Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

Senator Quinn asked why foreign troops cannot train here. The advice of the Attorney General is that this is precluded by Article 15 of the Constitution, which prohibits the raising of foreign armies and any other type of activities on Irish soil. That constitutional article was drafted for an entirely different reason, but it has this unintended consequence, now. Ultimately, it will not matter because Ireland will never be a framework nation for a multinational battle group. The framework nation, generally speaking, will be that making the largest contribution. In the Nordic battle group, this will be Sweden. The usual practice, I understand, is that training will take place on the soil of the framework nation.

Senator Quinn asked whether battle groups would be used only for peaceful purposes. That is the intention. I take his point as regards what the Secretary General of NATO is reported to have said on building up a military capability, etc. If one looks at the Helsinki 2010 headline goal, the ambition will be to have two battle groups on standby simultaneously, for each six-month period. Our two battle groups will consist of a grand total of 3,000 troops, which hardly constitutes an enormous military force or a European army. Each will be configured as a ground force of 1,500 specially armed troops and in some cases may need air support, and in very exceptional circumstances, marine support. Senator Quinn has said we must be very careful in view of opinions being expressed like this by senior people, public figures such as the Secretary General of NATO.

At the same time the Senator expressed doubt as to whether we should have the requirement of a United Nations resolution. It seems to me that the two opinions contradict each other. I believe the protection of a UN resolution is probably one of our greatest securities against allowing battle groups — or anything that may develop from battle groups — from degenerating into some type of military force. That certainly will not be our intention.

Let us assume we are part of the Nordic battle group. This will be on standby for a six-month period, say, once every three years. If it is necessary for the EU to deploy a battle group during that six-month period, the very fact that we are a part of the battle group on standby does not necessarily mean we will be involved in that operation. It will be a case-by-case process, to be decided on by the Government in each case.

Senator Tuffy asked about section 8. It allows troops to be sent overseas, equipment to be containerised and prepared for deployment, etc. Before a UN resolution takes place, this is simply part of the rapid response. It is done in the interests of speed and efficiency. If the UN resolution is not forthcoming or if somebody vetoes it, we will just have to bring our troops and equipment back. Senator Tuffy also asked about the need for section 11. Under the existing legislation, we are allowed to send representatives to international organisations such as the African Union, etc. However, there is a constitutional provision which sets out the procedures for the State becoming part of any international organisation. I am simply saying that we are not trying to unilaterally change that by anything that is in the Bill, just because we are providing a mechanism for representation on these international organisations.

Senator Leyden asked whether I thought it might be necessary to talk to the Government about getting additional troops. We have a standing army of 10,500, as he said. The maximum commitment abroad at any time is about 800 troops. That is much bigger than it seems. It is about 10% of the non-officer section of the Army. It does not just involve 800 people being abroad, if all deployed at one time, with people training, getting ready, etc. We shall see how matters go, but there are no plans at present for such a request and the Government has no intention in that regard at the moment.

Senator Leyden also made the point that training on field exercises abroad, whether as a prelude to a peace support operation or to involvement in a battle group, will involve things the Defence Forces have not been doing up to now. He asked whether it might be appropriate to talk to PDFORRA and RACO, the representative organisations about that. We are in constant touch with PDFORRA and RACO. We have and will continue to discuss all those matters with them.

Again, I want to thank everybody for their contributions, which have been most instructive and helpful. I look forward to an equally constructive debate on Committee Stage tomorrow.