Seamus Kirk
Question:11. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Defence if he will report on the Irish Defence Forces EUTM for Somalia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13263/13]
View answerThursday, 14 March 2013
Questions (11, 31)
Dara Calleary
Question:31. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide a progress report on the Irish presence in the EUTM Somalia, EU-led training mission in Uganda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13246/13]
View answerOral answers (3 contributions)
I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 31 together.
On 7 April 2010, the EU launched a military training mission in Somalia to contribute to strengthening the transitional federal Government and the institutions of Somalia. This support continues to take place within the framework of the EU's comprehensive engagement in Somalia, with a view to responding to the priority needs of the Somali people and its Government and to stabilising Somalia. Training has been provided in Uganda in close collaboration with the Ugandan Defence Forces due to the political and security situation in Somalia. Following Government approval, the Defence Forces have been serving with EU training mission in Somalia since April 2010. Ireland took over operational command of the mission in August 2011, with the appointment of Colonel Michael Beary of the Defence Forces. In December 2012, the Government approved continued participation in the mission for a further period of one year to December 2013. Ireland currently has ten personnel serving with the mission.
I wish Brigadier General Gerald Aherne success. He is currently leading that mission. We were told last month that the EU was planning to gradually move the mission's training activities from Uganda to Mogadishu. There was a growing sense that it was a safe initiative to take. Can the Minister of State provide an update on whether it is going ahead? What criteria do the Defence Forces have for making that decision? Does the Department consider, at this point, it constitutes an acceptable level of risk for the training operation to take up a base near Mogadishu?
I am happy to bring the Deputy's comments to the attention of the Minister. The brief I have does not comment on that particular aspect.