Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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29. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he supports the involvement of the Irish Defence Forces in any expanded European Union rapid reaction force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23817/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The recently approved Strategic Compass sets out an analysis of the strategic environment and, in particular, the security and defence challenges faced by the EU, including emerging threats, the increasingly contested multi-polar world and the strategic implications for the EU.

Among the proposals contained in the Strategic Compass is the establishment of an EU Rapid Deployment Capacity of up to 5000 troops for different types of crises by 2025. The capacity is expected to consist of substantially modified EU Battlegroups and of pre-identified Member States’ military forces and capabilities.

While Ireland engaged with and inputted fully into the work on the Compass, discussions and decisions on further steps and modalities and the definition and agreement of any operational scenarios in relation to the EU Rapid Deployment Capacity have yet to take place.

Most recently, an overview and proposed timelines of the Implementation of the Strategic Compass was shared with Member States. While discussions continue on the timelines proposed, it should be noted that decision-making power in relation to the individual actions proposed in the Compass, remains a national competence. Nothing in the Compass prejudices the specific character of the security and defence policy of any Member State and this must remain the case through the implementation phase.