Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Question 257: To ask the Minister for Defence his views on requirements for increased spending on defence under the Lisbon treaty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8386/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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While the Lisbon Treaty states that Member States shall undertake progressively to improve their military capabilities, it imposes no obligation in this regard nor can the Union require any Member State to increase expenditure or investment on defence. The amount a Member State spends on defence and the nature of its military capabilities are solely a matter for national decision and the EU has no role or competence in the matter. The provisions in the legal guarantees, secured by Ireland and attached to the Lisbon Treaty, clearly state that the Lisbon Treaty "does not affect the right of Ireland or any other Member State to determine the nature and volume of its defence and security expenditure and the nature of its defence capabilities". Therefore, there is no requirement under the Lisbon Treaty for increased spending on defence.