Vol. 548 No. 3
129 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the position regarding the structure and formation of Partnership for Peace with particular reference to the composition of the rapid reaction force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5016/02]
Ireland's approach to participation in PfP was set out in our presentation document of 1 December 1999, which outlined our five priority areas of participation as: co-operation on international peacekeeping; humanitarian operations; search and rescue; co-operation in the protection of the environment; and, co-operation in marine matters.
Ireland's first individual partnership programme, IPP, covered the period up to 31 December 2001 and included some 89 activities, consisting mainly of training courses, seminars, conferences and table top exercises.
Ireland's second IPP, covering the period 2002-2003 has been drawn up on the basis of experience gained with the initial IPP and it continues to give practical content to the overall priorities identified in the Presentation Document. This second IPP contains a total of 125 activities to be undertaken by the Defence Forces, Civil Defence, civil staffs from the Department of Defence, the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Marine and Natural Resources and the Department of the Environment and Local Government.
Participation in PfP activities is entirely voluntary and is based on the principle of self-differentiation, that is, a State selects for itself the nature and scope of its participation and therefore has no bearing on Ireland's commitment to the EU headline goal.
In accordance with this fundamental principle, all decisions regarding the content and form of the IPP for 2002-2003 have been made by the Irish authorities. The details of the IPP activities for 2002-2003 will shortly be placed in the Oireachtas Library.
130 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the discussions he has had with his overseas counterparts regarding participation in Partnership for Peace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5017/02]
Since my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 101 raised by the Deputy on the 18 October 2001, I have attended one meeting at ministerial level in the context of Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, EAPC, in Brussels on the 19 December 2001.
Matters discussed at the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council centred on improving co-operation and capabilities to address terrorism and other non-conventional threats to security following September 11, and practical co-operation under Partnership for Peace.
Question No. 131 answered with Question No. 51. Question Nos. 132 and 133, answered with Question No. 33.
