Defence Forces Deployment

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 March 2013

Thursday, 14 March 2013

Questions (24, 29)

John McGuinness

Question:

24. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Defence if he will report on the Defence Forces mission in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13270/13]

Mick Wallace

Question:

29. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Defence when Irish Defence Forces personnel will be withdrawn from Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13275/13]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

I propose to take Questions Nos. 24 and 29 together.

On 20 December 2001, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1386 under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, authorising the establishment of an International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. On 9 October 2012, the UN Security Council extended ISAF’s mandate for a further year until October 2013. Ireland has participated in the NATO–led UN mandated mission in Afghanistan since 5 July 2002, following the Government Decision of 2 July 2002, authorising the provision of seven (7) members of the Permanent Defence Force for service with the force. The continued participation by seven (7) members of the Permanent Defence Force in ISAF is reviewed annually by the Government. The most recent decision by the Government was on 26 June 2012, when it agreed to continue to provide seven members of the Permanent Defence Force for service with ISAF for a further period from July 2012, subject to ongoing review by me.

The seven Defence Forces personnel currently participating in the ISAF are all located in ISAF HQ, Kabul and work in staff appointments in planning and administrative roles. The work being carried out by Defence Forces personnel, particularly by those in the Counter Improvised Explosive Device (C-IED) cell, represents an important contribution to this UN mandated mission.

Planning for the drawdown of ISAF generally is currently ongoing and the withdrawal of the Defence Forces personnel from the mission will be coordinated within the context of the overall ISAF drawdown plan.