Plans for Irish involvement in EU battle groups
Attorney General Rory Brady is almost in a position to give final legal advice to the Government to pave the way for Irish involvement in the multi-national forces.
Mr O’Dea said the initial advice received suggested a constitutional referendum will not be needed to effect the change which, critics argue, will mean Ireland’s foreign policy of neutrality is effectively jettisoned.
The battle groups, a rapid-reaction force of 1,500 troops, must be ready to deploy within 15 days of an EU decision being made, too short a time, it is claimed, for the triple lock mandate presently required.
The triple lock mandate means the action must be sanctioned by the Government, the Oireachtas and the United Nations, which may suffer from slowness to make a decision.
The Government believes the Defence Forces can join battle groups under a UN mandate.
It is argued the UN executive encouraged the EU to set up the rapid reaction forces.
Mr O’Dea is likely to be in a position to tell his fellow EU defence ministers at their meeting next Monday that he is close to securing the legislative go- ahead. They will, however, want assurances that Ireland can deploy forces quickly and anywhere in the world.
Members of the Army Rangers, the Defence Forces 100-strong elite unit, are likely to play a key role if Irish troops do join the battle groups, the minister said after watching the unit conduct manoeuvres at the Curragh Camp yesterday.
If called upon, the elite forces could be dispatched to crisis points within the EU and up to 2,500 miles beyond its borders.
Meanwhile, Mr O’Dea said the Justice Minister and Attorney General will propose strengthening legislation, possibly the incitement to hatred act, to “minimise the possibility” of comments similar to those made by London- based Anjem Choudary.
The militant said the use of Shannon by American troops makes Ireland a legitimate target for terrorists.
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