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Permanent Structured Co-operation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 December 2020

Tuesday, 1 December 2020

Questions (364, 367, 369, 370)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

364. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Defence the planned increase in budgets and investments under policy goals for the implementation of the commitments and projects in the next PESCO phase 2021-2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40404/20]

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Thomas Pringle

Question:

367. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Defence the current and planned defence spending commitments to the progress of PESCO implementation focusing in particular on the areas in which efforts have to be maintained or enhanced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40407/20]

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Thomas Pringle

Question:

369. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Defence if he will report on Ireland’s participation in PESCO’s new commitments around embarking on a new stage towards European security and defence integration; if he will report on the EU’s level of ambition in military terms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40409/20]

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Thomas Pringle

Question:

370. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Defence if he will report on the outcomes from the expert level workshop held by the PESCO secretariat after the Foreign Affairs Council meeting of 20 November 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40410/20]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 364, 367, 369 and 370 together.

With regard to the EU’s level of ambition in military terms, the EU’s Global Strategy published in 2016 elaborated and expanded on the EU’s level of ambi­tion on security and defence. Taking stock of a rapidly deteriorating security envi­ronment for Europe, the strategy broadened the EU’s level of ambition beyond crisis management and capacity building to include issues such as hybrid threats, cybersecurity, border management and other challenges that sit along the internal-external secu­rity nexus.

The establishment of PESCO represented a further development in EU Cooperation in support of international peace and security under Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). Ireland has participated in PESCO since it was established. As part of our participation in PESCO, Ireland has committed to regularly increase our defence budgets in real terms. It should be noted that regularly does not mean annually but rather over the medium term. Ireland’s defence expenditure increased in real terms in both 2019 and 2020 and with the announced increase of over €32m in the defence allocation for Budget 2021, Ireland’s defence expenditure will continue to increase in real terms. The Council Decision under which PESCO is established provides that the commitment cannot be inconsistent with or affect national sovereignty or the specific character of the security and defence policy of certain Member States and must be consistent with the applicable constitutional provisions of the member State.

Joining PESCO does not of itself involve any direct additional cost to the Exchequer. However, additional costs may arise in respect of participation in specific PESCO projects similar to the case where the Defence Forces participate in European Defence Agency Project, the costs of which are met from the Defence Vote. Ireland is currently a participant in one PESCO project and holds observer status on a further nine. To date the only costs that have been incurred through PESCO relate only to costs associated with attendance by military Subject Matter Experts at PESCO project planning meetings.

The project which Ireland is a participant in, is still developing, and the budgets and timeline for participant's involvement has yet to be fully determined. This may change as the 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.

The recently completed PESCO Strategic Review which brings to a close the first initial phase of PESCO does not establish any new commitments or modify the existing PESCO commitments for the period 2021 - 2025. Further rounds of PESCO projects are likely to be agreed during the forthcoming PESCO phase 2021 - 2025, and Ireland will assess any future project proposals to establish suitability for participation or observer status.

The PESCO workshop referred to in the question has yet to take place. The PESCO Secretariat will organise a workshop at experts’ level on the more precise objectives at the beginning of the next PESCO phase in 2021. It is expected that this workshop will take place in January 2021.

Question No. 365 answered with Question No. 362.
Question No. 366 answered with Question No. 361.
Question No. 367 answered with Question No. 364.
Question No. 368 answered with Question No. 360.
Questions Nos. 369 and 370 answered with Question No. 364.
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