Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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Question 23: To ask the Minister for Defence if he has had any talks regarding the deployment of the Austro-German EU Battlegroup. [24526/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Ireland is committed to participation in the Austro-German led Battle group, 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 Battle group. The other members of the Austro-German Battle group 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. Leading up to and during the standby period one officer has been deployed to the Battle group Headquarters in Ulm, Germany. This officer is engaged in training and planning activities. Any decision by Ireland to participate in a specific Battle group operation is subject to our national sovereign decision-making procedures - "Triple Lock", i.e. UN mandate, Government and Dáil approval. The issue of Battle group usability and flexibility has been discussed at the EU Defence Ministers meetings I have attended. Also, within the EU itself, a number of committees, including the Political and Security Committee and the EU Military Committee, keep the issue of Battle group response under constant review in consultation with all EU Member States. Any decision to deploy the Austro-German Battle group will continue to be taken by unanimity by the Council of the European Union. As such, Ireland will retain the sovereign right to decide on participation in any crisis management mission involving the Austro/German Battle group.