It is reported today that a motion will come before the House regarding Ireland's participation in the German battle group. In November of last year, the Taoiseach was quoted as saying that Ireland will not join a European army, yet that is exactly what he is agreeing to in this instance. To quote someone else, if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it is obviously a duck. When will the Taoiseach extract Ireland from the anti-neutrality commitment to partake in EU battle groups? When will the debate on the motion happen or is it the case that he will wait for the Defence (Amendment) Bill?

I am not sure if that does require a motion of the House; I will have to check that out. The Cabinet has made a decision that we will participate in the German-led battle group. We have previously served in the German-led battle group, the UK-led battle group and the Nordic one so it is not the first time we have done it. The name is not a good name. This battle group will have ten people. It is definitely not a European army. A ten-person army would not have much of a-----

The Taoiseach should ask the Department-----

The Taoiseach, without interruption.

I think in French it is called force tactique or force tactical, and that might be a better term than battle group. Perhaps we will find an appropriate term as Gaeilge that better reflects what it is. It is intended to be a ten-person group, which could increase to 148 if needed, but before it could be deployed in any operation it falls under the triple lock mechanism, which would require a decision of Government, a mandate from the Dáil and also a mandate from the UN. However, as it is not proposed to take part in any operations as yet-----

And more than ten people.

-----that does not arise.