Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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562. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the financial contribution of Ireland to the European Peace Facility, EPC, each year since its establishment in March 2021; if there are differing funds operated by the EPC for contributors for the purchase of military equipment designed to deliver lethal force and those whose contributions are specified to be limited to the purchase and supply of non-lethal equipment; if there is a commitment to increase Ireland's financial contribution in future years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13900/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Contributions under the European Peace Facility (EPF) are shared between the Department of Foreign Affairs (Vote 28) and the Departments of Defence (Vote 36). The Department of Foreign Affairs covers costs in respect of Assistance Measures and the Department of Defence covers costs in respect of the European Union’s Military CSDP Missions and Operations.

In 2021, Ireland contributed approximately €4.2 million in respect of Assistance Measures and €1.9 million in respect of Missions and Operations. In 2022, Ireland contributed approximately €17.8 million in respect of Assistance Measures and €3.02 million in respect of Missions and Operations. Payments made in respect of Assistance Measures, include payments in respect of Ukraine, as well as payments in respect of other Assistance Measures providing support to other areas of the globe, asunanimously agreed by EU Member States over the course of 2021 and 2022.

Since the Russian invasion, the EU has agreed approximately €5.5 billion in support to Ukraine under the EPF, with the latest package of support agreed by the Foreign Affairs Council on 20 March. This consists of €5.12 billion for lethal equipment and approximately €380 million for non-lethal equipment, inclusive of a new Assistance Measure allowing for the procurement of lethal equipment for Ukraine.

In line with the Programme for Government, Ireland has constructively abstained on the lethal equipment elements of the package and will not contribute financially to this aspect, and will instead provide a corresponding contribution to the non-lethal Assistance Measure. Our total expected contribution currently stands at approximately €121 million exclusively for non-lethal support. Ireland’s contribution in respect of non-lethal support is non-fungible.

As is the case for all EU Member States, Ireland’s payments to the EPF are calculated on the basis of a GNI key and spread across the life cycle of the EPF, which runs up to 2027 in line with the current Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021 – 2027. Of the €121 million committed so far by Ireland to Ukraine under the EPF thus far, approximately €9.9 million had been contributed to Ukraine by the end of 2022.