Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising the question. The European Peace Facility, EPF, was established by the Foreign Affairs Council on 21 March 2021. Ireland was centrally involved in the negotiations to design the EPF. Together with a number of like-minded member states, Ireland ensured the inclusion of a provision allowing member states to constructively abstain from assistance measures involving the supply of lethal equipment. Countries that abstain from the provision of lethal equipment instead provide funding to assistance measures supporting non-lethal equipment to regional organisations and third-country partners, at their request.

The aim of the EPF is threefold: it funds the common costs of EU military missions and operations under the Common Security and Defence Policy; it supports peace support operations led by international and regional organisations, as well as partner countries around the world; and it strengthens the military and defence capacities of third states and regional and international organisations. The overall budget ceiling for the EPF over the 2021-2027 period is €7.9 billion.

In response to Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war against Ukraine, Ireland has joined other EU member states in agreeing approximately €5.5 billion to support the Ukrainian armed forces through the EPF. In line with the programme for government, Ireland’s military support for Ukraine is directly solely towards non-lethal assistance. Our contribution now stands at approximately €122 million and helps to supply items such as medical equipment, food, personal protective equipment and fuel.

Together with our EU partners, we remain strongly committed to supporting Ukraine in defence of its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of ongoing Russian aggression. The EU military assistance mission in support of Ukraine, EUMAM Ukraine, was established by the Foreign Affairs Council on 17 October 2022. The mission will provide specialised training to the Ukrainian armed forces, and co-ordinate existing member state training activities.

In February 2023, the Government approved the participation of up to 30 Defence Forces personnel in EUMAM Ukraine. Their primary role will be to provide training to members of the Ukrainian armed forces in the EU member states in which the training will take place. The trainers will be supplemented by a small number of staff positions in the military planning and conduct capability, MPCC, in Belgium and the special training command, STC, in Germany.

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