Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 February 2024
181. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will report on his engagements regarding a European Union mission to the Red Sea; the position of Ireland in relation to such a mission; if Ireland will be contributing in any way towards the mission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6054/24]
View answerIn response to the deterioration of maritime security in the Red Sea and the impacts on shipping and navigational rights as well as regional peace and security, the EU is exploring the possibility of a new maritime operation to protect merchant vessels transiting in straits used for international navigation. This right of passage is enshrined in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The proposed operation would be established under the EU’s common security and defence policy [CSDP], with ships and crew deployed from EU Member State navies. The EU operation will be a defensive only operation to protect EU interests to ensure maritime shipping can operate as normal from Europe to Asia. The operation will only use proportionate force at sea in self-defence to react to attacks.
While Ireland will not be participating in the operation, we are supportive of its establishment, given the need to protect merchant ships and their crews from attack and our own national interest in economic and supply-chain stability. It is expected that once agreed, the new EU maritime security operation, EUNAVFOR Operation ASPIDES, will be launched later this month, at the Foreign Affairs Council on 19 February.
Finally, it is important to note that UN Security Council Resolution 2722 on 10 January last called for an immediate end to attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and noted the right of Member States to defend their vessels and the rights of passage from attack.
