Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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52. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the feedback received on the national implementation plan for PESCO projects; and the date on which the plan will be published. [27733/18]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The establishment of PESCO represents a further development in EU Cooperation in support of international peace and security under Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP).  Participation in PESCO confirms our position as a fully committed EU Member State and enhances our capacity to influence the future EU agenda on CSDP.

Under PESCO, Member States come together in different groups to develop and make available additional capabilities and enablers for peacekeeping and crisis management operations. Security and Defence is a key priority for the Union in the face of new threats and security challenges which are beyond the capacity of a State acting alone and where member States must work together to address them – e.g. Hybrid, Cyber and trans-national terrorism threats.  PESCO provides a mechanism whereby member States can work together to address these challenges.  Ireland is participating in two PESCO projects - A Centre of Excellence for EU Military Training Missions and the Upgrade of Maritime Surveillance Systems.  Ireland has observer status on a further eight PESCO projects. 

The PESCO National Implementation Plan sets out Member States' plans to meet the commitments and criteria as set out in the Annex to the Council Decision establishing Permanent Structured Cooperation.  Ireland, along with all other PESCO Participants, submitted its Draft National Implementation Plan to the PESCO Secretariat last December. 

The feedback from the PESCO Secretariat which was generally positive, is currently being reviewed by my Department in consultation with the military authorities.  At EU level, the template for PESCO National Implementation Plans and the related information requirements are being refined on the basis of those first drafts and following engagement by the PESCO Secretariat with participating Member States.  Further Council Decisions are required in relation to PESCO project priorities, project participants and governance, and the sequencing of the PESCO commitments going forward.  Decisions in respect of these matters need to be completed before the National Implementation Plan can be finalised. 

Work is under way to finalise the Plan by year end.  In relation to publication of the National Implementation Plan, I will consider this when the plan has been finalised.  In that regard, it will be necessary to consider the nature of some of the information in the plan which may be classified or commercially sensitive.