THE GOVERNMENT has drafted legislation to be enacted in advance of the next Lisbon referendum ensuring that participation in European Defence Agency (EDA) operations is subject to both a Cabinet decision and Dáil approval.
The EDA was established on July 12th, 2004, “to help EU member states to develop their defence capabilities for crisis-management operations” and the Government is seeking to allay concerns that Irish participation may undermine the traditional policy of military neutrality.
The heads of the European Defence Agency Bill 2009 are already prepared and the legislation is to be approved by the Oireachtas in time for the next vote on Lisbon, which is now expected to take place in early October.
The move comes at the end of six months of negotiation between the Green Party and its Fianna Fáil partners in Government. Separate legislation is also being prepared to restrict all State agencies from promoting an armaments industry in Ireland.
Work will also begin on a White Paper on Defence 2011-2020, which was agreed in the programme for government.
The EDA Bill requires that any participation in the agency’s “projects or programmes” must be approved by the Cabinet as well as a majority vote in favour of a Dáil motion put down by the Government. At present, it is possible to take part in any EDA programme without reference to the Dáil, Green Party sources told The Irish Times. “The requirement to have Dáil approval represents a genuine advance in terms of oversight and transparency.”
The types of programmes or projects involved, currently unrestricted, would in future “be strictly limited to those projects and programmes that contribute to our ability to participate in United Nations-mandated missions”.
A similar requirement for approval by the Dáil exists under the Defence Act 1960, whereby a majority of TDs must agree to the deployment of Irish soldiers on peacekeeping missions overseas where the contingent is larger than 12.
The new approach to EDA involvement was approved by the Cabinet last week as part of a series of measures relating to the Lisbon Treaty.
Final details have been worked out in the last few days by representatives of the two sides, meeting at Government Buildings.
The initial Green position on the EDA was that Ireland should withdraw from membership, and early negotiations which took place in December last year were described as “very stiff”.
Meeting one-to-one without the presence of officials at the end of April, Green Party leader and Minister for the Environment John Gormley reached agreement on a common approach with Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin.
Final negotiations also involved Green Party Minister for Communications Eamon Ryan, Minister for Defence Willie O’Dea and Green Senators Deirdre de Búrca and Dan Boyle and officials from both sides.
The focus on the EDA was part of the Green Party’s emphasis on the issue of military neutrality in the preparation of the final text of the assurances which the Government is presenting for endorsement by EU heads of government in Brussels tomorrow evening.
The leadership of the Greens was eager to reassure the party’s support-base that there would be adequate safeguards against the erosion of Ireland’s military neutrality in the context of Lisbon.
Headed by EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, the EDA is based in Brussels and has a staff of 100. All EU member states are involved except Denmark, and decisions are made by a board consisting of defence ministers from the 26 participating member states.
