Written Answers. - UN Peacekeeping Operations.
Brian O'Shea
Ceist:
120
Mr. O'Shea
asked the
Minister for Defence
the implications of any participation by the Defence Forces in the proposed European Rapid Reaction Force for continued participation in UN peacekeeping operations and particularly to personnel for the UN Standby Arrangement System; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22983/00]
John Gormley
Ceist:
136
Mr. Gormley
asked the
Minister for Defence
the Government's position at the capabilities pledging conference for the EU's new Rapid Reaction Force in November 2000; and the additional defence expenditure this will entail.
[22957/00]
Liz McManus
Ceist:
140
Ms McManus
asked the
Minister for Defence
if the Defence Forces will participate in the proposed European Rapid Reaction Force; if the terms of reference of any Irish participation have been agreed; the likely level of commitment by the Defence Forces in terms of personnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22982/00]
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:
210
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for Defence
the extent to which he has or intends to participate in discussions in respect of European defence and security; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[23360/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 120, 136, 140 and 210 together.
As the House will be aware, the Helsinki European Council in December, 1999, agreed on a voluntary target for establishing capabilities for the Petersberg tasks. This target, known as a head line goal, which member states aim to meet by the year 2003, involves the ability to deploy 50,000 to 60,000 personnel within 60 days and to sustain that deployment for one year. This would roughly equate to a mission of a scale comparable to that of KFOR in Kosovo.
What Helsinki agreed on was a voluntary capabilities target with the aim of ensuring effective capabilities for the Petersberg tasks. As the Helsinki European Council conclusions make clear, this does not imply the creation of a European army. Nor does it alter the fact that participation in the Petersberg tasks under the Treaty of Amsterdam is on a voluntary basis and is a matter for sovereign decision in each and every case.
The General Affairs Council at the meeting of 20 March 2000, which I attended together with my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, considered the way forward for elaborating the headline and capability goals set at Helsinki and also sought to develop a method of consultation through which the target could be met and progress reviewed.
On 22 September 2000, I attended an informal meeting of EU Defence Ministers in Paris. This was the second such informal meeting this year, the first having taken place at Sintra, Portugal, on 28 February. The Paris meeting provided an opportunity to discuss informally, developments regarding European defence and security policy. It was not a decision making forum.
Ireland's commitment to collective security is pursued through the United Nations which has the primary role to play in the maintenance of international peace and security. At present, Ireland subscribes to the United Nations Standby Arrangements System, UNSAS, under which the State offers to provide up to 850 personnel on overseas service at any given time.
In the context of planning work which is currently under way at EU level, Ireland has submitted an initial and provisional indication that, in line with the national commitment to the United Nations Standby Arrangements System (UNSAS), we are considering a contribution of up to 790 personnel to the EU headline goal. The majority of this commitment would be in the form of a light infantry battalion.
A capabilities commitment conference is scheduled for 20 November 2000, at which EU member states will formally announce their contributions with a view to enabling the EU fulfil the Headline Goal. In conjunction with my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, I will be bringing proposals regarding Ireland's contribution to the headline goal to Government in advance of the capabilities commitment conference.
Ireland's contribution to international peace and security will be maintained within the current level of defence expenditure.
