Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Any migrants the Irish Naval Service picked up were brought to the Italian coast, a safe haven, and we do not return any of them to the Libyan coastguard or to the Libyan navy. We might transfer some migrants to other naval vessels involved in Operation Sophia and they then transport them. If another country picks up 500 migrants and we pick up 100, instead of two ships travelling it makes sense for us to transfer ours to the other naval vessel to be brought to Italy.

Any decision we make regarding PESCO is based on our own domestic policy in regard to neutrality, something which was a priority for us when we joined it. I brought it to the Dáil, I got Government approval for it and I am hiding nothing in this area. We are participating in two projects at the moment, one on officer training and the other on maritime security. We will look at other projects on a case-by-case basis to see if they fit us and whether we could get a benefit from them.

The comments by Jean-Claude Juncker represent his own personal opinion. If we are to have an EU army, it will not be a matter for me, the Department of Defence or any other Department. It will be a decision for the people of Ireland to make. While the previous referendum reflected that, under no circumstances would we sign up to any European army without a decision of the Irish people, and I do not expect such a thing any time soon.

The Deputy asked about UNIFIL and mentioned Major General Michael Beary, who has done an outstanding job over the past two years. We should be very proud of him. There has been peace in Lebanon since 2006 and I heard an interview with him on "Drivetime" last week in which he said there were people in their 20s who did not remember any conflict there. That is brilliant and it is because of the work of UNIFIL and the participation of Irish troops. As head of the UNIFIL mission, Major General Beary is under the authority of the United Nations, and not me. In peacekeeping, it is very important to communicate with both sides, and Major General Beary has been outstanding in this regard. I have received briefings from him and I know that the relationship he has with both the Israeli and the Lebanese sides is very important. He is bringing these people together for the first time ever in bilateral and trilateral meetings. It is monumental to see these people communicating and it is for the betterment of the Lebanese people, as well as for peace and security and for the mission itself. When Mick Beary leaves his position as head of mission, he can look back very proudly on the work he has done for the past two years.

I spent St. Patrick's Day in Lebanon and visited the region to celebrate the 40th anniversary of UNIFIL. The ceremony was attended by the Deputy Chief of Staff Operations of the Defence Forces, Major General Kieran Brennan, and Mr. Ciarán Murphy, assistant secretary in the Department of Defence. I heard feedback from the Lebanese people, including the Lebanese armed forces and the political parties in Lebanon. Everyone was full of praise for Major General Beary.

Peacekeeping is an art and I have only learned that since I was thrust into my current position. It has been a wonderful experience for me to see peacekeeping in operation. Peacekeeping is about bringing all of the people together, communicating with them and ensuring they communicate with each other. If Major General Beary was not in conversation and communication with the Israelis then something would be amiss. It is important that he is involved in all events but he currently operates under the authority of the UN and not under my authority.