Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 5 Nov 1997

Vol. 482 No. 4

Written Answers - EU Presidency.

Willie Penrose

Question:

23 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Defence the additional duties carried out by Irish Permanent Defence Forces personnel during the course of the Irish Presidency of the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18215/97]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith)

Ireland was responsible for the control and management of the European Community Monitor Mission to the former Yugoslavia during the six month period of the Irish Presidency of the EU, i.e., July to December 1996. The post of head of mission was held by a diplomat from the Department of Foreign Affairs. There was a total of 88 Irish personnel serving with the ECMM throughout that time, of whom 78 were members of the Permanent Defence Force. A member of the Defence Forces held the post of deputy head of mission (Operations). In addition, an officer was seconded as adviser to the Presidency in relation to the EU administration of Mostar and a further officer was seconded to the Department of Foreign Affairs as adviser on the former Yugoslavia.

Immediately prior to the commencement of the Italian Presidency, i.e., January to June 1996, there was, in accordance with normal practice, a gradual build-up in the number of Irish military personnel serving with the mission. At the beginning of 1996 there was a total of 15 members of the Defence Forces serving. There had been six Defence Forces members serving with the mission since 1991. By April 1996 this number had risen to 32. A further eight Irish military personnel were deployed during April 1996 and the balance was deployed during June 1996, bringing the total to 78 personnel.

During the post Presidency period of the troika arrangement a total of 23 Irish personnel, of whom 19 were members of the Defence Forces, continued to serve in the mission. These numbers were gradually scaled down during the Dutch Presidency, i.e., January to June 1997 and there is currently a total of nine members of the Defence Forces serving with the mission.

The ECMM is an unarmed mission, which is civilian in character, comprising some 300 diplomatic and military personnel seconded by the EU member states, as well as Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The majority of the personnel are monitors and the balance headquarters Staff, analysis and support personnel.

Additional duties in the area of security were carried out by members of the Permanent Defence Force at home during Ireland's Presidency of the EU as and when requested by an Garda Síochána.