Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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971. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his views on the position of Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker regarding EU defence as outlined in his state of the union speech, which included support for the establishment of a European defence fund to encourage research and innovation and for a toughening up of EU defence policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26577/16]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The views expressed by the Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on defence in his recent State of the Union address are not something new.  He has made similar statements in the past.  These, however, are matters for the EU member States to decide together and do not fall within the competence of the Commission. 

There have been proposals around for some time, that the EU should establish a joint operational headquarters to support the planning and conduct of its civil and military operations.  A permanent joint civil-military operational headquarters, appropriately configured, could potentially deliver more effective and responsive CSDP operations in support of the UN and international peace and security, a position which Ireland supports.  However, this is a matter which EU member States, including Ireland, will consider in the context of the implementation plan for the recently published EU Global Strategy of Foreign and Security Policy.  Ireland will participate fully in that process and in the ongoing development of the EU Common Security and Defence Policy in support of the UN and international peacekeeping and crisis management.  

The Commission President also referred in his State of the Union speech to the development of a European Defence Fund. Full details have yet to emerge in relation to this proposal but it is understood that it may include the establishment of a European Defence Research Programme (ERDP) post the completion of the Horizon 2020 research programme. The aim of the proposal is to stimulate further research and innovation in the Defence field leading to greater industrial development within the EU.

Officials in my Department and the Department of Finance will be monitoring closely developments in this area.