Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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Question 660: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will confirm that the Irish Defence Forces will be participating with the German Austrian Czech battle group in 2012. [41060/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I can confirm that Ireland is committed to participation in the Austro-German led Battlegroup, which will be on stand-by for the second six (6) months of 2012. In 2010, the then Government approved Ireland's participation in this Battlegroup. The other members of the Austro-German Battlegroup are Austria, Germany, Czech Republic, Croatia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). Our contribution will be a Reconnaissance Company together with staff posts at both the Operational and Force headquarters amounting to approximately 175 personnel. Any decision by Ireland to participate in a specific Battlegroup operation is subject to our national sovereign decision-making procedures - "Triple Lock", i.e. UN mandate, Government and Dáil approval. Participation in Battlegroups is just one of a number of ways in which Ireland contributes to the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). The purpose of these Battlegroups is to provide a rapid level of response to developing international crises, allowing the EU to intervene during the critical early stages. To date, no Battlegroup has deployed.

Ireland has previously participated in the Nordic Battlegroup, which was on standby during the first six months of 2008 and during the same period in 2011.