Noel Davern
Question:593 Mr. Davern asked the Minister for Defence the total cost to his Department of the Presidency of the EU; and if he will give details of such costs. [1238/97]
Written Answers. - EU Presidency.
The cost of the EU Presidency to my Department is as follows:
Ireland was responsible for the control and management of the European Community Monitor Mission to the Former Yugoslavia (ECMM) during the six month period of the Irish Presidency of the EU. There was a total of 88 Irish personnel serving with the ECMM of whom 78 were members of the Permanent Defence Force. A total of 23 Irish personnel, of whom 20 are members of the Defence Forces, continues to serve in the mission as part of the arrangements under the EU Troika. The additional costs in respect of Defence Forces participation, payable from the Defence Vote in 1996, are estimated to be slightly in excess of £1.5 million but the final figure has not yet been computed.
Additional costs were also incurred by the Department of Defence during Ireland's Presidency of the EU in the area of security and in the use of an air taxi service to meet additional transport requirements of Ministers during the period. The final cost of the air taxi service operated for the duration of the Presidency was £875,000 approximately. It is not possible to cost the element in the area of security which is directly attributable to our Presidency of the EU.