Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 June 2023
244. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will report on participation in PESCO projects of which the State has observer status; the cost associated to date; the benefits yielded, by project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28483/23]
View answerIreland joined the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) in 2017, the establishment of which represents a further development in EU Cooperation in support of international peace and security under CSDP. Under PESCO, Member States come together in different project groups to develop and make available additional capabilities and enablers for peacekeeping and crisis management operations. As of 12th June 2023, Ireland has Observer status on 19 projects - (1) Counter Unmanned Aerial System; (2) Energy Operational Function; (3) EU Military Partnership; (4) EU Radionavigation Solution; (5) European Secure Software Defined Radio; (6) European Union Network of Diving Centres; (7) Future Medium-size Tactical Cargo; (8) Harbour and Maritime Surveillance and Protection; (9) Military Mobility and (10) SOF Medical Training Centre; (11) EUFOR Crisis Response Operation Core; (12) European MALE RPAS; (13) Cyber and Information Domain Coordination Center; (14) Common Hub for Governmental Imagery; (15) Strategic C2 System for CSDP Missions and Operations; (16) Next Generation Small RPAS; (17) Armoured Infantry Fighting Vehicle Amphibious Assault Vehicle Light Armoured Vehicle; (18) European Patrol Corvette and (19) EU Cyber Academia and Innovation Hub.
Observer status enables a Member State to access information on a project, to map its evolution and to make a considered evaluation on whether the project aligns with national capability development requirements. Observers to PESCO projects have no voting right and cannot influence the direction of the project.
The Defence Forces' positive experience as observers was a key element in the proposal in 2022 to progress to full participation in four projects relating to such issues as cyber threats, disaster relief capability, Special Operations Forces medical training and systems for mine countermeasures. Progression to full participation is recommended only where the Defence Forces believe there is added-value in such participation.
Since joining PESCO in 2017, the only costs of our engagement have been those associated with travel to and attendance at PESCO project planning meetings by Defence Forces' Subject Matter Experts. These costs would not be extractable from the overall Defence Forces expenditure on overseas travel that covers travel for training, attendance at conferences etc.
