Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)

The Minister says the participation of Irish troops in Afghanistan is subject to ongoing review. In light of the fact that France is withdrawing its forces and the United States has also announced that it will retreat from Afghanistan, will the Minister reconsider the participation of the seven personnel from Ireland in that mission?

The Minister mentioned the ISAF which was established under a UN mandate but which, in recent years, has been led by NATO, and now operates under the guise of the US with some of its EU supporters. The Department objected to a reference in my question to Afghanistan as occupied Afghanistan. Given that the country has had almost 100,000 US troops on its soil for almost ten years, what other word would the Minister think is appropriate in this context?

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