Vol. 538 No. 5
37 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Defence if the EU has given a dispensation to the Government regarding the commitment to provide 850 troops to the Rapid Reaction Force in view of the proposed mission for 200 troops in Eritrea-Ethiopia; his views on whether the Defence Forces can sustain 1,050 troops abroad at any one time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17756/01]
83 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Defence if the EU has given a dispensation to the Government regarding our commitment to provide 850 troops to the Rapid Reaction Force in view of the proposed mission for 200 troops in Eritrea-Ethiopia; his views on whether the Defence Forces can sustain 1,050 troops abroad at any one time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17652/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 37 and 83 together.
The Helsinki European Council in December 1999 agreed on a voluntary target for establishing capabilities for Petersberg Tasks. This target, known as a Headline Goal, which member states aim to meet by 2003, involves the ability to deploy 50,000 to 60,000 personnel within 60 days and to sustain that deployment for one year.
The development by the EU of this role is consistent with Ireland's tradition of involvement in UN peacekeeping missions. The centrality of the UN and the primary role of the UN Security Council in matters of peace and security is explicitly recognised by the EU. Ireland will participate only in missions authorised by the UN. Participation in an individual Petersberg mission remains a sovereign decision by the Government in every instance, on a case by case basis, and any decision to participate would require Dáil approval in accordance with existing legislation.
The White Paper on Defence sets out key elements of Government policy on overseas peace support operations. It recognises the important role that these operations play as an element of Ireland's foreign and security policy and as a demonstration of support for the United Nations and the conduct of international relations according to the UN Charter.
The commitment to the EU "Headline Goal" in no way takes away from our commitment to UN peacekeeping. In fact, this contribution reinforces in a very conspicuous way our continued intention to support efforts to maximise international peace and stability.
Moreover, what the EU is doing in identifying capabilities is in many respects similar to what has been happening at another level at the UN with the UN Standby Arrangements System. Ireland subscribes to the United Nations Standby Arrangements System, UNSAS, under which the State offers to provide up to 850 personnel for overseas peace support operations. This mirrors our commitment to the "Headline Goal".
At a time when the UN increasingly looks to regional organisations to undertake peace support operations on its behalf, it is very important to support such efforts at EU level.
As participation will arise only where UN authorisation is in place the commitment to the EU "Headline Goal" does not impinge in a negative way on the overall thrust of the overseas peacekeeping effort. There is no contradiction between the EU and the UN, in fact, they are mutually reinforcing.
