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

As of 1 November, Ireland has contributed 429 Defence Forces personnel to 12 different missions throughout the world. The main overseas missions in which Irish Defence Forces personnel are deployed are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, which comprises 192 personnel, and UNDOF in Syria, with 150 personnel. The Naval Service humanitarian service mission in the Mediterranean comprises 60 personnel.

The previously mentioned training mission in Mali comprises ten personnel. I had the privilege of visiting them around St. Patrick's Day this year and stayed in the hotel that, unfortunately, was the subject of an attack a few days ago. Their professionalism and the contribution they are making towards stability in the country is impressive.

In terms of the Mediterranean mission, I understand the LE Samuel Beckett will come home, probably between 14 to 17 December. We will not immediately send another ship to replace it. However, I anticipate we will send another ship early in the spring, perhaps towards the end of February or March, but we want to have a period of assessment of the mission. We have sent three ships in a row to the Mediterranean and nearly 9,000 people have been rescued. I expect many rescues will also be needed next year. I hope whoever is in government will be in a position to send an Irish navel vessel to the Mediterranean again to work with the Italians on a bilateral basis to continue that humanitarian work, something which has won us many friends in the Mediterranean but, more importantly, has saved many lives and has proven the capacity of the Naval Service within the overall Defence Forces to be able to undertake complex missions abroad.

I expect there will be another mission next year. There will be a reflection period of six to eight weeks to determine how we can improve the mission and we will talk to our colleagues in Italy. At the previous Council meeting, the Italian Minister specifically asked me to ensure the Naval Service stays in the Mediterranean. I reassured her that we would certainly consider that and I would discuss the issue with the Government early next year.

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