The Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea has reiterated the government's commitment to European Union battlegroups and intends to amend the Defence Act to allow more scope for the participation of Irish troops.
In February the Government gave the all clear for the Department of Defence to open negotiations with the non-aligned and neutral Nordic states on the forming of rapid response battlegroups. Sweden is the Framework Nation for the Nordic battlegroup.
Mr O'Dea was speaking to representatives from Sweden, Norway and Finland at the conference on "EU battlegroups - Perspectives from Neutral and Non-aligned states."
He said that the government aims to increase the input of Irish troops abroad in peacekeeping missions and tours of humanitarian relief.
The government cannot currently send troops to regions that have been devastated by natural disasters. Troops can only volounteer for such duty, in the same way a normal civilian can.
Mr O'Dea said today that the EU "has the potential to play an increasing role in responding to emergency crises, in providing humanitarian relief and in supporting the maintenance of international peace and security in furtherance of the aims of the United Nations and the UN Charter.
"Accepting this role is not just an EU ambition, it is an EU obligation and an obligation for Ireland as a member of both the EU and of the UN."
The minister said that it will be necessary to amend wording in the Defence Act of 1960. Mr O'Dea said: "... for the avoidance of doubt, it is intended to update the wording in the Act to more closely reflect current practice in the formulation of UN Security Council resolutions endorsing Peace Support Operations.
"The triple-lock requirement of UN, Government and Dáil approval will stand irrespective. I also propose to provide 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 or the earthquake in Pakistan.
"Currently, personnel must volunteer for service with a civil undertaking, in the same manner as any ordinary citizens and cannot be deployed at the behest of the Government. All of these issues are important and must be addressed," Mr O'Dea added.
The minister added that Irish participation would not be in conflict with "our traditional policy of support for the UN. Participation in any EU operation remains a national sovereign decision, and our policy on the "Triple Lock" will not be compromised by participating in battlegroups."
So far 22 of the 25 member nations of the EU have committed troops to the battlegroups. They are intended to provide highly trained forces from several EU states with air and naval support and will be deployed within days of being called into action.
They are also expected to prepare the way for a larger United Nations force.