Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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32. To ask the Minister for Defence his views on the consideration given to the contradiction between Ireland's traditional position of neutrality and the new Defence Forces strategy as outlined in the White Paper; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34264/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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European Union on Common Security and Defence Policy, and with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, which is not in any way contradictory with Ireland's traditional position of neutrality. As the White Paper notes, the threats to international peace and national security are complex, multi-dimensional, interrelated and transnational in nature. A feature of Ireland’s policy response to these security challenges is continued strong support for the multilateral system of collective security represented by the UN and of the primary role of the Security Council in the maintenance of international peace and security. In recent years, the UN has increasingly mandated regional organisations such as the EU, the African Union and NATO to manage operations on its behalf and under its authority.

Ireland’s traditional policy on military neutrality remains completely unaffected by deepening our relationship with the EU or by our support of, or participation in, CSDP operations with military elements. In keeping with our support for the multilateral system of collective security, Ireland will continue to play a full and active part in all facets of the EU’s CSDP in accordance with nationally determined values and principles. A key objective in the continued development of the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy is the ability to respond rapidly to emerging crises. The EU, quite rightly, now engages in a wide range of crisis management operations, invariably in support of or in partnership with the UN. These actions, referred to as the Petersberg tasks, are humanitarian and rescue tasks, peace-keeping tasks and the tasks of combat forces in crisis management, including peacemaking, joint disarmament operations, military advice and assistance tasks in supporting the reform and restructuring of security services and legal institutions in fragile States, conflict prevention and post-conflict stabilisation. Ireland will continue to play a full and active role in this regard.

Similarly, close cooperation between NATO and the UN and its agencies is another important element in the development of an international “Comprehensive Approach” to crisis management and operations. Ireland’s participation in NATO-led operations such as the Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan and the NATO-led KFOR Mission in Kosovo in no way infringes upon our traditional policy of military neutrality. These are operations authorised by successive UN Security Council resolutions, undertaken at the UN's behest and very often working congruently with a UN mission.

As the Deputy will be aware, Ireland’s cooperation with NATO is conducted through the Partnership for Peace (PfP) which we joined in 1999 following approval by Dáil Éireann of the Presentation Document.  Our purpose in participating in the PfP is to improve our military capabilities so as to ensure that our Defence Forces have the necessary interoperable capabilities to participate effectively and safely with other like minded nations in UN mandated operations.

As the White Paper notes, this will include engagement with the Connected Forces Initiative (CFI), the Planning and Review Process (PARP), and the Operational Capabilities Concept (OCC).

In joining PfP, Ireland, in common with other PfP nations, reaffirmed its commitment to fulfil in good faith the obligations of the United Nations Charter, and the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Equally, Ireland reaffirmed its commitment to the Helsinki Final Act and all subsequent documents of the OSCE. Ireland’s decision to participate in PfP is in full accordance with Ireland’s policy of military neutrality and it is worth noting that many other like-minded States, in particular Austria, Switzerland, Malta, Sweden and Finland also participate in PfP.

Ireland will continue to engage proactively with the UN, the EU, the OSCE and NATO/PfP and other states with a view to developing and deepening relationships in the development of an international approach to crisis management and operations, without prejudice to our policy of military neutrality.