Frances Fitzgerald
Ceist:93 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Defence the implications for the Defence Forces of the Government's decision to join Partnership for Peace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4858/99]
Written Answers. - Partnership for Peace.
Phil Hogan
Ceist:100 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Defence the plans, if any, he has to bring forward a request to Dáil Éireann for a Supplementary Estimate in anticipation of Ireland joining Partnership for Peace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4955/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 93 and 100 together.
The question of Ireland's participation in Partnership for Peace was the subject of a Private Members' Motion and debate on 28 January 1999 in this House culminating in the passing by the House of a Government Resolution undertaking favourably to examine further Ireland's participation in PfP taking into account the on-going public debate.
In addition my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, in a reply to a Question on 17 February, 1999 gave an undertaking that any decision by the Government in favour of Ireland's participation in PfP would make clear the nature and scope of such participation, and would be submitted to this House for its approval.
As regards implications for the Defence Forces of a decision to participate in PfP, I would envisage that any possible future role for the Defence Forces would be in the area of peacekeeping, and humanitarian and rescue tasks. Participants in PfP subscribe to a framework document which sets out the basic purposes and objectives of PfP. In addition, individual states decide on the scope and extent of their participation in PfP activities and in this regard agree individual partnership programmes covering the activities to which they wish to subscribe. In Ireland's case, should we decide at any time in the future to participate in PfP, it is envisaged that selected activities would, as I have said, include peacekeeping under a UN mandate, humanitarian and rescue tasks, etc., – all activities in line with our traditional involvement and experience in these areas.
During the aforementioned debate in the House you will recall that the Taoiseach stated that he would envisage, all going well, that Ireland will join Partnership for Peace on a mutually agreed basis in the second half of this year, and that the Government will be working towards that timetable. The Taoiseach sees the current debate regarding PfP as allowing an opportunity to the different parties in Dáil Eireann to formulate their positions and to put them before the people as part of the European election platforms.
The Taoiseach also indicated that it is not the Government's intention that joining PfP would result in a change in the real level of defence spending. Having said that, it is the policy of the Government to ensure that the Defence Forces are adequately trained, equipped and resourced to undertake whatever overseas operations with which they are tasked from time to time.