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

22. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will provide a categorical assurance that no Irish defence personnel will participate in any Russian deterrent force and that no Defence Forces personnel have been deployed in a manner which would facilitate other member states' involvement in this military operation. [33655/16]

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

Is the Minister of State concerned about escalating tensions and the militarisation of the borders between the European Union and Russia? Will he confirm that no Irish soldier will take part in any NATO operation or deterrent force, as it has been termed, or facilitate the setting up of a deterrent force in any way?

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

At the NATO Warsaw summit in July this year which I attended the establishment of a military presence in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland was announced. This military presence, also known as the Russian deterrent force, is being established in the Baltic region by NATO. The establishment which will be led by the USA, Germany, the United Kingdom and Canada will comprise four multinational battalions of 1,000 troops each. Ireland's co-operation with NATO is conducted through Partnership for Peace. The primary aim of our PfP membership 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 United Nations, the European Union or NATO. Participation in Partnership for Peace is fundamental to Ireland being able to meet its obligation to provide professional peacekeepers for international crisis management and peacekeeping operations mandated by the United Nations. The deployment of the Russian deterrent force is related to NATO's mutual defence capacity. As a matter of policy, Ireland does not participate in mutual defence arrangements and, as such, will not be participating in the Russian deterrent force.

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

The Minister of State says we will not participate in mutual defence arrangements based on NATO membership. Given that the deterrent force is to be based in the Baltic states, in particular Poland, and that a threat has been issued by the NATO chief, Mr. Jens Stoltenberg, that the force of 4,000 soldiers with tanks and everything else could be increased quickly to 40,000, is the Minister of State concerned that our participation in Partnership for Peace is facilitating NATO members in concentrating on their militarisation of these borders rather than their UN duties, as we hope they would?

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

As a matter of policy, Ireland does not participate in mutual defence arrangements and, as such, will not be participating in the Russian deterrent force. At the NATO Warsaw summit in July this year the establishment of an enhanced forward military presence in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland was announced. NATO sees the Russian deterrent force in the Baltic region as a credible deterrent which has been designed not to provoke but prevent a conflict. The establishment of multinational battalions of 1,000 troops each will be led by the USA, Germany, the United Kingdom and Canada. On 26 October these four allies set out their plans for the battalions they will lead. Other allies, including Denmark, France and Italy, have also indicated that they will send troops. As I stated, Ireland is absolutely making no arrangements to participate in such a deterrent force.

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

The Cold War continued for many years and drained Europe and much of the world of much-needed resources which could have been deployed more productively elsewhere. It was not meant to provoke a war. While it did not provoke a war, it provoked a stand-off which lasted for years. Is the Minister of State concerned that the deterrent force will be on EU soil? If there was to be a clash, Poland could trigger the Lisbon treaty's mutual defence clause as France has done on foot of the attacks on its soil in recent times by ISIS and those intent on dismantling Europe. In that case, it could be a clash on the shores of Poland into which we would get dragged through no fault of our own in defence of other European nations.

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

Ireland receives regular requests for participation in various missions and they are considered on a case by case basis. There are a number of considerations to be taken into account when Ireland is determining the missions in which it will partake. The assessment includes whether it is a peacekeeping operation and an appropriate response. I do not believe this mission is an appropriate one for Ireland in which to participate. Ireland has no plans to participate in a deterrent force. The primary aim of our PfP membership is to enhance the interoperability of the Defence Forces with other professional military forces for the purposes of engaging in UN-authorised peacekeeping and peace support operations led by the United Nations or the European Union.