Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Defence if he will provide a progress report on Ireland’s participation in the Austro-German Battlegroup; the total cost of participation so far; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6123/13]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Defence if he will provide a progress report on negotiations on Ireland's possible participation in 2015 in the Nordic battle group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6124/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 31 together.

Ireland participated in the Austro-German led Battlegroup, which was on stand-by until 31 December 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). A Battlegroup is a standard technical military term and it consists of about 1,500 personnel.The purpose of a battlegroup is to undertake operations (commonly referred to as the Petersberg Tasks which are set out in the Amsterdam Treaty) such as rescue tasks, peacemaking, peacekeeping and humanitarian tasks.Ireland participated in order to enhance both our own military capabilities and our inter-operability with other Member States’ Defence Forces.

Our contribution was a Reconnaissance Company.If the Battlegroup had been deployed, Ireland’s contribution would have amounted to approximately 175 personnel.During the standby period, one officer was deployed to the Battlegroup Headquarters in Ulm, Germany for training and planning activities.

The costs of equipment and additional training for participation in the Battlegroup was marginal.The capabilities and equipment in respect of Ireland's contributions to the Battlegroups already resided within the Defence Forces.Training of Irish troops for the Austro-German Battlegroup took place in Ireland and no joint field exercises or manoeuvre training took place.There were no specific additional costs arising in association with the preparation and standby period.

In relation to the Nordic Battlegroup, Ireland has been invited to participate and discussions are at a very early stage.The second Force Generation Conference was held in Sweden in early December 2012. The proposed contribution to this Battlegroup will be a Reconnaissance Company with associated HQ staff appointments and supporting elements. The model envisaged for the Battlegroup gives command of a multinational Reconnaissance Group HQ to Ireland, resulting in a raised profile.Any participation by Ireland in this Battlegroup will be subject to Government approval.