deputy Kitt, standing in for the Minister. I look forward to eliciting much more information than we are accustomed to getting from the Minister.

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. However, the Minister for Defence stated earlier in the summer he hoped to bring proposals to Cabinet by the end of September and to make an announcement on the situation. It is important there is movement on Ireland's commitment to participate in EU battle groups because we will otherwise be left behind. Fine Gael supports the concept. Will the Minister of State indicate when these reports or their recommendations will be made public and what the Minister's view is on the matter?

The Minister said the report would review the involvement of personnel overseas in general. The Minister stated at the RACO conference that we may have to cut back on the number of officers serving overseas, but that would be a retrograde step. If there is a difficulty — I do not believe there is — we should consider restructuring our home commitments. It is important we maintain our overseas commitment.

Tom Kitt (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I agree with the Deputy that the work being undertaken by the Minister in consultation with his colleagues is important. The Minister is anxious to report back as soon as possible, but that is all I am able to say today. He has just received it but will not delay in bringing forward his proposals to Cabinet.

The Deputy will be aware there is another parliamentary question today on the subject of RACO, which I am confident we will get to. I will be glad to share with the House my and the Minister's views on that issue. It is important we proceed as quickly as possible but that we get it right. The Minister has said in the House it is a complex issue and that he would prefer to get it right than rush headlong into it.

The interdepartmental group he established has completed the comprehensive review on all issues relating to the rapid response element-battle groups. There has been a discussion on the term "battle groups" and the consensus, with which I agree, seems to be that it is not ideal, but we all know what is involved. There are wider issues to be dealt with.

The report is detailed and will be given the consideration it deserves. The Minister will report back without delay.