Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 March 2013
111. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence if he has had discussions with his EU colleagues in regard to the issue of future participation in EU led peace keeping or peace enforcing missions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13571/13]
View answer115. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence if he has had discussions at EU or UN level in the context of Irish participation in further or future overseas deployment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13575/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 111 and 115 together.
During each EU Presidency both formal and informal meetings of Defence Ministers are held. On 12-13 February 2013, I hosted an informal meeting of EU Ministers of Defence in Dublin Castle. The Operational Commanders of three of the four current EU-led missions were also in attendance. Discussions were focused on these current operations and future proposed developments.
Ireland contributes Defence Forces personnel to three of the four current EU military missions. Ireland contributes seven personnel to the Operation ALTHEA mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Ireland also contributes ten Defence Forces personnel, including Mission Commander Brigadier General Gerald Aherne, to EUTM Somalia, the EU’s mission to train Somali security forces in Uganda. Ireland will be contributing eight Defence Forces personnel to the new EUTM Mali mission as part of a joint contingent with the UK.
The other EU military mission, Operation EUNAVFOR ATALANTA, is the EU’s first maritime operation which contributes to improving maritime security off the coast of Somalia and in the Indian Ocean. Ireland does not currently contribute personnel to this operation.
As well as these four military operations, the EU has recently launched three new civilian Common Security and Defence Policy civilian missions. These include EUCAP Nestor, a Regional Maritime Capacity Building mission to enhance the capacity of Somalia and the wider Horn of Africa region to fight piracy. This mission is complementary to and has close coordination with Operation EUNAVFOR ATALANTA and EUTM Somalia and international actors. This civilian mission is augmented with military expertise.
Ireland participated in the Austro-German led Battlegroup which was on standby from 1 July 2012 to 31 December 2012. The other members of the Austro-German Battlegroup were Austria, Germany, Czech Republic, Croatia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM).
Regarding UN missions, Ireland currently contributes 361 personnel to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Mission. Following the deployment of a contingent of some 170 personnel of the Armed forces of Finland to UNIFIL, a joint Irish-Finnish Battalion was formed in May 2012. Other personnel are serving as monitors and observers with several United Nations missions. Overall there are currently 436 Defence Forces personnel serving overseas.
The Department of Defence constantly reviews the deployment of Defence Forces personnel overseas. However, it is not anticipated that there will be any major deployments of troops to further missions in the foreseeable future.
Within the EU itself, a number of committees, including the Political and Security Committee and the EU Military Committee, keep the issues of troop deployments, including rapid response, under constant review in consultation with all EU Member States.
