Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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67. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the reason the LÉ James Joyce returned from the Mediterranean without saving a single life; and the terms of the mission to the Mediterranean. [48345/18]

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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73. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if there have been discussions in relation to the involvement of the Naval Service in Operation Sophia following the return of the LÉ James Joyce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47820/18]

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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74. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of persons rescued and brought to the EU by Naval Service vessels to date in 2018 as part of Operation Sophia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48214/18]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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This question relates to the LÉ James Joycereturning from duties of 16 weeks in the Mediterranean without saving a single life and the terms of the mission in the Mediterranean under Operation Sophia, compared with the original mission, Operation Pontus, which was a humanitarian mission. The fact that no life was saved shows the shift away from the humanitarian mission that was originally intended.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 67, 73 and 74 together.

The EU Common Security and Defence Policy operation, EUNAVFOR MED Operation Sophia, was launched in June 2015. It is part of the EU's broader action to provide a comprehensive response to the global migration and refugee crisis and to encourage a democratic, stable and prosperous Libya. It specifically seeks to counter human trafficking and smuggling in the southern central Mediterranean by taking action against the criminal networks and disrupting the smugglers' business model. The mission is also providing capacity building and training to the Libyan coastguard and navy and contributing to the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions 2240 and 2292. These resolutions also authorise the interception of vessels suspected of being used for illicit activities and impose an arms embargo on Libya in an effort to prevent the flow of illicit arms and related material into that country.

In July 2017, Government and Dáil approval was secured for the deployment of an Irish Naval Service vessel as part of Operation Sophia. The participation by LÉ Niamhin Operation Sophia represented the first involvement by the Naval Service in a multilateral security operation under a UN mandate.

In the course of an 11 week deployment in the Mediterranean in 2017, the LÉ Niamhrescued 613 migrants, assisting with a further 107 migrant rescues.

In February 2018, the Government approved a further Naval Service contribution to Operation Sophia for a period of approximately eight months. LÉ Samuel Beckettdeployed from mid-April to mid-July and was replaced in the area of operations by LÉ James Joyce. LÉ James Joycereturned to Ireland on 27 October 2018. During 2018 LÉ Samuel Beckettrescued 106 migrants in total. LÉ James Joycewas not tasked by the Operation Sophia Force Commander or by the Italian Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre with search and rescue activities during its period of deployment.

The type of tasks assigned to Irish naval vessels depends on the Operation Sophia Force Commander and mission requirements at any point in time. In addition to search and rescue operations, Irish naval vessels undertake activities in support of the core task of the mission including gathering information on oil smuggling, patrols focusing on countering illegal arms trafficking, operations to intercept smugglers and people traffickers and monitoring the effectiveness of the Libyan navy and coastguard activity from a stand-off distance.

Operation Sophia has played a decisive role in improving the overall maritime security in the central Mediterranean. The latest information from the United Nation's migration agency, International Organisation for Migration, IOM, reports that as of 14 November 2018, the number of migrants and refugees entering Europe by sea was 103,347. This figure is considerably lower than those at this time in 2017, 156,708, and 2016, 343,258. In addition, the operation has so far contributed to the apprehension of 151 suspected smugglers and traffickers, removed approximately 550 boats from criminal organisations availability, contributed to over 300 safety of life at sea events and rescued almost 45,000 migrants. While there is currently no Irish ship deployed to the operation, Defence Forces personnel continue to occupy two posts in the operational headquarters in Rome and two in the force headquarters at sea.

Ireland's participation in Operation Sophia in 2019 is currently being considered and a decision will be taken on the matter following a full review of 2018 deployments. Other factors to be taken into account include the ongoing situation in the Mediterranean and the overall EU response thereto, the demands on the Defence Forces both at home and abroad and available resources.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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When the change from Operation Pontus to Operation Sophia took place, I and other Deputies warned the Minister of State that it was shifting away from a humanitarian mission to one of policing and imposing the EU's fortress Europe attitude in the Mediterranean. This has been borne out by the figures provided by the Minister of State, that the LÉ James Joycereturned after 100 days at sea, not having saved a single life, which was the intended purpose and why this House and the general public has lauded the Irish Navy for its actions in the past. In 2015 the Irish Navy saved 8,592 lives, in 2016 it was 7,029 and even last year, when Operation Sophia was fully operational, it was 1,888, yet, as the Minister of State stated, this year the LÉ Samuel Beckettsaved only 106 lives and none was saved by the LÉ James Joycein its 16 weeks in the Mediterranean. The purpose for which the LÉ James Joycewas used was to send armed boarding parties onto suspect vessels and it was the only navy to have that duty in the recent past. Will the Minister of State confirm this?

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I totally disagree with the Deputy when he says that we have not saved any lives. I think we have saved thousands because we have interrupted the smugglers' model and have destroyed the boats that they used to smuggle migrants. The UN migration agency has been compiling migrant arrival data across the Mediterranean since 2014 and has reported that the number of migrants arriving by sea has continued to drop. The numbers arriving in 2018 are the lowest since the crisis began. Those are not our figures. As part of Operation Sophia, Ireland is working closely as part of the 27 EU member States making a contribution to addressing some of the root causes of migration and human trafficking as well as continuing to be involved in the rescue of migrants at sea.

When we joined Operation Sophia, Operation Pontus was a humanitarian search and rescue mission undertaken as part of Ireland's bilateral agreement with the Italian authorities. Its sole focus was the rescue of migrants in the Mediterranean. Now we have joined Operation Sophia which specifically seeks to counter human trafficking and smuggling in the southern central Mediterranean by taking action against criminal networks-----

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister and call Deputy Clare Daly for her supplementary question.

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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If the Minister of State is serious about tackling the root causes then he might start by stopping facilitating the bombing of the countries in the first place.

Smoke and mirrors have been used to obscure what Operation Sophia is and the Minister of State has tried to do that here today. Operation Sophia is a military mission. I am not saying that: that is what the Council decision which established it says, namely that "The Union shall conduct a military crisis management operation". The Defence Forces 2017 annual report says "In July 2017, Government and Dáil approval was secured for the redeployment of Naval Service vessels from primarily humanitarian search and rescue operations, to primarily security and interception operations". It is not to save migrants from drowning or because we have a particular expertise. Recently, we submitted a freedom of information request to the Department of Defence which confirmed to us that none of those considerations formed the backdrop of the decision to participate in Operation Sophia. In fact, it is part of the Government's drip-drip participation into involvement in permanent structured co-operation, PESCO, and a future European army.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I agree with the Deputy 100% that it is a military mission, but it is also a UN mandated mission. When we joined PESCO, which I brought to Cabinet and to the House. Members of this House voted democratically to join Operation Sophia. It totally changed the mission in which we were participating under Operation Pontus. Operation Sophia specifically seeks to counter human trafficking and smuggling in the southern central Mediterranean by taking action against the criminal networks and disrupting the smugglers' business model. By improving maritime security, Operation Sophia is actively contributing to the EU and international efforts for the return of stability in Libya. In addition, Operation Sophia plays an important role in training the Libyan coastguard. We were not doing any of these things under Operation Pontus. I was very clear when we joined Operation Sophia that we were joining a UN-mandated military mission. The work of members of the Irish Navy and Defence Forces, who are representing Ireland in the Mediterranean, does us proud and they are doing a good job.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I was at a European Council meeting yesterday at which Operation Sophia was discussed-----

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister. He has three other opportunities to speak. I call Deputy Wallace.

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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The Minister of State referred to a safe place. Operation Sophia is pulling people back to a place of violence and human rights violations. Only yesterday, authorities used rubber bullets and tear gas to force more than 90 refugees to disembark a cargo ship docked in Misrata. The stand off lasted ten days. The refugees, including children, said that they would rather die than return to indefinite detention in Libya. This is the reality of Libya and of Operation Sophia. Scores of refugees are killing themselves in the detention centres where the Irish Navy help the Libyan coastguard to keep these desperate people.

The Minister of State said that he is saving lives by interrupting smugglers but he is sending people back to violence. They would rather be killed than go back. He spoke of a UN mandate but we should not forget that the UN gave the mandate to destroy this place to begin with.

There is no sense in what is going on. We should have nothing to do with this military mission. We are crucifying people by sending them back to Libya. The Government agreed with the NATO mission which, sadly, was backed by a UN mandate.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I am very proud of the work members of the Defence Forces, inlcuding the Naval Service, have been doing in the past few months. Our mission statement changed when we joined Operation Sophia. I was not hiding behind anything. Part of it was picking up migrants. The UN Migration Agency has stated the number of migrants crossing the Mediterranean has decreased in the past few years. If one talks to any of the NGOs-----

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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They also are dying there.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I am not arguing, but if one talks to any of the NGOs, they will agree that the number of migrants has dropped. Our number one priority was reducing the number of lives being lost because no one was stopping smugglers from bringing migrants across. We are now stopping them from bringing migrants across very unsafe waters in unsafe vessels.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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The Minister of State can hide behind words and say there has been a decrease in the numbers, but people are still being put on boats by smugglers, while there are others who are getting into boats of their own volition. Therefore, there is still a need for a humanitarian rescue mission in the Mediterranean. The Minister of State has said the Naval Service has been responsible for destroying the boats of smugglers. Will he confirm that because my information is that the Naval Service is not present in Libyan ports? Is it destroying them at sea? How many ships or boats have been escorted back to Libyan waters by, for instance, the LÉ James Joyce? How many ships have been escorted to EU ports in the same time period?

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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I am very glad that the Minister of State stated so authoritatively that this is a military mission because it directly contradicts statements made in the House by the Tánaiste, Deputy Coveney, with whom we will certainly be taking up the matter further. We have already started a process in that regard. The numbers of migrants drowning have decreased, but the numbers of desperate refugees being detained in Libya, sadly, have not. A Médecins sans Frontières doctor has described what it is like for migrants from Libya, stating those who make it are detained arbitrarily. He continued:

Many are held for months without adequate sanitation or food. Torture and rape become a part of daily life. Scabies eats at their skin. Infectious diseases like tuberculosis spread easily.

That is where we send them back and they are intercepted by the Libyan coast guard, a coast guard we have trained and equipped to hold them in these positions. It is not humanitarian and not helpful. It is an absolutely appalling violation of human rights and not something in which the people would want the Defence Forces to be involved.

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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We applauded the work of the Naval Service in the early years when it was actually saving thousands of lives. It was a wonderful achievement. Now its job is to make sure refugees do not reach Europe and the lawless Libyan coast guard intercepts them before they drown because if they set foot on one of our boats, under humanitarian law, we will be obliged to bring them to Italy. As we know, the last ship brought nobody there. The NATO mission that started all of this, with a UN mandate and the support of the Government, destroyed Libya which is now a dysfunctional state and out of control. Only last year CNN footage showed young black boys being sold as slaves for $400. France and the United Kingdom drove it with the help of President Obama. That is what the NATO mission brought about - it brought slavery back to Libya. It got rid of Gaddafi but replaced him with something 100 times worse.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I will pick up on a point made by Deputy Wallace. The European Union was also building capacity in Libya aimed at improving conditions for the exact people to whom the Deputy referred. That is a known fact which the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Coveney, has stated in the House. Operation Sophia is only one element of the European Union's response. We in Ireland are playing our part, as is every other member state.

On the point made by Deputy Ó Snodaigh, migrants picked up under Operation Sophia are brought to a safe European port. We do not operate within Libyan waters. We did not operate in Libyan waters either under Operation Pontus. It is part of our mandate that we do not operate within-----

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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The Minister of State said the Naval Service had destroyed boats.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I have the figure, but I do not have it to hand. It is in my notes.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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The Naval Service does not destroy them in international waters because it is not allowed to do so.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I will get the Deputy the number of boats that were destroyed. We are operating within a UN mandate and will continue to do so. Members of the Naval Service are doing a very proud job for them and Ireland.