Written answers

Tuesday, 28 March 2006

Department of Defence

Overseas Missions

11:00 pm

Photo of Willie PenroseWillie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 61: To ask the Minister for Defence if the planned meeting between representatives from his Department, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Defence Forces of Sweden and Ireland to discuss possible Irish participation in the Nordic battlegroup took place; if other discussions have taken place with countries that have agreed to participate in EU battlegroups regarding becoming partner countries with Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11779/06]

Photo of Dinny McGinleyDinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 68: To ask the Minister for Defence the arrangements which will be made to facilitate the Defence Force engaging in joint training missions as part of our involvement in a future EU battlegroup; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11831/06]

Jim Glennon (Dublin North, Fianna Fail)
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Question 71: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will report on the opening discussions between officials of his Department and their Swedish counterparts regarding Ireland's possible participation in the Swedish-led Nordic battlegroup; the length of time he anticipates these talks will last; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11562/06]

Photo of John GormleyJohn Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 85: To ask the Minister for Defence when legislation will be forthcoming to facilitate the participation of Irish military forces in EU battlegroups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11799/06]

Photo of Gerard MurphyGerard Murphy (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 86: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of EU member states that Ireland has approached as potential partners in the formation of an EU battlegroup; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11837/06]

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 91: To ask the Minister for Defence the position in relation to the composition and Ireland's participation in EU battlegroups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11798/06]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 117: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of members of the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps that Ireland will commit to a future EU battlegroup; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11838/06]

Photo of Bernard AllenBernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 118: To ask the Minister for Defence the countries which Ireland has approached with regard to co-operation in the formation of an EU battlegroup; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11836/06]

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 520: To ask the Minister for Defence the developments which have taken place at EU level in regard to the formation of rapid response forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12269/06]

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 523: To ask the Minister for Defence the role he sees for Defence Forces in the context of the formation of EU battlegroups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12272/06]

Photo of Willie O'DeaWillie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 61, 68, 71, 85, 86, 91, 117, 118, 520 and 523 together.

The ambition of the EU to be able to respond rapidly to emerging crises has, and continues to be, a key objective of the development of the European Security and Defence Policy, ESDP. The tasks to be carried out under ESDP, the so-called Petersberg Tasks, are defined in the Amsterdam treaty as "humanitarian and rescue tasks, peacekeeping tasks and tasks of combat forces in crisis management, including peacemaking". Our participation in ESDP and in the Petersberg Tasks has been endorsed and supported directly by the people in the referendum on the Treaty on European Union, TEU, and the subsequent referenda on the Amsterdam and Nice treaties. Our participation in ESDP is also fully in accordance with our traditional support for the UN and our obligations as members of the international community, to respond to crises, events and humanitarian disasters, wherever they may occur.

The European Union has the potential to play an increasing role in responding to emergency crises, in providing humanitarian relief and in supporting the maintenance of international peace and security in furtherance of the aims of the United Nations and the UN charter. Accepting this role is not just an EU ambition, it is an EU obligation and an obligation for Ireland as a member of both the EU and of the UN.

Ireland favours the development of the EU's rapid response capability in support of UN authorised missions and is positively disposed towards participation in battlegroups in this regard. To this end, I established the interdepartmental group to examine all issues relating to Ireland's potential participation in an EU-led rapid response capability. The group reported in November 2005 and, since then, its report has been considered by the Cabinet sub-committee on European affairs and, informally, by the Government.

Following on from the report of the interdepartmental group and consideration of its report, discussions with other like-minded nations on a potential contribution by Ireland to a battlegroup have now commenced. A delegation consisting of representatives from the Departments of Defence and Foreign Affairs and the Defence Forces met their Swedish counterparts in Stockholm on 9 to 10 March to discuss possible participation by the Defence Forces in the Nordic battlegroup. Our representatives outlined Ireland's position in relation to battlegroup participation and international peacekeeping generally and gave a presentation on the capabilities which Ireland can make available to a battlegroup. These range from smaller niche capabilities up to an APC mounted light infantry company group of approximately 200 personnel plus support elements.

This is now being considered by Sweden, which is the framework nation for the Nordic battlegroup. Further consultations between the Defence Forces and the Swedish Armed Forces and between officials of the respective Ministries are planned. I would expect these discussions to conclude within the next few months. Any decision on a specific contribution to a battlegroup will be subject to formal Government approval. I expect that there will be ongoing discussion with other member states over the coming months, in particular, with Finland and Austria with whom we have also had some initial informal exploratory discussions. While not conclusive, the study raised possible questions as to whether Defence Forces can be sent on such overseas training. It is important to the development of capabilities and the ongoing training of the Defence Forces that they can undertake training overseas and learn from best practice in other countries. This training is essential to the development and maintenance of high standards in the military and our existing peace support operations, where we work alongside many other armies. I intend to introduce amending legislation to put this issue beyond doubt amongst a number of other issues about which I have previously informed the House.

There are no plans for the involvement of Naval or Air Corps assets, although individual members of the Naval Service or Air Corps may be deployed on overseas peace support operations as they have been in the past. Any commitment to a battlegroup will be met within the context of the overall ceiling of 850 personnel serving overseas at any one time set in the White Paper on Defence.

Participation by the Defence Forces in EU battlegroups raises no policy issues in terms of Ireland's commitment and approach to the maintenance of international peace and security, which is, and will remain, grounded in the framework of the UN charter. There is no conflict between Ireland's participation in regional arrangements including EU battlegroups and our traditional policy of support for the UN. Participation in any EU operation remains a national sovereign decision and our current policy on the triple lock will not be compromised by participating in battlegroups.

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