Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 July 2020
608. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Defence the PESCO projects Ireland is a participant in or has observer status on; the cost to date of Ireland’s participation in PESCO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20786/20]
View answerIreland is currently participating in one PESCO project, namely the Greek led project, Upgrade of Maritime Surveillance. Costs may arise in respect of participation in specific PESCO projects similar to the case where the Defence Forces participate in European Defence Agency Projects. In respect of this PESCO project, the only costs borne to date is in relation to Defence Forces attendance at project meetings.
Ireland is currently Observers on nine PESCO Projects - (1) Deployable Military Disaster Relief Capability Package; (2) Maritime (semi) Autonomous Systems for Mine Countermeasures; (3) Cyber Threats and Incident Response Information Sharing Platform; (4) European Secure Software defined Radio; (5) Military Mobility; (6) Energy Operational Function; (7) EU Radionavigation Solution; (8) Counter Unmanned Aerial System; (9) SOF Medical Training Centre. There is no financial impact for Ireland participating as an observer on a PESCO project other than when a representative from the relevant Directorate or Service within the Defence Forces attends each of the project meetings. Ireland's commitment at this time is through our attendance at meetings as the projects progress.
To date no additional costs has been incurred through PESCO related activities other than costs associated with attendance by Defence Forces Subject Matter Experts at PESCO project planning meetings. The project which Ireland is a participant on is still in the early stage of development, the budgets and timeline for participant's involvement has not yet been fully determined. This may change as project progresses and capabilities are developed and acquired through the PESCO framework. However, it is expected that sharing the costs of capability development across a number of Member States should prove cost neutral in terms of overall projected defence expenditure.
