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

The straight answer is that Ireland has not received any request. The honest answer is that I do not know if we will receive a request in the future. That would be two or three steps away from where we are now. We need to achieve political stability in Libya first and the European Union is very engaged through a special representative there in trying to achieve this. If agreement can be reached on a government of national unity in Libya, such a government may need assistance in terms of bedding down and stabilising the governing structure. The UN will be engaged in this process, as will the EU. It is only when this happens that we will be asked to look seriously, as a member state of the EU, at how we can support this. There have been suggestions of sending an EU mission there. There have also been suggestions that the Nordic battle group could be asked to be part of this and so on. These are very much suggestions which are made in the absence of two or three decisions which need to happen first.

I do not anticipate a request to send troops there in the immediate future. However, if we are requested to do so, and if other European countries are so requested, we will consider the request on its merits. We will go through the usual consideration process. As Deputy Ó Fearghaíl knows, before Irish troops can go anywhere, we will have to go through the triple-lock mechanism which will involve an opportunity for discussion and debate in this House.

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