Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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79. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will report on the Defence Force's training engagement with the EU Military Assistance Mission in Ukraine and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42528/23]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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125. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 12 of 16 May 2023, to provide an update on Ireland's involvement in the EU Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine; the number of Defence Forces personnel deployed to the mission to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42547/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 79 and 125 together.

As part of the European Union’s response to Russia’s attack on Ukraine, the Council of the EU launched the European Union Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine, EUMAM Ukraine.

Formally established on 17 October 2022, the aim of the mission is to enhance the military capability of the Ukrainian armed forces, UAF to defend Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty within its internationally recognised borders as well as to protect the civilian population.

The mission provides training to the UAF at basic, advanced and specialised levels in a range of areas. On 21 February 2023, the Government approved the participation of Defence Forces personnel in EUMAM Ukraine in such areas as counter improvised explosive devices training, explosive ordnance disposal training, combat medical training and engineering training.

On 25 July, the Government approved the Defence Forces' enhanced engagement in the mission and agreed an extended list of training modules for delivery by the Defence Forces, which includes basic military training; Do-King Mine Flail training, which is training on machinery which is used to clear mines; leadership training; and drill instructor training.

The number of Defence Forces personnel who may be deployed to the training mission at any given time is limited to 30 in line with the Government approval. This number includes the trainers who will be delivering training directly to UAF personnel as well as the Defence Forces’ personnel deployed in the mission’s operational headquarters in Brussels and the multinational special training command, STC, in Strausberg, Germany.

Together with partners, the Defence Forces have since delivered training to members of the UAF in de-mining and clearance in Cyprus with six personnel deployed from 16 April to 12 May. Mining is a significant issue. I was speaking to ministers from Croatia during the week. It has taken Croatia 30 years to de-mine following the conflict in which it was involved. Training has also been provided in tactical combat casualty care-combat life saver in Germany with six personnel deployed from 18 June to 2 July with a second iteration of the tactical combat casualty care-combat life saver in Germany with six personnel deployed from 18 Sept to 3 October and a module of drill instructor training with 12 personnel deployed that is ongoing in Germany. These trainers are supplemented by one member of the Defence Forces deployed in the mission’s operational headquarters in Brussels and three personnel in the STC in Strausberg, Germany.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

The DF have a draft programme of training to be provided up to March 2024, which is subject to regular updating.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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I am horrified at the Tánaiste's recent comments on the use of rifles to the effect that they are non-lethal. On this grouped question, it is really difficult to keep up with what is happening and with the logic of the Government. I deplore the Russian invasion of Ukraine; let us get that out of the way. However, we are a neutral country. We should offer any humanitarian assistance we can. We are joining up more and more with a military alliance, despite what the Tánaiste tells us. The figures are absolutely horrific from what I can see. The original cost for the two-year mission to which the Tánaiste refers was about €167 million. I am not sure what we have given to that. Maybe the Tánaiste could tell us. Separate from that is the European Peace Facility, EPF. The total cost for all of that was €5.6 billion when it was set up. That has gone through the roof now and we have given €125 million to that alone. I am running out of time on this. All I can do is put on the record my horror at what is being done in our name.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Some of that commentary is incredible. It is an incredible overstatement. I did not discuss the training with President Zelenskyy because it is on a very minor scale compared to what every other member of the European Union is doing bar Ireland, Malta, and Austria. Get real here. We are not providing any military support in the form of hardware or weaponry to Ukraine, nor should we suggest we are. This is hyperbole beyond hyperbole. I have outlined what we have done so far, namely, de-mining and medical combat. That is all we have done; two or three programmes involving six personnel. That is all we have done and people are horrified and say this represents a flagrant breach of our military neutrality. Could we have some perspective? The big issue in Ukraine right now is an aerial bombardment that will freeze them to death over the next winter. That is the enormity of the issues they are facing.

Regarding the European Peace Facility, we are very clear that the funding from the EPF is for non-lethal assistance. I have to stress that. Nobody envisaged the brutal invasion by Russia of Ukraine.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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I am not given to hyperbole or to exaggeration. I repeat my horror at what is happening in a neutral country. The Tánaiste shaking his head does not help the situation. Deputy Bríd Smith already mentioned the horror related to what Israel is doing in Palestine and we have really stood idly by, other than expressing our deep concern.

I will give some figures from the European fact sheet entitled EU Solidarity with Ukraine. As of September 2023, the EU and its members individually had provided approximately €25 billion in support of Ukraine, including €5.6 billion under the European Peace Facility. This is the misplaced and misnamed European Peace Facility. The total budget for that facility was €5.6 billion. It has gone way over that now with its allocation to Ukraine alone. In 30 seconds, I cannot go through the figures but that is what we are left to do; go through the figures while the Tánaiste tells us this does nothing to our neutrality. I am 100% behind giving humanitarian aid but I am also behind using our voice to bring peace and to have a peaceful settlement at some stage, which will happen, as in every war. In the meantime, we chose one country over another even though we are a neutral country. I mention Palestine. Yemen has been mentioned and so on.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Come on.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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Shaking your head does not-----

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I will shake my head.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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-----add to the argument.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The time is up.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I think it is shocking. It is shocking what is going on here.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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Absolutely, Tánaiste. I agree with you.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Whataboutery all of the time. What Russia did is absolutely appalling-----

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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Absolutely.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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-----and continues to be appalling. What do you expect people in Ukraine to do? Let them the whole way in?

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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It is what I am expecting Ireland to do.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Is that what we are expected to do? This is double standards. We are consistent on Palestine. We have done much more than the Deputy has suggested on Palestine, and the evidence of that is how we were treated in Palestine by the Palestinian authorities or by other neighbouring states who acknowledge Ireland's commitment, which is not only in terms of words but also in support of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, UNRWA, in financial supports, and in supporting the Palestinian authority in civil society in Palestine.

We have consistency across the board in terms of the application of international law and UN resolutions which Russia has flagrantly abused. To train in de-mining and in medical combat in no way undermines military neutrality. As to the drill instruction, it is drill instructing the trainer of trainers. We have done no training of any basic training, and from my understanding there will not be any for 2023. Cyprus is the location for the de-mining and Germany for the drill instructors. I suggest to Deputy Connolly that other EU member states are entitled to take their position. If she lived closer to Russia, she would see this as an existential threat, and they do. On the 12-point peace plan-----

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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We are out of time.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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-----we discussed it at the United Nations.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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We cannot discuss it now.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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However, Russia should pull out. That is where we can get a bit of progress of this.