Austin Deasy
Question:52 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Defence the role he envisages for the Defence Forces in the European Rapid Reaction Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9094/01]
Vol. 533 No. 4
52 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Defence the role he envisages for the Defence Forces in the European Rapid Reaction Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9094/01]
64 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Defence if any role is envisaged for Irish troops in the near future in the rapid reaction force of the European Union. [8935/01]
95 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the degree to which military equipment is likely to be upgraded arising from participation in the European Rapid Reaction Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9252/01]
102 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the degree to which the army has been re-equipped in terms of training, communications and equipment in accordance with possible security responsibilities arising from European commitments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9265/01]
103 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the degree to which the Air Corps is being upgraded and improved in terms of training and equipment in anticipation of future participation in European security activities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9266/01]
110 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence if the Air Corps is or has been involved in training activities or air force and or military manoeuvres with the forces of other European Union member states; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9273/01]
I propose to take Question Nos. 52, 64, 95, 102, 103 and 110 together.
I would like to clarify any confusion arising from the description of the capabilities for the EU headline goal as a rapid reaction force. The response capacity being developed by the EU, and frequently described as a rapid reaction force, is emphatically not a standing army. Rather, it constitutes a catalogue of capabilities available to provide the means to carry out Petersberg tasks, that is, tasks of crisis management, peacekeeping and humanitarian activities, the national elements of which can only be deployed on foot of decisions by each potential contributor.
As regards any potential EU Petersberg operation, in keeping with the Government's stated position in this area, I reiterate that Ireland will approach each mission on a case by case basis and only participate in operations authorised by the UN as comprehended by the appropriate legislation, that is, the Defence Act, 1954, the Defence (Amendment) No. 2 Act, 1960, and the Defence (Amendment) Act, 1993.
The commitments made in relation to the EU headline goal must be seen in the context of Ireland's long-standing support for overseas peace support operations authorised by the United Nations. In this regard, the White Paper on defence, published last year, set out key elements of the Government's approach to overseas peace support operations and I refer to a number of the most important and relevant elements.