Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 September 2021
436. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the recent ECAT mission sent to Kabul airport; the role of Dáil Éireann in this regard if any; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42246/21]
View answerAn Emergency Civil Assistance Team (ECAT) deployment is provided for in Section 3(f) of the Defence (Amendment) Act, 2006. This states that a contingent or member of the Permanent Defence Force may, with the prior approval of and on the authority of the Government, be dispatched for service outside the State for the purposes of "undertaking humanitarian tasks in response to an actual or potential disaster or emergency".
On the recommendation of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Defence, and taking into consideration the security advice and a threat assessment from the Defence Forces, I approved the deployment of an ECAT mission to Hamad Karzai International Airport, Kabul, Afghanistan, on 23 August.
The ECAT team comprised two officials from my Department, one of whom led the Mission, and nine members of the Defence Forces. The ECAT deployed in the early hours of Tuesday 24 August with the support of the French Armed Forces. This was a short-term support to the consular response to the situation in Afghanistan. The goal of the ECAT Mission was to provide consular advice and assistance, including by assisting in the process of safe evacuation.
The ECAT Mission built on the close cooperation and coordination on the evacuation process through Hamad Karzai International Airport which was ongoing with EU Member States, the UK, the US and other partners. Ten Irish citizens had been successfully evacuated between 17 and 22 August. It became clear however that there were enormous challenges for people to get to the airport safely, and to gain access when there. With the support of ECAT, which operated within the environs of the airport, 26 Irish citizens and residents were successfully supported to evacuate Afghanistan.
There are approximately 70 Irish citizens and dependents still in Afghanistan, the majority of whom, in addition to a number of Afghan citizens with Irish residency, have expressed a desire to leave the country. My Department, and the Embassy of Ireland in Abu Dhabi, continues to provide assistance and advice in that regard. We are liaising with partners, including those who have a presence on the ground, to explore safe options for exit in the period ahead.
