Vol. 545 No. 4
35 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Defence the situation regarding the readiness of the European Union's Rapid Reaction Force; the military capabilities the Government has pledged to this force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30248/01]
48 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Defence the proposals for funding the new European Union Rapid Reaction Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30246/01]
81 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for Defence his plans to increase the Government's commitment to the Rapid Reaction Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30594/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 35, 48 and 81 together.
The three questions have in common references to the European rapid reaction force. This term has common but misleading usage, which I regret has come to be misinterpreted as a reference to a prospective European army.
This is not a European army. It is a means by which the European Union can establish a capability of carrying out humanitarian and peace support missions. National sovereignty is an underlying principle to participation in the European Security and Defence Policy. Ireland will 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 decisions on participation taken by individual member states will subsequently be confirmed through the framework of the EU Council.
Deputies on all sides of the House agree that Ireland's reputation in international peacekeeping and conflict resolution has been, and continues to be, one of which the State can be proud. The Defence Forces in particular have represented Ireland for many years through participation in a wide range of United Nations missions throughout the world and have established a reputation well in excess of our proportionate size. In many areas of conflict, our military personnel have acquitted themselves well. Lebanon, the former Yugoslavia and East Timor are just some of the areas where Ireland has successfully brought to bear particular skills and experience in the promotion of peace.
The establishment of an EU capacity to carry out humanitarian and crisis management missions, in support of the Common Foreign and Security Policy, called Petersberg Tasks, is a pragmatic and worthy progression of Ireland's role and reputation in the international arena of peacekeeping.
This process is based on provisions of the Treaty on European Union and have been elaborated in the conclusions of successive European Councils since Cologne in June 1999. In this regard, the Helsinki European Council in December 1999 agreed on a voluntary target for establishing capabilities for Petersberg Tasks. This target, known as the headline goal, which member states aim to meet by the year 2003, involves the ability to deploy 50,000 to 60,000 personnel within 60 days and to sustain that deployment for one year.
An appropriate arrangement for the financing of Petersberg Tasks is currently being discussed between the 15 member states. The prospective arrangements must take account of the voluntary nature of participation by each member state in EU actions and also take into account that an EU mission is likely to include civilian as well as military aspects.
Based on these criteria, my colleague the Minister for Foreign Affairs and I have taken the view that an arrangement whereby each nation bears the costs of its own participation in any EU led action may provide the best solution. This is the basis on which Ireland has participated in both SFOR and KFOR in former Yugoslavia. However, I stress that these discussions are ongoing and are not likely to be concluded in the near future.
Ireland's commitment to the headline goal was made at a Capabilities Commitment Conference which was held at Brussels in November 2000. Our contribution consists of an offer of up to 850 members of the Defence Forces from within our existing commitment of 850 personnel to the United Nations Standby Arrangements System. This represents some 10% of our Army – not an inconsiderable undertaking by any standard. The largest element will consist of a light infantry battalion of up to 750 personnel. In addition, an Army Ranger Wing platoon of 40 personnel and small numbers of national support, headquarters and observer elements have been offered and will make up the remainder.
In the 12 month period since the Capabilities Commitment Conference, planning work has been ongoing at EU level on developing the capabilities required to meet the headline goal by the target date of 2003. On 19 November 2001, I attended a Capabilities Improvement Conference – CIC – in Brussels, during which member states reviewed progress to date and agreed an action plan with the aim of addressing any identified capability shortfalls.
At the conference, I reaffirmed Ireland's contribution of 850 personnel and outlined the progress which has been made with regard to the Governments commitment to ensuring that the Defence Forces are suitably prepared for future challenges which may arise in the context of participation in Petersberg Tasks.
The declaration issued by the CIC confirmed that the EU should be able to carry out the whole range of Petersberg Tasks by 2003, but it also recognised that efforts must be made if the Union is to be able to carry out the most complex operations as efficiently as possible and to reduce any limitations and restrictions in terms of the breadth of the operation and the period of deployment as well as the level of risk.
I emphasised that our fully professional Defence Forces can bring a great deal of expertise to bear in peace support operations as a consequence of the wide experience acquired in the humanitarian and crisis management area through participation in UN missions. In this way, we can make a valuable contribution to the headline goal and thus play a constructive role in promoting peace and stability in Europe.
I thank the Minister for his detailed response. Will a contingent of Irish Defence Forces be involved and, if so, have they been identified? I know he has given a breakdown, but do Defence Forces personnel know they are included in the training for the Rapid Reaction Force? Will those involved be determined by voluntary means or by the Army allocating a number of sections, determined by the Minister as being part of Ireland's 850 strong contingent, to be sent on missions should they arise? Hopefully the need will not arise, although given current world affairs that cannot be guaranteed.
Do the circumstances that arise or the country that needs assistance determine how many troops we send? Has there been any training to date or has it been mainly logistical work to prepare our group?
In the first instance, as the Deputy knows, this is taken on a case by case basis requiring Dáil approval and a UN mandate. Under the re-organisation of the Defence Forces, it is now a three brigade set-up. The ambition is to be able to draw from a particular brigade, moving on to a second and third as and when the opportunity arises if they are agreed. The advantage of that kind of linkage in training is obvious. Training and preparation is ongoing but it has been stepped up considerably, evidenced by fitness programmes, the use and acquisition of new technology and new and better equipment. In joining, the aspects of training, qualification and better equipment form part of what we want to be able to do.
We already have terrific experience and we want to add to that, in a qualitative way, what we are able to do for the future if required. While the Deputy's question is primarily a military matter and one for those authorities, my understanding is that the traditional picture, which has been to draw from all the brigades to make up a battalion, will change. The aim now is to do that from individual brigades starting with the first and moving to the second and third and to ensure the training and resources for that group will enhance our ability to deliver. The training exercises in safety are also very important.
Does the Minister agree it is reasonable to assume, on the setting up of such a force, that Irish personnel will be required to exercise abroad? I believe that legislation would be necessary for such an eventuality. Will the Minister confirm if that is the case and, if so, does he propose to bring forward legislation to enable Irish military personnel train abroad?
One of the reasons for joining the Partnership for Peace was to help in the training exercises and programmes that would lead to greater operability between different contingents. Deputy Timmins will know that on UN operations, each battalion operated on its own, to some extent, even though there was an adjoining territory where the Norwegians, British, Finns or French also operated. This is what we are trying to achieve here – to find out what Ireland can give in terms of top-ranking expertise, ability and equipment to complement contingents from another country so that the combination of what is being done in civilian as well as military areas is effective.
I am not aware, and it has not been brought to my notice, that training exercises such as those carried out under the PfP would require the passing of legislation. What has been done to date is mainly preliminary work on developing necessary programmes. If legislation is necessary we will introduce it. I do not think that is likely.
