Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to answer Questions Nos. 77, 81, 83, 87 and 97 together.

I addressed the question of possible Defence Forces' participation in the newly established United Nations' multidimensional integrated stabilisation mission in Mali in my reply to a priority question.

On 17 January 2013, the Council of the European Union established the EU training mission, EUTM Mali, which was formally launched by the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 18 February 2013. Its initial mandate is to last for 15 months. The purpose of the mission is to provide military training and advice to the Malian armed forces in order to improve their capacity to maintain security in Mali and restore the authority of the Malian Government and the territorial integrity of the Malian State. Twenty-two member states are contributing over 500 troops, including 250 instructors and additional military personnel to EUTM Mali. Personnel deployed to the mission will not be involved in combat operations.

On 26 February 2013, the Government approved the deployment of approximately eight members of the Permanent Defence Force for service with the EU training mission in Mali. Three officers and five non-commissioned officers were deployed to EUTM Mali on 23 March 2013 for a tour of duty of approximately five months. One officer, of lieutenant colonel rank, has been appointed camp commandant of the Koulikoro training camp, while one commandant is employed in the mission headquarters in Bamako. The remaining six personnel also deployed to Koulikoro form part of a joint infantry training team with the United Kingdom armed forces. Training for the first group of 650 Malian armed forces personnel commenced on 2 April 2013 and is progressing well.

The Defence Forces training team will train two platoons of Malian personnel during its tour of duty and is due to rotate in early September.

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