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Overseas Missions

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 February 2013

Thursday, 7 February 2013

Questions (149, 159)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

149. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the position regarding further likely requests for overseas deployment of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6483/13]

View answer

Bernard Durkan

Question:

159. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the position regarding further likely requests for overseas deployment of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6547/13]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 149 and 159 together.

Ireland has offered, through the United Nations Standby Arrangements System (UNSAS), to provide up to 850 military personnel for overseas service at any one time. This demonstrates Ireland’s commitment to the cause of international peace. This continues to be the maximum sustainable commitment that Ireland can make to overseas peacekeeping operations.

Ireland is currently contributing 437 Defence Forces personnel to 11 different missions throughout the world. Ireland’s main deployment is in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 361 personnel, with smaller contributions in Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Afghanistan and EUTM Somalia.

As regards future deployment of Defence Forces Personnel overseas, Ireland receives requests, from time to time, in relation to participation in various missions and these are considered on a case-by-case basis. When considering any particular request, the existence of realistic objectives and a clear mandate, which has the potential to contribute to a political solution, consideration of how the mission relates to the priorities of Irish foreign policy and the degree of risk involved are amongst the factors considered.

Ireland received an invitation from the Operational Commander of Operation EUNAVFOR ATALANTA to contribute an Autonomous Vessel Protection Detachment (AVPD) to the Operation. Currently, EU NAVFOR has received offers from five Member States to provide AVPDs. As a result, the requirement for additional AVPDs does not arise in the immediate future. However, the potential for the future contribution of an AVPD, by Ireland, is still under active consideration by the Defence Forces. We have also received an invitation from the UN requesting the deployment of a specialist training team on Conventional Munitions Disposal (CMD), mine and specialist search awareness to support the work of the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) in South Sudan. The request is currently under consideration.

The EU has also invited Ireland to contribute personnel to the European Union Training Mission in Mali (EUTM Mali), which was established by the Council of the European Union on 17 January 2013 to provide military training and advice to the Malian Armed Forces. This request is currently under active consideration and an announcement will be made shortly in this regard.

The Department of Defence constantly reviews the deployment of Defence Forces personnel overseas. At this time, it is not anticipated that there will be any major additional deployments of troops to further overseas missions in 2013.

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