The Government is to sign up for the NATO-sponsored Partnership for Peace programme within a fortnight, allowing Defence Forces personnel to train with NATO armies for military exercises such as peacekeeping and humanitarian operations.
The Government yesterday approved details of the State's planned participation in the organisation and confirmed its intention to join quickly and without the referendum promised by Fianna Fail in its 1997 General Election manifesto.
Fianna Fail's Parliamentary Party - five of whose members have publicly indicated that they favour a referendum - is to be briefed on the Government's decision before the Dail votes to ratify it next week. Labour, the Green Party and Sinn Fein last night angrily denounced the decision to proceed without a referendum, with the Labour leader, Mr Ruairi Quinn, calling it "a gross betrayal of the Irish people".
The Government has confirmed that it intends to sign an agreement with NATO on PfP participation before the end of October. The Dail appears certain to support the Government's decision, given Fine Gael support, although that party may attempt to amend the motion approving PfP involvement.
The "presentation document" approved by the Cabinet yesterday outlines the extent of Ireland's proposed involvement in PfP and has already been approved by NATO. It envisages that Irish Defence Forces staff, units and training facilities will become involved in training exercises with NATO and non-NATO states at home and abroad for "peace support, search and rescue and humanitarian missions".
Ireland's ambassador to Belgium will be accredited also to NATO headquarters in Brussels and to the PfP's "Partnership Co-ordination Cell" in Mons, Belgium.
The document proposes hosting PfP conferences, seminars and workshops in Ireland. The UN training school at The Curragh, language laboratories and courses and a "limited training area" could also be put at the disposal of PfP, the document states.
Defence Forces assets in Ireland put at PfP's disposal may include "an infantry company group - leading to an infantry battalion group, battalion staff elements, specialist detachments, for example engineers, logisticians and exchange personnel".
The document restates Ireland's policy of military neutrality and asserts that Ireland does not intend to join NATO. "Ireland's decision to participate in PfP is in full accordance with Ireland's policy of military neutrality", it says.
Ireland will take part in PfP peacekeeping activities, including "operational and generic planning for peacekeeping and peace support, communications, command and control, operational procedures, logistics and training". Ireland will also participate in PfP's "planning and review" process, which is designed to ensure that military forces of NATO and non-NATO states can operate together effectively.
The Government also wants to develop co-operation with other PfP states in humanitarian operations, in civil search and rescue, in dealing with threats to the environment, and in marine research, technology and development.
Labour last night accused the Government of "a gross and arrogant betrayal of the people" by deciding to join PfP without a referendum. The party pointed out that the Taoiseach had made a commitment to a referendum in 1997, but in government he had now reneged on this promise.