Vol. 568 No. 5
232 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the political and security committee referred to in the Treaty of Nice has been established; the role played to date by Irish officials representing the Government on this committee; the total number of meetings and the agenda of the committee to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16730/03]
The Political and Security Committee was formally established on a permanent basis early in 2001, having met on an interim basis since March 2000. It was subsequently given a Treaty basis in Article 25 of the Treaty of Nice, which entered into force in March 2003. This provides that the Political and Security Committee monitors the international situation in the areas covered by the Common Foreign and Security Policy and contributes to the definition of policies by delivering opinions to the Council, at the request of the Council or on its own initiative. The Council may also authorise the Political and Security Committee to take the relevant decisions, if and when authorised by the Council, concerning the political control and strategic direction of a crisis management operation.
Member states are represented on the Political and Security Committee by Brussels-based officials at senior official level, operating on instructions from the respective governments. Ireland is represented on the Political and Security Committee by Ambassador Declan Kelleher, who is assisted by officials drawn from the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Defence, as well as from the Defence Forces.
The committee meets several times a week, with an agenda covering the spectrum of issues arising in the Common Foreign and Security Policy area. Ireland plays an active role at the committee, having regard to our interest in maintaining a stable, inclusive security environment and the pursuit of our national foreign and security policy objectives in the formulation and conduct of the Common Foreign and Security Policy. Ireland also contributes actively to the particular role of the Political and Security Committee in carrying forward work on the European Security and Defence Policy, under the guidance of the Council.
