Dáil debates

Tuesday, 25 March 2014

Other Questions

European Defence Capabilities

3:35 pm

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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134. To ask the Minister for Defence the extent to which the Defence Forces is in liaison with other defence forces throughout the European Union with a view to ensuring compatibility in respect of procedures, operational equipment, command structures, communication and language; if he is satisfied that adequate co-ordination exists to ensure that no country throughout the European Union might be vulnerable in the event of an attack; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12935/14]

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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This question relates to the necessity for compatibility between the Defence Forces and other defence forces throughout Europe and those on UN deployments with a view to ensuring that each understands the other sufficiently adequately to be able to cope with emergency situations.

Photo of Alan ShatterAlan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Defence Forces liaise with other armed forces personnel throughout the European Union through a range of fora. These include: NATO Partnership for Peace, EU military staff, EU military committee in Brussels and European Defence Agency.

Ireland joined Partnership for Peace, PfP, on 1 December 1999. The primary aim of our PfP participation is to enhance the Defence Forces' interoperability with other professional military forces for the purpose of engaging in UN authorised peacekeeping and peace support operations led by the UN, EU or NATO. Membership of the PfP continues to allow the Defence Forces access to NATO standards, which are internationally-recognised as representing best practice in military and related matters such as operations, procurement, training, civilian co-operation, etc.

Participation in PfP's planning and review process is considered an essential requirement for preparing for UN mandated peacekeeping operations. As part of this process, Ireland has adopted a range of partnership goals - NATO standard military capabilities - which assist Ireland to be compatible with other member states' armed forces in respect of procedures, operational equipment, command structures and communications.

Through Ireland's involvement with the European Defence Agency, we are actively engaged in projects and project teams, along with other EU member states, which are addressing capability shortfalls in a number of areas, such as counter improvised explosives devices, chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear protection and cyber security.

The establishment of a political and security committee defence delegation, comprising civil and military elements, in Ireland's Permanent Representation to the EU and the detachment of Defence Force personnel to the EU military staff, coupled with our participation in EU-led civilian missions and military operations, reflect the expanding role of the defence organisation in the area of Common Security and Defence Policy.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

In relation to the vulnerability of any member state to attack, as the Deputy will be aware the EU is not a defence alliance, and no decision has been made in relation to initiating a common defence. Common Security and Defence Policy is external to the Union. For most member states, mutual defence is achieved through membership of NATO.

Ireland also maintains bilateral relationships with other countries at both policy and operational levels, and the Defence Forces have regular staff-to-staff meeting with other militaries to exchange information and experiences.

The ongoing engagement of the Defence Forces and other EU armed forces in the fora referenced above ensures that all concerned are actively engaged in the development of concepts, procedures and capability enhancement. While adhering to international best practice in these areas, the Defence Forces and other EU armed forces are best prepared to meet their assigned roles.

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for the comprehensive reply. I ask, by way of supplementary, whether he is satisfied regarding the familiarity of the Defence Forces with the standards, equipment and training applicable in other jurisdictions throughout the European Union and by forces in deployment from the UN and to what extent is he satisfied that in emergency situations it is possible to dovetail the knowledge, activity and operational skills of all such personnel operating as a unit.

Photo of Seán BarrettSeán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I am satisfied that the substantial engagement by the Defence Forces, both at UN level in co-operation with European Union colleagues in UN-sanctioned missions and engaging in the EU battlegroups, has ensured that in the context of its niche skill areas it has equipment of the highest standard. In the context of the EU, there is substantial movement to ensure equipment and communication compatibility. This is part of an ongoing process to ensure that Defence Forces personnel, when engaged in UN peacekeeping and humanitarian missions, have the best possible equipment available to them.

The nature of the equipment being used by the Defence Forces in the difficult UN mission at present on the Golan Heights in the context of difficulties that have arisen has proved that the resources provided to them have played an important role in facilitating their undertaking their mission and in ensuring that the Defence Force personnel's safety is maintained as best as can ever be the case when engaged in a conflict area.