Vol. 501 No. 2
67 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Defence his views on the recent comment by the general secretary of PDFORRA (details supplied) regarding Ireland's commitments as laid out in the Amsterdam Treaty; if he will outline these commitments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5036/99]
The representative associations for the Permanent Defence Force, RACO and PDFORRA, operate under a conciliation and arbitration scheme which provides a means for both sides to discuss issues which are of importance to them and to arrive at mutually acceptable resolutions. The scheme and its enabling legislation also sets out the range of subjects which come within the scope of representation.
The issues ascribed to the general secretary of PDFORRA as referred to by the Deputy would be specifically excluded, by legislation, from the association's remit and from the representative process. I do not, therefore, wish to comment on the matter other than to say that I consider such matters, which pertain to issues of policy, as being more appropriate for consideration by the Government and Dáil Éireann. Public statements such as those made recently by members of the Defence Forces in relation to policy issues are not appropriate.
Having said this, as the Deputy is undoubtedly aware, the terms of the Amsterdam treaty, which were discussed at great length in the time leading up to the signing of the treaty, involve a wide range of issues and I have no doubt that Ireland will discharge any relevant commitments as appropriate. In relation to the EU's common foreign and security policy, the White Paper on the Amsterdam Treaty explains fully the commitments involved. The treaty brings within the remit of the common foreign and security policy, the "Petersberg Tasks" of humanitarian and rescue tasks, peacekeeping and crisis management. The treaty provides that it will be for the Western European Union to carry out such tasks, at the instigation of the EU. Ireland will be entitled to participate in such tasks, and has indicated its willingness to contribute to such tasks on a case by case basis.
Ireland considers it important that the EU should seek to ensure the effective functioning of these new provisions on peacekeeping and crisis management, when the Amsterdam Treaty comes into force.
