THE GOVERNMENT is considering entering into a new military formation at EU level with the German, Czech, Croatian and Austrian armies. This is part of the European Union's new battlegroup system.
Minister for Defence, Willie O'Dea, and representatives of the Defence Forces have already held talks with the other nations about the possibility of Ireland switching from its grouping with Nordic nations to the German-led battlegroup.
Further talks are scheduled for September.
In April, Mr O'Dea met his Austrian counterpart, Norbert Darabos, in Vienna and discussed Ireland's possible participation in the German-led battlegroup.
Mr O'Dea told Mr Darabos that it was too early for Ireland to commit to the German-led battlegroup or to commit to continuing with the Nordic battle-group, of which Ireland is already a member.
Those talks followed a meeting in March at the Austrian National Defence Academy, at which Government and Defence Forces representatives met representatives from German, Austria, Czech and Croatian militaries to discuss the mooted battlegroup.
A spokeswoman for Mr O'Dea said Ireland's participation with the Nordic battlegroup in 2011 or the German-led battlegroup in 2012 would be decided upon at Government level.
The EU battlegroups are a new system under which European armies commit troops to a common force or battlegroup.
The battlegroup concept was developed to enable the EU to respond rapidly to emergencies and disasters. Battlegroups can be deployed to help stabilise crisis situations and contribute to humanitarian efforts.
Each group is on standby for six months and can be deployed at short notice during their standby period.
A 1,500-strong battlegroup would deploy at five- to 10-days notice for a period of between 30 and 120 days.
Participating nations conduct joint training exercises before the period of standby begins.
Ireland has just completed a six-month standby period to the end of last month as part of the Nordic battlegroup.
The other countries in the group included Sweden, Estonia, Norway and Finland.
The battlegroup was not deployed during its standby period.
The Defence Forces were due to go on standby again with the Nordic battlegroup in the first half of 2011.
However, it has now emerged Ireland may be switching its allegiance to the German-led group, which will go on standby in the second half of 2012.
The Government must now commit Irish troops to either battlegroup, as participation in both within an 18-month period is thought highly unlikely.
Participation in the German-led group would operate on the same basis as participation with the Nordic group.
Deployment with either would be subject to the triple-lock mechanism, requiring UN, Government and Dáil approval.