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Overseas Missions

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 February 2021

Wednesday, 3 February 2021

Questions (355)

Neale Richmond

Question:

355. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Defence if there is scope to strengthen the presence of the Defence Forces in the Gulf of Guinea off the coast of west Africa to ensure that Ireland plays a larger role in global maritime security as the EU launched the first pilot of the new co-ordinated maritime presences concept on 25 January 2021. [5815/21]

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Written answers

On 25th January 2021, the Council of the EU approved conclusions launching the first pilot case of the Coordinated Maritime Presences (CMP) concept in the Gulf of Guinea as the Maritime Area of Interest and the creation of the Maritime Area of Interest Coordination Cell (MAICC).

The Gulf of Guinea continues to face a challenging environment in which piracy, armed robbery at sea, kidnapping of seafarers, illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, smuggling and trafficking of drugs and arms, as well as transnational organised crime pose a major and increasing threat to maritime security, affecting freedom of navigation, thus endangering major trade routes, jeopardising the sustainable development of the entire region and the economic livelihood of the population, and leading to the deterioration of the environment and biodiversity.

The EU Coordinated Maritime Presences Concept aims to enhance the EU’s visibility through a coordination of the presence of EU Member State assets in areas of concern where there are ongoing activities which could constitute a threat to international peace and security.  The purpose of such a continuous presence is to support information gathering and analysis so as to develop greater situational awareness of key areas of maritime security interest, to support the security of States in the area of interest and to be able to counter illicit activities. The Maritime Coordinated Mechanism is distinct from CSDP missions and operations

Given the current constraints being experienced in the Naval Service and the availability of assets, there are currently no plans to deploy Defence Forces personnel or assets to the Gulf of Guinea. My Department and the Defence Forces will continue to follow the evolution of this pilot initiative.

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