Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 69: To ask the Minister for Defence his views on the reports of a statement (details supplied) that Ireland should withdraw from the European Defence Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9842/09]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The European Defence Agency was established by a Joint Action of the Council during Ireland's Presidency of the Union in 2004. The Agency was established "to support member States and the Council in their efforts to improve European defence capabilities in the field of crisis management and to sustain the European Security and Defence Policy as it stands now and develops in the future".

Ireland has participated actively in the framework of the Agency since it was established, focussing the activity of the Agency on those issues which are important to Ireland and to the development of Defence Force capabilities in support of the Petersberg Tasks and in support of international peacekeeping and crisis management. In this regard, Ireland participates in the Joint Investment Programme on Force Protection which is a key issue in relation to any deployment of the Defence Forces on Peace Support Operations. Ireland also participates in the Code of Conduct on Defence Procurement and other initiatives designed to improve competition and efficiency in the acquisition of defence equipment and capabilities.

The work undertaken by the Agency in the area of capability development is a critical element in the ongoing development and modernisation of Defence Force capabilities and to the development of its interoperability with other forces engaged in international peacekeeping operations. Ireland benefits significantly from the strategic information and research conducted by the Agency, research which the Defence Forces could not access or develop on their own, given their size and the resources available.

Participation in the Agency imposes no obligations on Ireland in relation to increased expenditure of Defence or on the development or enhancement of Defence Force capabilities. All decisions regarding the nature and scale of resources invested in Defence and the nature of Defence capabilities are entirely a matter for each individual Member State of the Union. In addition, there is no obligation or commitment as a participating member State to participate in any particular project undertaken by the Agency. Any decision to participate in any particular project is a matter for each Member State to decide in accordance with its national decision making procedures.

The specific provision in the Lisbon Treaty pertaining to the Agency confirms the existing arrangements regarding the establishment and management of the Agency. The provisions in the Treaty, if implemented, will not alter the sovereign right of Ireland, as of each other Member State, to decide whether to participate in any particular activity or project. Moreover, all decisions in relation to expenditure on defence or the development of defence capabilities will continue to remain exclusively within the domain of the national decision making procedures of each member state.

The EDA is a key element within the overall institutional framework which guides and advances the development of European Security and Defence Policy. In my view, Ireland and, in particular, the Defence Forces, benefit from participation in the framework of the Agency. This participation gives Ireland a seat at the table on the Agency Steering Board, where important issues in the area of Defence capabilities and ESDP are decided. Participation in the Agency is fully in accordance with Ireland's policy of military neutrality and with the principles and values which guide Ireland's international security and defence policy. Through our participation we can influence and direct the evolution of the Agency and ensure that it develops in a manner which respects Ireland's principles and values in the area of defence and that ESDP continues to develop in support of international crisis management in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter.