Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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94. To ask the Minister for Defence if he is considering getting more involved in NATO projects in the future in view of the comments made by Anders Fogh Rasmussed on his recent trip to Dublin. [21292/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Secretary General of NATO, Mr. Anders Fogh Rasmussen, visited Dublin on the 12th and 13th February this year. He did so at the invitation of the EU High Representative and myself to participate in the informal meeting of EU Defence Ministers which was held at Dublin Castle, as part of Ireland’s EU Presidency. During his visit Mr. Rasmussen expressed his appreciation for the cooperation NATO has had with Ireland since we joined the Partnership for Peace in 1999. He paid tribute to the contribution Ireland has made to UN-led peacekeeping missions and to UN-mandated missions which are led by regional organizations such as NATO and the EU. Participation in overseas peacekeeping missions is a key element of Ireland’s foreign policy and has been an important dimension in meeting Ireland’s international obligations as a member of the UN and the EU. With the increasing use of more robust Chapter VII missions/operations, in the past number of years, the UN has turned to regional organisations to undertake and lead missions on its behalf. In effect the EU, the AU and NATO, together with other similar such organisations, are now major players in UN peacekeeping.

As the House will be aware, Ireland has been contributing Defence Forces Personnel to UN mandated, NATO-led missions since 1997, when we contributed personnel to the NATO-led Stabilization Force (SFOR) in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Our forces have and continue to serve in Kosovo and Afghanistan.

As members of Partnership for Peace (PfP), Ireland participates in PfP’s Planning and Review Process (PARP). As part of this process, Ireland has adopted a range of Partnership Goals aimed at assisting Ireland to meet its UN/EU commitments in the areas of Counter Improvised Explosive Devices (C-IED), Cyber Security, Network Enabled Services, etc. Membership of PfP has allowed the Defence Forces to gain access to NATO standards – which are internationally-recognised as representing best practice for the development of military capabilities. The Defence Forces participation in PARP will continue as part of our engagement in Partnership for Peace.

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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98. To ask the Minister for Defence his plans to develop EU cooperation in the area of maritime security and surveillance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21323/13]

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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100. To ask the Minister for Defence his plans to foster EU cooperation in the area of maritime security and surveillance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21302/13]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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109. To ask the Minister for Defence if he will report on the recent meeting on maritime security and surveillance; if he is considering any new measures to enhance our maritime security and surveillance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21127/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 98,100 and 109 together.

A Seminar titled “Challenges and Opportunities in Maritime Security and Surveillance for Effective Governance and Innovation in the EU’s Maritime Domain” was hosted in April. High level representatives from the European Commission, European External Action Service, the European Defence Agency, NATO and national and international academics and practitioners, made presentations at the Seminar.

The seminar highlighted the importance of building EU wide consensus and cooperation in relation to security and surveillance in the maritime domain in support of EU Sea Basins Strategies (including the new EU Atlantic Strategy), the Integrated Maritime Policy, the Common Information Sharing Environment and Common Security and Defence Policy. In meeting the challenges of the 21st century, the unique aspects of the Union’s maritime and surveillance domain was highlighted. The seminar drew lessons from existing EU Sea Basin strategies and the technologies and operational procedures which support collaboration among member States, with a particular focus on EU Navies.

The seminar also highlighted that the EU’s seas and oceans provide an essential contribution to our wealth and wellbeing and hold immense untapped economic opportunities, in terms of energy, food and mineral resources. It is a very significant resource worth protecting. To achieve these benefits closer cross-sector and cross-border cooperation is required and this was clearly articulated during the seminar.

Key initiatives which are now being developed include:

The Atlantic Strategy, which will cover the coasts, territorial and jurisdictional waters of the five EU Member States with an Atlantic coastline – France, Ireland, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom. Preliminary meetings between these five Member States have taken place and work is ongoing regarding the development of this strategy, in which Ireland is playing a key role.

The “MARSUR” project, involving 13 Member States, including Ireland, will develop the Recognised Maritime Picture exchange network to allow for the sharing of sensitive and confidential maritime information among participating member States Naval Forces in a safe and secure manner. The Irish Naval Service participates in this project.

The Common Information Sharing Environment (an EU Commission initiative) - will allow for the exchange of information across all EU maritime sectors, through the integration of existing maritime systems with the use of modern technologies, in a cost efficient and effective manner. “MARSUR” will ultimately feed into this system.

Ireland’s involvement in this project will enhance information sharing and knowledge transfer between Member States and build working relationships based on “mutual trust” with other European agencies at the operational level. This is evident by Ireland’s very successful involvement in drug seizures, the success of which is dependent on building partnerships between the various actors in this domain.