Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

17. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his views on a proposal agreed on 26 October 2016 that seeks to allocate €25 million annual funding for innovative defence technology over a three year period from 2017 under the so-called preparatory action for defence research; and his views on the opinion expressed by a person (details supplied), who said the EU subsidy had been largely driven by the European Commission and the arms industry. [33652/16]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

This question relates to a huge shift in the European Union on research and development. Until now, it has been a peaceful participant in research and development. The proposal is to move towards funding research and development in, and creating, innovative defence technology. The question is whether the Minister of State has indicated to his fellow defence Ministers that Ireland will not partake in such initiatives and that it is contrary to the aims of the European Union.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In December 2013 the European Council, in its conclusions on the Common Security and Defence Policy, CSDP, highlighted that "Europe needs a more integrated, sustainable, innovative and competitive defence technological and industrial base (EDTIB) to develop and sustain defence capabilities. This can also enhance its strategic autonomy and its ability to act with partners".

An effective EU defence technology industrial base is considered necessary to ensure member states will have assured access to supplies of defence material and services. The European defence industry can enhance the European Union's strategic autonomy and its ability to act with partners in support of international peace and security. In addition, for many member states, the defence sector is a significant contributor to jobs, growth and innovation and has a strong economic leverage effect. In this context, the European Council endorsed the Commission's proposal for a preparatory action on CSDP-related research, which is seen as a test mechanism for a proposed defence related research programme.

The objectives of the preparatory action are to stimulate investment in defence research and technology throughout Europe and generate the collaborative research and technology that will be required to support future capabilities. This preparatory action may ultimately pave the way for a European defence research programme post-Horizon 2020. Horizon 2020 is the framework programme in the European Union for funding industrial and sectoral research and development. The programme is funded from the EU budget. The Commission has proposed a budget of €25 million in 2017 to fund the defence preparatory action and the European Parliament, on 26 October, approved this funding.

I understand the individual to whom the Deputy has referred, who represents the European Network Against Arms Trade, has voiced concerns about the approved funding for the preparatory action, including the belief the European Union is subsidising the arms industry. The preparatory action on CSDP-related research should be welcomed. As the Deputy is aware, Ireland does not have a defence industry. However, it does need to equip its Defence Forces with modern and advanced equipment for force protection on crisis management and peacekeeping operations. In this regard, I should point out that one of the key issues raised by Members of this House when the Government decides to deploy Defence Forces' contingents on missions is the extent to which they are appropriately equipped with the most effective defensive equipment. For the European Union to sustain and maintain a defence industrial capacity to deliver essential capabilities for operations, it needs to invest and develop in technologies for the future. The funding provided by the preparatory action will go some way to securing this.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I presumed naively the Minister of State would state Ireland would not partake in this initiative and would not encourage it and that he would endorse what the European Union had been originally established for. He has said that, with the architect, he supports €100 million being spent on research and development in the coming year or two. It is planned to spend up to €3.5 billion on research and the development of military equipment. The architect of this initiative is a special adviser to Commissioner Juncker. He was the person who came up with the idea in 2013. Will the Minister of State agree that Ireland will desist from encouraging any such multibillion euro expenditure package for military research and innovation and that instead the money, in line wih the European Union was supposed to do, should be spent to enhance poverty eradication?

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

With the defence spend of EU member states on research and technology at an all-time low, the funding provided by way of the preparatory action will advance current capabilities in a way that would not be possible otherwise. The European Defence Agency was established to support member states and the Council in their efforts to improve European defence capabilities in crisis management and sustain the CSDP as it stood and was developed. Ireland has been a strong supporter of the role of the European Union in international crisis management through the CSDP and there is a clear need to ensure that collectively it has the capability to undertake crisis management operations and that member states can commit to support operations mandated by the Council. To this end, it is important that there be the industrial capacity in the European Union to ensure the requisite capabilities. In many instances, we rely on European suppliers to provide the Defence Forces with the defence equiipment necessary to undertake the roles assigned to them by the Government. When Defence Forces personnel travel overseas, we must have the best equipment available to protect our personnel. It is important, therefore, that we partake in such initiatives.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

This issue is of such importance that a further debate should have been held in the House to outline the full extent of the programme before anybody proceeded to support such an initiative which is contrary to all of the aims of the European Union which was in receipt of the Nobel peace prize which was bizarre at the time. That it is now lining up to spend €3.5 billion on military research and development is a disgrace. The character at the time was Commissioner Michel Barnier, a French Commissioner who had replaced Charlie McCreevy. He has continued in the role of trying to promote the diversion of money away from poverty eradication and social services and building the European Union towards creating an arms industry which would benefit NATO. What was said about this originally was that it must be autonomous, while showing solidarity, in particular, with the Atlantic alliance. It is jumping to the tune of NATO and probably falls into line with what the new US President would have the European Union do.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

There is as yet no definite amount agreed for the research programme. However, a budget in the region of €2 billion to €3 billion for the period from 2021 to 2027, inclusive, has been mentioned in a number of Commission fora. This, however, has not been agreed to by any member state. As with the Horizon 2020 programme, it is envisaged that the defence forces research programme will be funded from member states' contributions. On 28 October the European Defence Agency signed grant agreements worth a total of €1.4 million on selected research projects to be carried out as part of the pilot project. I reiterate to the Deputy that even though there has been mention of this recently, it has not been agreed to by member states.