Role for Irish in WEU - professor

IRELAND should be prepared to take part in military "crisis management operations" overseas undertaken by the Western European Union (WEU), a new book argues.

Such a foreign policy option would not commit the states involved to a system of military mutual defence, says Prof Patrick Keatinge of Trinity College. "You can go down that route and maintain the principle and fact of military neutrality."

In European Security: Ireland's Choices, Prof Keatinge examines the changing role of NATO and the WEU, the meaning of neutrality and developments in peacekeeping.

The hook looks at the options available to this country at a time when Ireland is chairing the Inter-Governmental Conference (IGC).

Prof Keatinge says the choice is between "passivity and engagement". He rejects the option of withdrawing from observer status in the WEU and withdrawing from involvement in the EU's foreign security policy when WEU matters come up. Such a move would have "negative effects" on Ireland's overall interests in the EU.

Adherence to the status quo is also rejected. This would "probably lead to a loss of influence", and would marginalise Irish contributions to common security policies.

The option of signing up to the WEU as a full member is also rejected as commanding insufficient public support.

He distinguishes between the use by the public of the term "neutrality" as "a convenient but inaccurate term for all sorts of vague areas. But `military neutrality' means one thing - we are not in a military alliance. There is absolutely no compulsion participation remains a national decision".

The book is published by the Institute of European Affairs (IEA) and costs £15.