Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:69 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Defence if the Defence Forces will participate in joint training between the EU's Rapid Reaction Force and NATO's new rapid deployment force or other NATO forces. [24222/02]
Written Answers. - EU Rapid Reaction Force.
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:70 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Defence if the training required for proposed operations with the Rapid Reaction Force is significantly different from that required for military commitments to UN peacekeeping missions until now; and if so, the amount any required alterations in the present training programme will cost the Exchequer. [24223/02]
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:71 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Defence his plans to maintain the level of commitment to United Nations missions while also fulfilling the Helsinki headline goal of providing 850 personnel for participation with the EU's Rapid Reaction Force in view of a report (details supplied); if this commitment will require diversion of troops from United Nations missions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24224/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 69 to 71, inclusive, together.
Ireland's commitment to collective security is pursued through the United Nations which has the primary role to play in the maintenance of international peace and security. The UN possesses no standing military forces of its own and relies on the provision of such resources by willing members. Our Defence Forces have accumulated considerable expertise with the United Nations over the years and their contribution to missions designed to promote peace and stability are illustrative of the humanitarian values that underpin Ireland's approach to assisting those who have suffered the traumatic consequences of strife or conflict.
I recently had the privilege of reporting on the participation of Defence Forces on UN operations to the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence, and Women's Affairs. A copy of my report is available in the Oireachtas Library. Deputies of all sides paid tribute to the work and contribution of the Defence Forces to the United Nations and I stressed that it is the Government's intention that our contribution would be maintained into the future. I reported that, over the course of 2001, we had an average of approximately 800 personnel involved in UN or UN mandated missions, and, at any one time during the year in question, a minimum of 470 personnel were deployed on 12 different missions in Africa, Europe, the Middle East and South East Asia. A key event for the Defence Forces in 2001 was the withdrawal of our largest overseas contingent in Lebanon, UNIFIL, in November, 2001. The context of scaling down and eventual withdrawal from Lebanon in 2001 ensured that we were in a position to positively respond to UN requests for deployments to Eritrea, UNMEE, and East Timor, UNTAET. Currently there are some 447 troops serving with the United Nations or on United Nations mandated missions in diverse locations around the world. For a country of Ireland's size, we have made a highly significant contribution in furtherance of international peace and greater understanding between nations.
It is clear, therefore, that Ireland has a very positive role to play in contributing the expertise of our Defence Forces to the efforts of the EU to promote peace and stability. The planned contribution to the EU headline goal in no way degrades our commitment to UN peacekeeping. In fact, this contribution reinforces in a very conspicuous way our continued intention to support efforts to maximise international peace and stability.
There is often some misunderstanding in relation to our contribution to the United Nations standby arrangements. Ireland's commitment to the headline goal consists of an offer of up to 850 members of the Defence Forces from within our existing commitment of 850 personnel to UNSAS. Accordingly, our commitment to the headline goal does not have any implications for our commitment to the United Nations. Ireland will only participate on EU peace support operations subject to specific Government decision, Dáil approval and UN authorisation – the so-called "triple lock". It is sometimes asked how the UN and the EU link together? Are there contradictions between the two approaches? The answer is that one complements the other or, to put it in another way, they are mutually reinforcing. The UN has encouraged regional approaches to peacekeeping and there have recently been discussions between representatives of the UN and the EU on peacekeeping and crisis management issues. Close co-operation between the EU and the UN is developing on these matters.
Training, personnel and equipment programmes required for the reorganisation and development of the Defence Forces are provided for under the Government's White Paper on Defence, published in February 2000, which took account of both the internal and external security environments. There has been no departure from the strategy framework which is provided for in the White Paper and Defence Forces training for participation in the headline goal does not have additional implications for the Exchequer.
There are no plans for Defence Forces participation in joint training between EU and NATO. The ongoing EU exercise programme covers the period 2001-06, and entails a sequence of exercises designed to ensure appropriate readiness and efficient functioning in a crisis management situation. The exercises are designed to ensure the EU structures, procedures – including consultation with the UN – and arrangements are properly tested and validated in order to ensure appropriate readiness and efficient functioning in a Petersberg task type crisis situation. In effect the exercises test the political-diplomatic and military responses to an emerging crisis. They should not be confused with military exercises which require deployment of troops. The EU does not intend to engage in military field exercises as part of the EU exercise programme.