Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Those agreements are, of course, not necessitated by membership of the European Union because we have an opt-out, but that does not mean we cannot opt in, in the same way that we opted out of the temporary protection directive and then subsequently opted in, with the approval of the Dáil. In reply to a previous parliamentary question, the Tánaiste told me it is anticipated we will spend €121 million towards the peace facility and the military assistance mission, of which €9.9 million was spent by the end of 2022. My question is not whether the Tánaiste thinks it is morally and strategically correct for Ireland to be involved in this. Clearly, he and his Government do or we would not be involved otherwise. I do not want to go over that. What I want to know is how do these agreements, which are not necessitated by membership of the European Union, not result in a charge upon public funds such as requires the approval of the Dáil. I am not saying the Dáil would not approve it. I am asking how do they not require the approval of the Dáil, because they are agreements and they do result in a charge on public funds.

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