Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 November 2021
328. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to correspondence from an organisation (details supplied); the nature of Ireland’s specific role and involvement in the training of the Libyan Coast Guard; if this role has changed or undergone a review in view of the matters outlined in the correspondence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55988/21]
View answerI am aware of the correspondence referred to.
Ireland currently has three Defence Forces personnel deployed in staff office posts at the Operational Headquarters (OHQ) of EUNAVFOR MED Operation IRINI in Rome. As of October 2021, 24 EU Member States contribute personnel to the mission.
Launched in March of 2020, the core task of EUNAVFOR MED Operation IRINI is to contribute to the implementation of the UN arms embargo on Libya. In June of this year, the UN Security Council renewed Resolution 2292 of 2016 which allows for the offshore inspection and port diversion of vessels suspected of breaching the UN arms embargo on Libya.
Along with the monitoring and gathering of information on illicit petroleum exports and contributing to the disruption of the business model of human smuggling and trafficking networks, supporting the capacity building and training of the Libyan Coast Guard and Navy (LCG&N) is a secondary task of the operation. However, no agreement has yet been concluded between Operation IRINI and the Libyan authorities for the delivery of the capacity building and training component.
