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Common Foreign and Security Policy.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 November 2006

Thursday, 23 November 2006

Ceisteanna (55, 56)

Olivia Mitchell

Ceist:

32 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when the matter of the development of EU battle groups was last discussed with his European counterparts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39479/06]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Paul Nicholas Gogarty

Ceist:

46 Mr. Gogarty asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the further negotiations he has had with his counterparts in the countries forming the Nordic Battlegroup regarding Irish membership of that group; if a memorandum of understanding has been drawn up; if so, if that memorandum makes reference to Ireland’s need for a UN mandate before Irish troops take part in an overseas military mission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39582/06]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 32 and 46 together.

As I have previously informed the House, Ireland indicated to its EU partners in 2004 a positive disposition towards taking part in EU Battlegroups. I met the Foreign Ministers of Sweden and Finland in January 2005 and the Foreign Minister of Austria in April 2005 to discuss a range of issues, including possible Irish participation in EU Battlegroups. I also had the opportunity to discuss Ireland's expected participation in the Nordic Battlegroup with the Norwegian Foreign Minister, Jonas Gahr Store, during the visit of the Norwegian Royal couple in September of this year.

European Security and Defence Policy issues, including developments with regard to Battlegroups, are also discussed regularly at meetings of the General Affairs and External Relations Council. The most recent of these discussions was at the joint meeting of Foreign and Defence Ministers in Brussels earlier this month.

At its meeting on 14 November 2006, the Government decided that Ireland would provide a contingent of the Defence Forces to participate in the Nordic Battlegroup. This Battlegroup will be on standby in the first half of 2008.

Our partners in the Battlegroup will be Sweden, Finland, Norway and Estonia. These countries have agreed a Memorandum of Understanding outlining the principles for the establishment and operation of the Battlegroup. The Memorandum recalls that the "fundamental framework for international relations is the United Nations". It stresses that "international law will govern the Battlegroup, taking into account the principles of the United Nations Charter", and "having regard to relevant UN Security Council Resolutions". The Memorandum further specifies that the "commitment of forces to the Battlegroup will be without prejudice to each Participant's sovereign right to make an autonomous decision on whether to deploy its forces to a specific crisis management operation". In Ireland's case, the arrangements of the "triple-lock" of Government decision, Dáil approval and UN authorisation will apply in respect of any possible deployment of Irish troops. Sweden, as framework nation, has confirmed that it fully accepts Ireland's position in this regard, as do the other participants in the Nordic Battlegroup.

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