Finian McGrath
Question:663 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding a matter (details supplied). [1068/10]
View answerTuesday, 19 January 2010
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Ireland supports, and participates in, the efforts of the international community to bring peace, security and stability to Afghanistan. The international community is devoting considerable effort to economic development, reconstruction, tackling corruption and improving governance in that country. In 2009, Irish Aid allocated over €5 million in relief, recovery and development assistance to Afghanistan, contributing to a total expenditure of around €15 million since 2007. More generally, the EU is currently spending close to €1 billion a year on various civilian, political and developmental activities.
A contingent of seven members of the Irish Defence Forces is participating in the UN-mandated International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission in Afghanistan. They are based at ISAF Headquarters in Kabul in non-combatant roles. The participation of this contingent of the Permanent Defence Forces accords with the Defence Acts and is fully consistent with our traditional policy of military neutrality.
To date, no members of An Garda Síochána have been seconded to the EU police support mission (EUPOL Afghanistan). In 2009, my Department seconded two civilian experts to EUPOL for three month tours. These experts contributed to the efforts being made to establish sustainable and effective civilian policing arrangements under Afghan ownership and in accordance with international standards. It is hoped that Ireland will continue to contribute in an appropriate manner to EUPOL.
A member of the Irish Aid Rapid Response Initiative is currently seconded by my Department to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Afghanistan and is due to finish in March 2010.