Theresa Ahearn
Question:76 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Defence if the invitation to the Naval Service to participate in Baltops 1999 has been accepted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9254/99]
Vol. 503 No. 2
76 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Defence if the invitation to the Naval Service to participate in Baltops 1999 has been accepted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9254/99]
96 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Defence the position regarding the participation of the Defence Forces in the Baltic operational exercises; and the number of personnel involved. [9424/99]
122 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Defence if the invitation to the Naval Service to participate in Baltops 1999 has been accepted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9314/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 76, 96 and 122 together.
In October 1998 an invitation was received from the Commander in Chief, US Naval Forces Europe, for a Naval Service vessel to participate in an annual exercise conducted by the United States Naval authorities in conjunction with European nations in the Baltic Sea, tentatively scheduled for 7-18 June 1999. The exercise, while not a NATO-Partnership for Peace exercise, is nevertheless conducted in the spirit of PfP. The invitation is being considered by my Department in consultation with the Department of Foreign Affairs.