Jim O'Keeffe
Ceist:94 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Defence the legal restrictions on the Defence Forces taking part in EU missions; and the legislative changes proposed to facilitate Irish participation in such missions. [6800/03]
Written Answers - Overseas Missions.
National sovereignty is a fundamental underlying principle of European security and defence policy, ESDP, and participation in any such mission by member states is on a case-by-case basis and in accordance with their national decision making procedures. The provisions relating to Ireland's participation in overseas missions are set out in the Defence (Amendment)(No 2) Act 1960, as amended by the Defence (Amendment) Act 1993, which provides that a contingent of the Permanent Defence Force may be despatched for service outside the State, as part of a particular international United Nations force. Where the number of armed troops exceeds 12, the approval of Dáil Éireann is also required. This means that participation in an overseas mission requires UN authorisation, a specific Government decision and the approval of Dáil Éireann, the so-called "triple lock". These are the underlying principles for our national decision making procedures which are fully in line with the principles underlying ESDP. The question of legislative change in this regard, therefore, does not arise.