Army set to join EU battle groups

DEFENCE Minister Willie O’Dea is set to bring proposals to Cabinet at the end of September to pave the way for Irish troops to participate in EU military battle groups and rapid reaction forces.

In an interview with the Irish Examiner, Mr O’Dea accepted that the main problem remained reconciling participation in battle groups with Ireland’s policy of neutrality.

In particular, he referred to the so-called triple lock guarantee, introduced by means of the Saville Declaration in the wake of the defeat of the first referendum on Nice.