Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

The Bill before the House is another example of EU legislation interacting with domestic law. I welcome the Bill which gives Ireland an opportunity to influence the actions of the European Defence Agency. During the campaign in advance of the first referendum on the Lisbon treaty real concern was expressed about the perceived militarisation of the European Union. I will be interested to hear the comments of Senator Donohoe who was involved in the process of responding to the outcome of the first referendum on the treaty. I concur with the views expressed by Senator Feeney when she mentioned such fears.

I have had an opportunity to review the context within which the European Defence Agency sits, as part of the Lisbon treaty as a whole. I have also examined the Council joint action establishing the agency. I recommend that Senator Norris read the Official Journal of the European Union, specifically in so far as it relates to Council Joint Action 2004/551/CFSP of 12 July 2004 which established the agency. The document in question sets out the exact role of the agency. I would like to dispel the concerns of Senators about the oversight role of the agency. Participation in projects of the agency, as envisaged in Articles 20 and 21 of the Council joint action, is voluntary. Ireland can opt in or out as it sees fit. One of the agency's significant purposes is to ensure the European Union's humanitarian work is made easier. Another goal is to ensure soldiers involved in EU missions are better protected. The Lisbon treaty does not change these aims. It is clear that membership of the agency does not compromise the neutrality of Ireland or the other five neutral EU member states. Any suggestion to the contrary was clearly dispelled during the debate on the Lisbon treaty which was passed on 2 October last.

The Irish people and the Irish Army have had a long and successful relationship with the United Nations. I am glad that the Bill makes explicit reference to the United Nations. Articles 42 and 45 set out the role of the European Defence Agency, one of the objectives of which will be to assist and support member states in developing the necessary capacity to undertake peace support and crisis management missions, in the context of humanitarian and rescue missions and peacekeeping tasks, etc. Lieutenant General Pat Nash was the first head of the Chad mission. We should be very proud of the role of the Army which has acquitted itself extremely well in that troubled region. It is possible that there would be genocide in Chad if the Army was not participating in the mission. We have prevented future conflict. It is clearly evident that Ireland's role as a neutral nation is held in great respect throughout the world. I refer to our work in difficult circumstances, for example, in Kosovo. The participation of members of the Garda Síochána in missions in certain regions is also welcome. When I travelled to Bosnia-Herzegovina as an election monitor after the war, I learned more about the slaughter that had taken place in the region. As Senator O'Toole said, the rest of Europe stood idly by. I hope that will never happen again. The European Defence Agency will help to prevent such events.

There is concern about the worrying trend, whereby approximately 500 officers and other members have decided to leave the Defence Forces in the last nine months. The possible taxing of gratuity sums and forthcoming wage reductions have been floated as great concerns. I assure the Minister and his Cabinet colleagues that PDFORRA and RACO are deeply concerned about these matters. Taxation is acceptable to all our citizens. However, we do not know what level of taxation will be decided on. Wage reductions will have a knock-on effect on future pensions. I do not minimise the importance of raising €4 billion to deal with the country's difficulties; it is an enormous task.

The number of personnel in the Defence Forces has decreased from 10,500 to less than 10,000. It is difficult to sustain overseas missions and domestic work when numbers are declining. I appreciate that there is an embargo on public service recruitment. I am aware that the Minister has to make the case for every appointment within the Defence Forces, for example, at officer level and I will support him as he undertakes his difficult task. However, I ask him to bear in mind the worries and concerns of ordinary members of the Defence Forces as they contemplate their futures. They are not the best paid in the world, but they have big responsibilities - they put their lives on the line every day in defence of the civil authority. I am sure the Minister will do his utmost to defend them. I understand that during the last round of economic discussions, he opposed any reduction in the number of Defence Forces staff. He agreed to the amalgamation of Army barracks to prevent a cut in the numbers of officers and enlisted men and I am sure he will continue to take such action. All we can do is support him in every way possible. I commend him on bringing the Bill to the House so speedily and I am confident that it will be passed expeditiously.