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

The Defence Forces have undertaken and continue to undertake a wide variety of peacekeeping missions. As part of these missions, at which the Defence Forces excel, conflict resolution, as the Deputy is aware, is one aspect. Conflict resolution is also one element of the reform of the security sector in the countries within which the missions are taking place. For example, the training of Malian troops, which Ireland is undertaking in conjunction with the United Kingdom as part of an EU mission, seeks to train in the area of human rights as part of the mission's mandate. This was also an element of the mission previously undertaken by Ireland as part of the EU training mission in Somalia.

As the Deputy will appreciate, conflict resolution requires a distinct set of skills, such as mediation and negotiation. These skills are crucial in the field, both during peacekeeping and also following the termination of conflict. However, the primary role of the Defence Forces in overseas missions is to maintain peace and, as such, their role in direct conflict resolution is minimal.

That said, the Defence Forces have partnered - I am sorry; I think my throat is giving up - with the Kennedy institute at NUI Maynooth and the European Security and Defence College to undertake a pilot course in mediation and dialogue skills for common security and defence policy crisis management activities. This course will be held in Maynooth from 19 to 23 May this year. The course will allow participants to explore these skills and to develop a personal capacity to be more effective in conflict resolution. The aim of the course is to give students an understanding of mediation and negotiation. It will allow them to apply these techniques in common security and defence policy crisis management operations and missions. I assume that that is the type of activity that the Deputy has in mind.

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