Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 May 2012
22 Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Defence if he will report on the recent deployment of Irish military personnel to Syria as unarmed observers in a new UN mission; the number of personnel being deployed; the length of the deployment and the nature of the overall UN mission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24403/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 21 April 2012, unanimously adopting resolution 2043 (2012), the United Nations Security Council authorized the establishment, for an initial period of 90 days, of a supervision mission, known as the United Nations Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS). The purpose of the mission is to monitor a cessation of armed violence "in all its forms by all parties" in Syria. The new mission is also tasked with monitoring the full implementation of the six-point plan proposed by Joint Special Envoy for the United Nations and the League of Arab States, Mr. Kofi Annan. On 24th April 2012, the Government approved the deployment of up to six members of the Permanent Defence Force as unarmed military observers to UNSMIS, in response to a request from the United Nations. Six Defence Forces personnel were deployed to the mission area on 11 May 2012. The role of the Irish personnel is to observe and report on the security situation, and any transgressions of the ceasefire agreement and the implementation of the six-point plan.
The UN mission will comprise an initial deployment of up to 300 military observers, under the command of a Chief Military Observer, with an appropriate civilian component as required by the mission to fulfil its mandate. It is estimated that all 300 observers will be on the ground by the end of this month.
23 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Defence if he has had any talks regarding the deployment of the Austro-German EU battlegroup. [24526/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland is committed to participation in the Austro-German led Battle group, which will be on stand-by for the second six (6) months of 2012. In 2010, the then Government approved Ireland's participation in this Battle group. The other members of the Austro-German Battle group are Austria, Germany, Czech Republic, Croatia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). Our contribution will be a Reconnaissance Company together with staff posts at both the Operational and Force headquarters amounting to approximately 175 personnel. Leading up to and during the standby period one officer has been deployed to the Battle group Headquarters in Ulm, Germany. This officer is engaged in training and planning activities. Any decision by Ireland to participate in a specific Battle group operation is subject to our national sovereign decision-making procedures —"Triple Lock", i.e. UN mandate, Government and Dáil approval. The issue of Battle group usability and flexibility has been discussed at the EU Defence Ministers meetings I have attended. Also, within the EU itself, a number of committees, including the Political and Security Committee and the EU Military Committee, keep the issue of Battle group response under constant review in consultation with all EU Member States. Any decision to deploy the Austro-German Battle group will continue to be taken by unanimity by the Council of the European Union. As such, Ireland will retain the sovereign right to decide on participation in any crisis management mission involving the Austro/German Battle group.
