Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 5: To ask the Minister for Defence the position regarding the requirements made on the Defence Forces regarding training, projects, materials and armaments procurement from the State's involvement with the European Defence Agency and any other requirements made on the Defence Forces from the State's EU involvement; if all financial implications of these could be detailed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31637/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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No requirements or obligations are placed upon the Department of Defence or the Defence Forces in respect of Ireland's involvement in either the European Union or the European Defence Agency, EDA. All participation in these areas is of a voluntary nature. In no way can any requirements be placed on a member state in terms of participation in any particular training, projects or material and armaments procurement. Decisions in the defence arena are sovereign for each member state.

The costs arising from Ireland's participation in the EU cover our contribution to the common costs associated with funding EU missions, the EDA's annual budget and the EU satellite centre. No requirement or obligation is placed upon the Defence Forces to participate in any EU mission. Such participation is subject to national decision arrangements, which in Ireland's case requires the approval of the Government and Dáil Éireann and a UN mandate. This had become known as the triple lock mechanism. All EU member states, contribute to the common costs of an EU-led operation unless they make a formal opt-out declaration under Article 23(1), what is known as constructive abstention, of the Treaty on European Union. The common costs of such missions are payable, in accordance with the EU Council decision of 18 December 2008, through the ATHENA mechanism. In addition, member states that contribute personnel to a mission pay for their operational costs on a costs lie where they fall basis.

Ireland contributes on an annual basis to the operational budget of the EDA. However, any participation by Ireland in any specific project or programme of the EDA is subject to Government and Dáil Éireann approval in accordance with the requirements of the Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

Ireland also contributes to the budget of the EU satellite centre, which is based in Madrid. The centre supports the decision making of the EU by providing analysis of satellite imagery data.

The contributions made in respect of the common costs of EU missions over the past three years has been €754,000 in total, comprising €282,000 in 2009, €208,000 in 2010 and €264,000 to date in 2011. The costs incurred by Ireland in respect of our participation in the EDA over the three-year period has been €1.185 million in total, comprising €585,000 in 2009, €316,000 in 2010 and €284,000 to date in 2011. The Deputy might note that the 2009 figure includes a contribution of €240,000 to a joint investment programme on force protection. On 27 September, I sought and received approval from Dáil Éireann for Ireland's participation in a category A project on chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear, CBRN, protection and a category B project on maritime surveillance, pursuant to section 2 of the Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009. The cost of participating in the CBRN project is approximately €150,000 during a period of four years. The cost of participating in the maritime surveillance project is estimated at €105,000 over three years.

The Deputy might also be interested to know that our contribution to the EU satellite centre in the past three years has been a total of €470,000 in total, comprising €178,000 in 2009, €152,000 in 2010 and €140,000 in 2011. This is essentially a joint payment by the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Defence, as data supplied by the centre are in respect of civilian and military missions.

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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We contribute financially to the EDA annually. What is the figure?

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I can give the Deputy the figure. The costs incurred by Ireland in respect of our participation in the EDA over the three-year period has been €1.185 million in total, comprising €585,000 in 2009, €316,000 in 2010 and €284,000 to date in 2011. The Deputy might note that the 2009 figure includes a contribution of €240,000 to a joint investment programme on force protection. On 27 September, I sought and received approval from Dáil Éireann for Ireland's participation in a category A project on chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear, CBRN, protection and a category B project on maritime surveillance, pursuant to section 2 of the Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009. The cost of participating in the CBRN project is approximately €150,000 during a period of four years. The cost of participating in the maritime surveillance project is estimated at €105,000 over three years.

The Deputy might also be interested to know that our contribution to the EU satellite centre in the past three years has been a total of €470,000 in total, comprising €178,000 in 2009, €152,000 in 2010 and €140,000 in 2011. This is essentially a joint payment by the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Defence, as data supplied by the centre are in respect of civilian and military missions.