Joe Higgins
Question:82 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress to date of Ireland joining NATO's Partnership for Peace. [18125/99]
Written Answers. - Partnership for Peace.
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:99 Caoimhghin Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has received any esti mate of the projected cost to the State of the proposed membership of NATOs Partnership for Peace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18090/99]
Brian O'Shea
Question:122 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the discussions, if any, held with NATO regarding the Government's proposal that Ireland should become a member of Partnership for Peace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17960/99]
Eamon Gilmore
Question:201 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the estimated full year cost for Ireland's participation in the Partnership for Peace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17775/99]
John Gormley
Question:210 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has discussed the budgetary implications for membership of Partnership for Peace with the Department of Finance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18329/99]
John Gormley
Question:212 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to a document (details supplied) putting forward an alternative to NATO and Partnership for Peace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18331/99]
John Gormley
Question:214 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will reconsider his position on the question of joining Partnership for Peace without a referendum in view of the huge public opposition. [18395/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 82, 99, 122, 201, 210, 212 and 214 together.
I refer Deputies to my earlier answer to Priority Question No 79 from Deputy Mitchell. On the issue of costs and budgetary implications, participation in PfP imposes no mandatory financial contributions. PfP is voluntary and based on the principle of self-differentiation. Each partner funds its own participation. There will be administrative implications arising from Ireland's participation in PfP, for example the leasing of office space in the PfP wing at NATO's Brussels Headquarters, and at Mons, where Ireland currently maintains a single liaison officer from the Permanent Defence Force arising from our participation in SFOR and KFOR. There will also be staffing costs arising from our participation in PfP. Some of these costs will arise in the Department of Foreign Affairs Vote, and others in the Vote of the Department of Defence. Estimates of these costs are under preparation for consideration by the Government.
As has been made clear to the House on previous occasions, Ireland's practical participation in PfP will focus on co-operation in peacekeeping. The question of resources for peacekeeping is of course primarily a matter for the Minister for Defence.
I am aware of the document referred to in Deputy Gormley's question which sets out views on a number of issues, including PfP. Debate on these issues, including PfP, is of course to be welcomed. The Deputy will be aware that the Government has consistently sought to encourage discussion of, and awareness of the question of PfP. To this end, the Government published in May of this year an explanatory guide which sets out in some detail what is involved in PfP.