Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 October 2024
35. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will outline the international agreements or co-operation projects that Ireland has signed up to since he assumed office; the Oireachtas scrutiny thereof; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42019/24]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy, that since I became Minister for Defence in December 2022, the following EDA projects have received Government and Dáil approval:
• Joint Procurement of Ammunition
• Joint Procurement of Soldier Equipment
• Joint Procurement of CBRN (Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear) Equipment.
• Military Computer Emergency Response Teams Project (MICNET)
• Defence Energy Managers Course (DEMC)
• Cyber Defence Exercises (CyDef-X).
Participation in EDA projects is underpinned by the Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 which stipulates that both Government and Dáil approval is required.
In addition, participation in two PESCO projects has been approved during this period:
• Network of Logistics Hubs in Europe and Support to Operations
• Critical Seabed Infrastructure Protection.
In line with the Programme for Government Ireland’s participation in PESCO projects is maintained on an opt in basis and requires Government and Dáil approval. Approval for both PESCO projects was received in July this year.
In November 2023, Ireland also agreed its Individually Tailored Partnership Programme (ITPP) with NATO, under Partnership for Peace. As the Deputy will be aware, Ireland has been a member of Partnership for Peace since 1999. Previously, the framework for cooperation between Partners and NATO was the Individual Partnership and Cooperation Programme (IPCP), and the Planning and Review Process (PARP). In an effort to streamline the different Partnership tools and processes, under the One Partner One Programme initiative, the Individually Tailored Partnership Programme (ITPP) was developed, to essentially combine the IPCP and PARP.
Though Oireachtas Scrutiny was not required for this, I briefed the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence on the ITPP in May of this year.
