Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Daly for her question. The deployment of Defence Forces personnel to the UN-mandated, NATO-led ISAF mission in Afghanistan between 2002 and 2014 had no implications for Ireland’s traditional policy of military neutrality.  The service of Defence Forces personnel with ISAF represented a further example of Ireland’s commitment to participation in UN-mandated peace operations, a long-standing and key foreign policy principle for Ireland. The work carried out by Irish personnel deployed with ISAF represented a relatively small but important contribution to the mission.

On 9 December 2014, the Government approved the participation of seven members of the Defence Forces with the follow-on Resolute Support Mission, RSM, in Afghanistan, which commenced on 1 January 2015. RSM is a non-combat training mission designed to support and develop the capacity of the Afghan national defence forces in order that they can ensure the security of the Afghan population and its national government institutions following the withdrawal of the ISAF mission.

The deployment of members of the Defence Forces in a training role is consistent with the provisions of section 3(1)(b) and 3(1)(d) of the Defence (Amendment) Act 2006. The United Nations Security Council has welcomed the establishment of the Resolute Support Mission and has also welcomed Ireland's willingness to be part of it. We are one of many countries that are part of this mission. Ireland, along with its partners, is doing everything it can to ensure that a new government in Afghanistan can try to create stability and normality in a country that has been torn apart by war for many years. I am happy that we are trying to play a constructive training role in that effort.

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