The Minister with responsibility for Defence, Paul Kehoe, has defended the Government's plan for Irish Defence Force participation in a European Defence Agency project on military search capability.
The minister said Ireland had already been involved with EDA projects since 2005, such as maritime surveillance and networking, and this latest one would cost €157,000.
Minister Kehoe said: "Ireland's participation in this project affords us the opportunity to keep abreast of best practice and new developments.
He accused critics of wanting to send the Defence Forces overseas "but don't give them proper training".
Fianna Fáil's Jack Chambers said there was a need for "world class skills which otherwise we would not have."
He said Fianna Fáil would support the motion because it was "important we build capability".
Sinn Féin's Aengus Ó Snodaigh described it as "a disgraceful motion" and argued: "We should have nothing to do with this."
He claimed this, and previous projects, were further moves towards an EU Army.
Labour's Brendan Ryan backed the proposal, saying Ireland's Defence Forces "must be trained in modern techniques and skills".
He said his party was "implacably opposed" to an EU Army, but Labour was not opposed to improving skills in the Defence Forces. He called on TDs not to be "distracted by these false arguments".
People Before Profit's Gino Kenny said the plan "undermines the whole basis for Irish neutrality".
He argued that the Dáil should "reject the motion" on the basis that it was "a precursor to the European Army".
Solidarity's Paul Murphy said Ireland should "have nothing whatsoever to do with" the European Defence Agency.
He warned the continued participation of Irish Defence Forces in EU military projects meant that it would be "so interlinked that it becomes impossible not to say 'yes' to an EU Army".
Independent TD Maureen O'Sullivan said she "can't understand why we are jeopardising our good name" built-up from peacekeeping missions and being politically non-aligned.
She said Ireland was being increasingly drawn into an EU security agenda.
Responding to the interventions, Minister Kehoe rejected opposition suggestions that it was a step towards joining a European Army.
He said: "I don't believe there will ever be a European Army … I'm not changing our policy on neutrality."
