Written Answers. - Treaty of Nice.
Jack Wall
Question:
114
Mr. Wall
asked the
Minister for Defence
the strategic implications for the Defence Forces of the rejection of the Nice Treaty; the way in which this affects the stated mission of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[31869/01]
The mission of the Defence Forces is to contribute to the security of the State by providing for the military defence of its territorial integrity and to fulfil all roles assigned by Government through the deployment of well motivated and effective Defence Forces.
This mission was derived following the publication of the White Paper on Defence by the Government in February 2000. The White Paper process included an assessment of both the national and international security environment, resulting in a revision of the roles assigned to the Defence Forces by the Government. The restructuring and re-equipment programme of the Defence Forces which is contained in the White Paper is founded on these roles, and will ensure the development of a world class military organisation. The programme has been ongoing since the publication of the White Paper and the result of the Nice Treaty referendum has had no implications in this regard.
Ireland's role and reputation in the international peacekeeping area can contribute much to the potential for the EU to carry out humanitarian and crisis management missions in support of the Common Foreign and Security Policy. Ireland's reputation in peacekeeping and conflict resolution has been, and continues to be, one of which the State can be proud. The Defence Forces, in particular, have represented Ireland for many years through participation in a wide range of United Nations missions throughout the world and have established a reputation well in excess of our proportionate size. In many areas of conflict our military personnel have acquitted themselves well. The Lebanon, former Yugoslavia and East Timor are just some of the areas where Ireland has successfully brought to bear particular skills and experience in the promotion of peace.
I am aware that concerns have been expressed that the result of the Nice Treaty referendum will have implications for Ireland's participation in the European Common Foreign and Security Policy and in the European Security and Defence Policy. The Nice Treaty, which related primarily to institutional arrangements for an enlarged Europe, does not alter in any substantial way the provisions of the Amsterdam Treaty in the security and defence area. Ireland's participation in ESDP is fully consistent with the provisions of the Amsterdam Treaty as approved by the Irish electorate in May 1998. Based on these provisions the development of ESDP has been elaborated in the conclusions of successive European Councils since Cologne in June 1999. In this regard the Helsinki European Council in December 1999 agreed on a voluntary target for establishing capabilities for undertaking humanitarian and crisis management missions known as the Petersberg Tasks. This target known as the headline goal, which member states aim to meet by the year 2003, involves the ability to deploy between 50,000 to 60,000 personnel within 60 days and to sustain that deployment for one year.
National sovereignty is an underlying principle to participation in the European Security and Defence Policy. Our Defence Forces will only participate in the Petersberg Tasks authorised by the UN as comprehended by the appropriate legislation, that is the Defence Act, 1954, the Defence (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 1960, and the Defence (Amendment) Act, 1993. The decisions on participation taken by individual member states will subsequently be confirmed through the framework of the EU Council.
I am hopeful that the open public debate which is taking place on European issues, through the National Forum on Europe, will help to dispel the fears and anxieties that were expressed in the security and defence area during the referendum campaign.
