Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will respond to Deputy Barrett before responding to Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan. The peacekeeping school is very important for the Irish Defence Forces. It is part of the education of both enlisted personnel and cadets, as peacekeeping is one of the topics enshrined in their training. I am not sure if members are aware of the peace and leadership institute proposed in the programme for Government. It is a concept the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces are bringing forward with the support of the Government. It will be an institute specifically based on Ireland's participation in peacekeeping. We are doing some groundwork on that at present with regard to potential courses and how people could participate in it. Personnel from European member states participate in the peacekeeping school, as well as personnel from further afield outside Europe, just as we send some of our officers abroad to talk about peacekeeping, peacekeeping operations and so forth.

Irish peacekeepers are really well inspected. One sees that when one goes abroad and sees them in operation and how the local people respect the participation of the Irish. I extended an invitation to the committee members to visit one of our missions abroad, in Lebanon or wherever, and that invitation still stands. It is important for the committee members to see how the Irish participate on the ground. We can arrange that at any time without a problem.

To reply to Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan, Operation Sophia is a UN mandated mission. We signed up to Operation Sophia under a UN mandate. It is absolutely within our policy of neutrality to participate in Operation Sophia. We do not go near the Libyan coast. We train the Libyan coast guard as part of the operation but we do not go near the Libyan coastline. If we pick up migrants we bring them to the Italian authorities.

With regard to humanitarian and Irish Aid agencies, I feel very strongly that if the Irish Defence Forces are on a mission abroad they should link up with the humanitarian and aid agencies to assist them in every way possible. I spoke about this at a recent event. It is most important for members of the Defence Forces. We do a great deal of humanitarian work in Lebanon and elsewhere.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade gives us, through the ambassadors' offices, a budget that the Defence Forces spend on humanitarian projects on the ground such as water, schools, education, sports fields or whatever, to help the local community. It is form of bridge building and relationship building within the communities wherever we participate. One of the more practical examples is in Lebanon because we have participated there for many years. The Deputy is right to say it is important that we help humanitarian efforts.