The next question is in the name of Deputy Boyd Barrett, who requested the Ceann Comhairle to give permission to have the question taken by Bríd Smith.
Tuesday, 13 December 2016
Ceisteanna (34, 53, 54, 60)
Freagraí ó Béal (12 píosaí cainte)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:34. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he has reconfirmed Ireland's neutrality to his European counterparts in view of the European Commission's recent proposal for a €5 billion defence fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39836/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraRichard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:53. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans for a discussion in Dáil Éireann on the European defence action plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39835/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraRichard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:54. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will report on his discussions with his counterparts in Europe with regard to the European defence action plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39833/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraRichard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:60. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he has entered into new agreements with foreign powers on air defences in view of the European defence action plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39837/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra
This question relates to Ireland's neutrality and asks whether the Minister of State, Deputy Kehoe, or the Taoiseach is about to reconfirm or has reconfirmed Ireland's neutral position to the European Union and the European Commission in light of the Commission's recent proposal for a €5 billion defence fund, and will he make a statement on the matter. This is a serious matter and the Minister of State did not adequately address it earlier.
I propose to take Question Nos. 34, 53, 54 and 60 together.
As I outlined earlier, the College of Commissioners adopted the European defence action plan on 30 November last. The aim of the plan is to explore how EU policies and instruments can ensure the EU's industrial and skills base will be able to deliver required defence capabilities in view of current and future security challenges. As part of this plan, the Commission has proposed the creation of a European defence fund. In addition, the plan seeks to offer supports to small and medium enterprises, SMEs, start-ups and other suppliers to the defence industry. There are also proposals in the plan to increase transparency in defence procurement by member states. The purpose of establishing a European defence fund is to promote research and innovation, to contribute to the strengthening of the European defence technological and industrial base and to stimulate further the development of key defence capabilities.
As part of the Foreign Affairs Council held in November, which I attended, the Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship presented an outline of the European defence action plan to defence Ministers. It should be noted that details contained in the plan, in particular relating to the creation of a European defence fund, are currently simply Commission proposals. They have yet to be fully defined and negotiated with member states. For example, the proposed funding for research and innovation will require agreement on a future EU multi-annual financial framework and then agreement on a defence research budget line by the member states and the European Parliament. In addition, the annual fund of €5 billion envisaged is dependent on member states pooling existing defence expenditures in favour of EU-wide co-operative programmes. There is no guarantee that member states would be prepared to pool resources in this way. As such, there is a lot yet to be worked through before any of these proposals can come into effect.
The proposals in the action plan fully respect the EU treaties and the Lisbon protocols and they pose no challenge to Ireland's traditional policy of military neutrality. There is, therefore, no requirement for me to reconfirm Ireland's neutrality to my European counterparts at this stage. However, this will be kept under review by my Department as the proposals within the action plan become more clearly defined.
I am satisfied that there is also a clear recognition and reaffirmation that defence remains a member state prerogative. There is no change to the status quo in that regard. Decisions about expenditure, military capabilities, research and technology are matters for the member states to decide.
It is interesting that the European Union issued a press release from the meeting the Minister of State referred to on 30 November in which it stated that this big defence plan would "reverse billions of euro in cuts and other actions, supporting Member States' more efficient spending in joint defence capabilities". The EU is welcoming a reversal in cuts to its military budgets while at the same time insisting that key austerity measures are continually enforced on this country and on Greece.
I ask the Minister of State again if he will reaffirm Ireland's neutral stance when he meets the European Commission for this European defence action plan, how much Ireland will be contributing and how neutral Ireland can be if the defence budget is to be determined by the European Commission. We do not have a great history, given that we allowed more than 1 million troops through Shannon Airport in the recent past and there is evidence that Shannon Airport has been used for rendition for torture. People are rightly concerned about the viability of our neutrality. Given that this amount of money is being poured into a joint defence fund, this question is not being adequately addressed by the Minister of State.
Let me assure the Deputy that at every opportunity I reaffirm Ireland's position and policy on neutrality.
The proposals in the action plan fully respect the EU treaties and the Lisbon protocols and they pose no challenge to Ireland's traditional policy of military neutrality. Therefore, there is no requirement for me to reconfirm Ireland's neutrality to my European counterparts at this stage. Let me assure the Deputy that at all stages officials in my Department will carefully consider the proposals within the action plan as they become more clearly defined to ensure we remain within the confines of our policy on neutrality. If, at any stage, we see that there is a shift from that, I will reaffirm Ireland's position on military neutrality.
I call an Teachta Ó Snodaigh.
Do I get to come back?
If we get an opportunity, yes. These are not priority questions and other Deputies may indicate.
Does the Minister of State accept, and we have had some of this debate already, that these European Commission recommendations that EU investment in defence would increase from €1.4 million this year to €25 million next year, €90 million in 2020 and then possibly €500 million are an increase in anybody's eyes and us being tied to that would be contrary to our neutrality because we would be pooling and working hand in glove with NATO countries?
In terms of the second Commission proposal, while initially talking about harnessing €25 billion to procure weapons, the proposal's detail also talks of €100 billion. As well as being contrary to neutrality, there is nothing in that to indicate that any saving that such pooling will achieve - in the region of €5 million or €20 billion depending on which part of the proposal one cites - will be ring-fenced to tackle poverty or disease eradication. Rather, it will be reinvested in destructive industry and will be added to proposals contained in terms of creating EU bonds on this, using the European Investment Bank and diverting research funds from the European Structural Investment Fund. Will the Minister of State say that Ireland will oppose all such moves that are likely to add to a growing arms race, that we are a neutral country and that we will not contribute in any way to that arms race?
First, I can assure the Deputy that we will consider every part of the Commission's proposal.
There must be savings when one pools resources and it would be only right and proper that we consider all of the proposals. There are opportunities here for Ireland.
We are living in a society in which circumstances change at a rapid pace and we must be able to keep up to date on all equipment and technology available to the defence organisation. We cannot afford to be left behind. I assure the Deputy that if we did not consider the proposals here and we were left behind, many Members on the benches opposite would be the first to raise it in the House and say that we were not treating the proposals in a satisfactory and professional manner.
The joint French-German paper calls for a new European security contract. In this, NATO wants all other members to increase their spending to 2% of GDP. I hope the Minister of State will answer my question fully, rather than skate around it. Does he not agree that this would fundamentally change the character of the European Union from a supposed peace and economic project to a project that is more aggressive and in reality is giving a subsidy to the competitiveness of the arms industry and its capacity to export abroad, which will not serve our interests?
I do not agree with the Deputy's accusation. I repeat that we will maintain our traditional policy of military neutrality in whatever decision we make here. The Government will consider each of the proposals that have been put forward in a very serious manner. There is potential here for Ireland so we must consider each of the proposals seriously. Society is changing at a rapid pace and we must be able to keep up with that. If that means equipping our Defence Forces, that is exactly what we must do.