Department of Defence officials were today authorised to begin exploratory discussions with potential European Union partners over Ireland's participation in an EU-led rapid capability force, commonly known as battlegroups.
Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea seeking 'like-minded nations'
To date 22 of the 25 EU Member States have made a commitment to a battlegroup.
Speaking at McKee Barracks today the Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea said battlegroups do "not constitute a European Army in any shape or form".
Mr O'Dea said: "I am fully satisfied that our participation in the battlegroup concept in no way weakens or undermines Ireland's traditional policy of military neutrality".
He said: "We will seek, in co-operation with like-minded nations, to contribute to the development of the Battlegroup concept and, through this, to remain at the forefront of developments within the international community in supporting international peace support operations."
"Battlegroups are simply another vehicle within which Ireland can continue to play its role and contribute to effective multilateral action in support of international peace and security," Mr O'Dea added.
The Minister stressed that the so-called "triple lock" preventing military deployment overseas without the approval of the Government, the Oireachtas and a UN Security Council resolution would remain.
Mr O'Dea also said that he intended to amend the wording of the Defence Act to "more closely reflect" the current practice in the formulation of UN Security Council resolutions endorsing Peace Support Operations.
He added that he was looking at the possibility of Irish troops training overseas.
However, there is a worry that due to the Constitution's provision that there can be only one army in the State, foreign forces could be prohibited from training in Ireland.
The minister also said he proposed providing "for the participation by Defence Forces personnel in humanitarian operations" in response to natural and man-made disasters such as the tsunami in South East Asia.
