Ireland's approach to participation in Partnership for Peace was set out in our Presentation Document of 1 December 1999, which outlined the following five priority areas for involvement: co-operation on international peacekeeping; humanitarian operations; search and rescue; co-operation in the protection of the environment; and co-operation in marine matters. These areas relate to the Defence Forces and to appropriate civilian agencies such as the Departments of the Environment and Local Government, the former Department of the Marine and Natural Resources and the Civil Defence.
Participation in PfP activities is entirely voluntary and is based on the principle of self-differentiation, that is, a State selects for itself the nature and scope of its participation. To date, the Defence Forces have continued to participate in PfP partnership programmes and the PfP Planning and Review Process, PARP, with a view to enhancing interoperability with our PfP partners. The aim is to create the conditions in which different contingents can work together efficiently and effectively in peace support operations.
The details of Ireland's participation are set out in our two individual partnership programmes, IPPs, the first of which covered the period up to 31 December 2001 and the second of which covers the period 2002-03. Both of the IPPs have been lodged in the Oireachtas Library. Activities consist of training courses, seminars, workshops, conferences and table top exercises and are attended by representatives of the relevant agencies which I mentioned earlier.
The cost of participation in the 2001 IPP to the Defence Forces was approximately €300,000 and it is anticipated the cost will be the same for 2002. These costs are made up of expenditures on course fees, travel costs and subsistence allowances for Defence Forces personnel.
The training opportunities provided by Ireland's participation in Partnership for Peace enhances the development of the Defence Forces, consistent with the objectives of the Government White Paper on Defence published in February 2000. In addition, participation in Partnership for Peace provides a forum whereby Ireland can contribute to the benefits gained from our many years of successful participation on United Nations humanitarian missions. The experience of our Defence Forces in this area is highly appreciated by the other 45 member countries of Partnership for Peace, particularly the newly emerging democracies of eastern Europe.