Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 17 May 2000

Vol. 519 No. 3

Written Answers - Partnership for Peace.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

69 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence if, arising from participation in Partnership for Peace, he has received any indication from his European counterparts, regarding possible changes in military training procedures and equipment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13646/00]

Dinny McGinley

Question:

77 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Defence the requests which have been made at European or international levels for Irish defence forces to participate in training exercises; and his response to these requests. [13699/00]

Trevor Sargent

Question:

96 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Defence the developments in Ireland's Partnership for Peace participation and, in particular, if invitations to take part in any PfP exercises have been received. [13652/00]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 69, 77 and 96 together.

As the House will be aware Ireland joined Partnership for Peace (PfP) on 1 December 1999. The areas of interest to Ireland in Partnership for Peace are set out in the Presentation Document which was approved by Dáil Éireann on 9 November 1999 and which was presented to the NATO secretariat upon signature by Ireland of the PfP Framework Document on 1 December 1999.

On the basis of its Presentation Document Ireland will develop, in consultation with the NATO Secretariat, an individual partnership programme which will cover a two year period initially and which will set out the level and extent of proposed participation in such areas as co-operation in peacekeeping principles, doctrine, training and exercises and inter-operability in peacekeeping operations. It will be recalled that participation in PfP is entirely voluntary and is based on the principle of self-differentation, that is a state selects for itself the nature and scope of its participation in PfP activities. Arrangements are currently being put in place to advance the development of Ireland's individual partnership programme. This two year programme will be developed having regard to the State's requirements in relation to the roles of the Defence Forces as set out in the White Paper on Defence and taking account of resource implications. The White Paper sets out a comprehen sive strategy for the management and development of defence over the next ten years.

It is the policy of the Government to ensure that the Defence Forces are adequately trained, equipped and resourced to undertake whatever activities with which they may tasked from time to time. In this regard participation in PfP does not involve the imposition of any changes in Defence Forces training procedures and equipment.

Invitations to the following PfP exercises have been received and accepted to date this year:

Exercise Title/Venue	Excise Type	Date	Nature of participation by Defence Forces Personnel
Cooperative Nugget, Fort Carson, USA	Peacekeeping/Humanitarian Operations	1-13 May 00	Attendance by 2 Officers
Combined Endeavour, Baumholder, Germany	Communications Information Systems Interoperability	11-25 May 00	(a)Attendance by 2 Officers at Final Planning Conference, Berlin,20-24 March 00(b)During the period 21-25 May 00 Defence Forces participation will involve the transmission of high frequency radio messages using equipment located at the Curragh.