Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 14 Feb 2001

Vol. 530 No. 4

Written Answers. - Rapid Reaction Force.

John Gormley

Question:

59 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Defence his views on the published reports that, in any major operation of the EU's rapid reaction force, the commander of the rapid reaction force will be the European who holds the NATO post of Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe. [4039/01]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith)

The capabilities announced at the Capabilities Commitment Conference held in Brussels on 20 and 21 November 2000 constitute one element in the development of a European security and defence policy, which has its basis in the aims of the Amsterdam Treaty. They derive from decisions taken by European Heads of State and Government at successive European Council meetings in Cologne, Helsinki and Feira and are firmly rooted in the framework of European common foreign and security policy. These contributions were made in the context of the voluntary headline goal agreed at the European Council at Helsinki.

In summary, Ireland's contribution of up to 850 members of our Defence Forces does not in any way affect our long-standing policy of military neutrality to which the Government remains firmly committed, nor is any mutual defence arrangement involved.

A declaration by EU member states was issued after the Capabilities Commitment Conference which clearly stated that the Union's contribution to international security would be made in keeping with UN and OSCE principles. Moreover, it reiterated that these steps did not imply the creation of a European army. Participation by Ireland in any Petersberg mission remains a sovereign decision to be taken by the Government. The Government will decide on a case by case basis whether, when and how to commit either troops or other resources.

In our interventions at the conference, Ireland reiterated these points and specified that in our case, in compliance with the terms of the relevant Irish legislation, we would participate only in missions authorised by the United Nations.

Particular concerns have been expressed concerning implications for our continued involvement in UN peacekeeping and, as raised by Deputy Gormley, regarding the possible role of certain NATO personnel.

In addition to being entirely consistent with our policy of military neutrality, our commitment to the EU headline goal is fully in keeping with Ireland's approach to overseas peacekeeping and with our foreign policy traditions. We remain absolutely committed to Irish involvement in UN peacekeeping. We will continue to play a full part in it.

In this context, I stress that the central role of the UN, and particularly that of the UN Security Council in matters of peace and neutrality, is explicitly recognised by the EU. There are clear links between what the EU is trying to achieve and the overhaul of UN peace-keeping operations which is now under way in line with recently adopted Security Council Resolution No. 1327. Ireland's membership of the UN Security Council will facilitate our efforts to help ensure that European security and defence policy and UN reforms proceed in a complementary and mutually reinforcing manner.

The involvement of NATO stems from the fact that the EU, which is not a military organisation, is likely to remain dependent on NATO infrastructural and transport capacity, as UN-mandated operations such as SFOR in Bosnia and Herzegovina and KFOR in Kosovo have shown.

Detailed discussions have been taking place between the EU and NATO on the modalities for the use of NATO assets by the EU in carrying out specific Petersberg tasks where the EU does not itself have adequate capabilities. In this context, it is envisaged that the Deputy Supreme Allied Commander of NATO – DSACEUR – would have a co-ordinating role between the EU and NATO on the allocation of NATO resources for a specific operation. The command arrangements for an EU-led operation would be for the EU to decide and the EU would maintain the political control of any operation using NATO assets and capabilities. Moreover, I would emphasise that Irish involvement in operations where the EU and NATO co-operate will only occur where our peacekeepers act under a UN mandate.

I reiterate that Ireland's ongoing participation in the development of European security and defence policy is fully consistent with our policy of neutrality and our commitment to international peace and security. We, therefore, approach this task in a positive and constructive spirit.