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Military Neutrality

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 May 2022

Tuesday, 17 May 2022

Ceisteanna (338)

Seán Haughey

Ceist:

338. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position of Ireland in relation to participation in permanent structured co-operation, PESCO; the missions participated in by Ireland to date; if such missions require a UN mandate, approval by the Government and approval by the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24112/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The objective of PESCO is to generate defence capabilities in support of the EU Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) and which will be available to Member States for national and multinational (EU, NATO, UN, etc.) missions and operations. On a voluntary basis, 25 EU Member States, including Ireland, have joined PESCO and subscribed to commitments to invest, plan, develop and operate defence capabilities together within this EU framework.

Ireland's participation in PESCO was agreed by Government and approved by Dáil Éireann prior to the Council Decision establishing PESCO on 11 December 2017.

PESCO enhances the EU’s capacity as an international security actor, supports international peace and security and maximises the effectiveness of defence spending by participating Member States.

Participation complements and adds value to the work that the Defence Forces undertake when serving in operations. It enables them to further develop their capabilities in support of peacekeeping, through participation in joint projects with like-minded partners. Undertaking projects jointly also helps to reduce the costs of developing and procuring capabilities.

Ireland has been clear that we will only participate in projects that contribute to the strengthening of international security in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter, and the enhancement of capabilities for UN-mandated missions engaged in peace keeping or conflict prevention.

Sixty PESCO projects have been launched to date. Each project is managed by the participating Member States, with oversight from the Council.

Ireland is currently a participant in one PESCO project (the Greek led ‘Upgrade of Maritime Surveillance’) and also has observer status on a further nine PESCO projects (1) Deployable Military Disaster Relief Capability Package; (2) Maritime (semi) Autonomous Systems for Mine Countermeasures; (3) Cyber Threats and Incident Response Information Sharing Platform; (4) European Secure Software Defined Radio; (5) Military Mobility; (6) Energy Operational Function; (7) EU Radio Navigation Solution; (8) Counter Unmanned Aerial System; (9) Special Operations Forces Medical Training Centre.

While the capabilities developed under PESCO can be used in CSDP operations, the deployment of those capabilities on any given operation remains a matter for national decision making by individual Member States. Any deployment of the Irish Defence Forces for overseas peace support is subject to the “triple lock” provision. This requires that the operation is mandated by the UN; that the deployment is approved by the Government; and, in cases of deployments over a dozen personnel, that it is approved by Dáil resolution.

As a matter of policy under the current Programme for Government, participation in further PESCO projects by Ireland is subject to Government and Dáil approval.

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