Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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13. To ask the Minister for Defence if the Government has approved Defence Forces participation in any future battle groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52903/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Government has not yet approved Ireland's proposed participation in the Nordic Battlegroup in 2015 and the German led Battlegroup in 2016. The Nordic Battlegroup will comprise Sweden, acting as Framework Nation, Finland, Norway, Estonia and possibly Lithuania and Latvia. The German led Battlegroup will comprise Germany, acting as Framework Nation, Luxembourg, Austria, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands. The proposed Defence Forces contribution to each Battlegroup will be a Reconnaissance Company and related combat support elements. It is proposed that Ireland will also take command of a multinational Reconnaissance Group Headquarters, providing Ireland with a more significant role within these battlegroups.

Ireland has previously participated in the Nordic Battlegroup in 2008 and 2011 and in a German led EU Battlegroup in 2012. The other members of the Nordic Battlegroup were Sweden, acting as Framework Nation, Finland, Norway and Estonia and Croatia (2011 only). The members of the German led EU Battlegroup were Germany, acting as Framework Nation, Austria, the Czech Republic, Croatia and Macedonia.

Discussions have been ongoing with the Framework Nations and participating States to finalise details on the configuration of the Battlegroups along with operational and training details and standby arrangements. As this work has now been completed I expect to bring the matter to Government shortly.