Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 April 2004
207 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Defence the implications for defence spending in this State of the EU security doctrine agreed in December 2003 which calls on member states to dedicate more resources to defence; if cost projections have been done; if so, to report on the results; if not, when will they be done; and will they be published. [11173/04]
View answer208 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Defence the implications for defence spending in this State of Article 40(3) of the draft EU constitutional treaty which requires member states to progressively improve their military capabilities; if the Government agreed to this provision; and if the Government has received a legal opinion about whether the State could be found to be in breach of the treaty if we fail to improve our military capabilities. [11174/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 207 and 208 together.
I refer the Deputy to my replies to his questions dated 25 March and 6 April 2004, which related to the impact to date on defence spending of EU defence measures and the anticipated impact on defence spending over the next 10 years by EU defence-related measures and commitments.
As I stated in my replies, the Government's White Paper on Defence, published in February 2000, set out a medium term strategy for defence covering the period up to 2010. A major objective of the strategy is to ensure that Ireland has a world-class military organisation capable of carrying out the roles assigned to it by the Government, both at home and abroad. This objective requires an ongoing modernisation process, including an investment programme to ensure that the Defence Forces are properly equipped for these roles.
In seeking to modernise the Defence Forces in accordance with the objectives of the White Paper I have been fully conscious of the need to obtain the best possible efficiencies from existing resources, and have reported to the House on many occasions on the methods by which this has been achieved.
I do not envisage any additional Exchequer requirements for my Department arising from the security strategy.
Questions on the draft treaty come under the remit of my colleague the Minster for Foreign Affairs and accordingly should be tabled to him.
Defence and defence policy are a fundamental expression of national sovereignty. In that context, defence spending is a matter for the Government and has to be undertaken in a prudent and balanced fashion having due regard to the prevailing national socio-economic environment.
I would, yet again, take this opportunity to remind the Deputy that national sovereignty and voluntarism are the fundamental underlying principles of participation in the European Security and Defence Policy, ESDP. Participation in any specific operation by member states is decided on a case-by-case basis and in accordance with respective national decision making procedures.
