Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 May 2008
129 Deputy Tony Gregory asked the Minister for Defence the projects Ireland are involved in within the European Defence Agency and what these projects entail; the purpose of these projects; the financial implications for those participating Member States; the financial contribution Ireland is making or expected to make arising from membership of the EDA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21557/08]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe European Defence Agency was set up in 2004 during Ireland's Presidency of the EU. Its mission is "to support the Member States in their effort to improve European defence capabilities in the field of crisis management and to sustain the European Security and Defence Policy as it stands now and develops in the future". Ireland participates in the framework of the Agency and is represented on the Steering Board by the Minister for Defence.
Since its inception, the Agency has made significant progress, notably in areas such as the development of the EDA Code of Conduct for defence procurement and a Code of Best Practice in the Supply Chain to ensure transparency in procurement and security of supply of defence equipment. A European Bulletin Board has been developed as a single portal for defence contract opportunities linking customers and defence contractors. Whilst Ireland does not have a defence industry per se, it can benefit as a buyer of defence equipment in terms of increased competition and from economies of scale from such developments.
Pursuant to the Government decision on participation in the framework of the EDA it was agreed that participation by Ireland in any specific investment project promoted by the EDA would be subject to prior consultation by the Department of Defence with an Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs. The Minister for Defence, having consulted with An Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, approved Ireland's participation in the first project of this nature, the Joint Investment Programme on Force Protection (JIP-FP) which is in the area of Research and Technology.
In November 2006, the Steering Board of the EDA approved this Programme. Force Protection involves measures to protect defence forces engaged in peace support and crisis management operations overseas and is one of the main factors considered when undertaking any operation. As such, the development of enhanced capabilities in this area is one in which the Defence Forces have a great interest.
The JIP-FP Programme, which has a budget of €55 million over 3 years (which commenced in 2007) covers 18 specific research and technology goals under 5 capability areas:
Collective (units, platforms, infrastructure) survivability through enhancing detect and identify and response performances;
Individual protection;
Data analysis including data fusion from various sources;
Secured tactical wireless communication systems in urban environment;
Mission Planning/Training in an asymmetric environment
The Department of Defence sought admission to the Programme with a commitment of €700,000 over three years from 2007. The financial commitment is in accordance with EDA funding principles, based on the Gross National Income key. The Programme Arrangement for the JIP-FP was signed by the participating Member States at the EDA Ministerial Steering Board on 14 May 2007.
A second Joint Investment Programme on Innovative Concepts and Emerging Technologies was approved at a ministerial meeting of the EDA Steering Board on 26 May 2008. Eleven (11) European countries will contribute to the new initiative, which will be funded by a common budget of €15.5 million. Ireland has decided not to participate in the new programme on this occasion.
The financial contribution Ireland is making to the EDA will be in the region of €327,000 in 2008.
Participation in the framework of the Agency does not impose any specific obligations or commitments on Ireland other than a contribution to the budget of the Agency. Participation in individual projects of the Agency is a matter for national decision on a case-by-case basis.
130 Deputy Tony Gregory asked the Minister for Defence if Ireland is part of the European Defence Agency’s intergovernmental regime for defence procurement; if so, if this participation was subject to the agreement of Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21558/08]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe European Defence Agency was established under a Joint Action of the Council of Ministers on 12 July, 2004 "to support the Member States and the Council in their effort to improve European defence capabilities in the field of crisis management and to sustain the European Security and Defence Policy as it stands now and develops in the future". The EDA is an Agency of the European Union. Ireland participates in the framework of the Agency and is represented on the Steering Board by the Minister for Defence.
The Agency has made significant progress in many areas since 2004, such as the development of the interGovernmental regime for defence procurement of which Ireland is a member. The EDA Code of Conduct for defence procurement and a Code of Best Practice in the Supply Chain was developed to ensure transparency in procurement and to create a more competitive European defence equipment market. The Defence Procurement Regime is now 21 months in operation.
There are 25 subscribing Member States (including Ireland) to the Code of Conduct.
Under the regime a European Bulletin Board has been developed as a single portal for advertising defence contract opportunities. 2007 was the first full year of operation through the Code of Conduct. The general consensus amongst participating Member States is that it has been a success. Whilst Ireland does not have a defence industry per se, we expect that benefits should accrue from being a subscribing Member State in terms of increased competition and resulting economies of scale when buying equipment.
On 6 July 2004, the Government approved participation in the framework of the EDA on the basis of a memorandum submitted by the Minister for Defence, in association with the Minister for Foreign Affairs. The agreement of Dáil Éireann was not required for this decision or the decision to participate in the Code of Conduct. Participation in the Regime was agreed by Ireland at the level of the EDA Steering Board in this instance.
There is no requirement for Dáil approval for participation in the Agency. The Agency is an intergovernmental agency within the framework of ESDP. Participation in the framework of the Agency does not impose any specific obligations or commitments on Ireland other than a contribution to the budget of the Agency. Participation in individual projects of the Agency will be a matter for national decision on a case-by-case basis.
