Results 121-140 of 189 for operation sophia

Other Questions: Naval Service Operations (24 Jan 2018) See 7 other results from this debate

Paul Kehoe: I do not accept the Deputy's assertions and I definitely do not accept his assertion that Operation Sophia is a military operation. I accept that we are part of a different mission now. We were part of Operation Pontus, which was independent of ourselves, and we are now part of the EU-mandated mission. This mission operates under the triple lock and went through Government and the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Overseas Missions Data (24 Jan 2018)

Paul Kehoe: ...(v) UNDOF (United Nations Disengagement Observer Force) HQ  (Yafour Damascus) - 1 UNDOF Staff Appointments (Camp Ziouani) - 5 UNDOF 56thInfantry Group (Camp Ziouani) -130 TOTAL-  534 UN MANDATED MISSIONS (vi) EUFOR (EU-led Operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina)- 5 (vii) EUTM Mali (EU-Led Training Mission)  -  20 (viii) KFOR...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service Operations (23 Jan 2018)

Paul Kehoe: The deployment of Irish Naval vessels to the Mediterranean to engage in humanitarian search and rescue tasks as part of Operation Pontus from 2015 to 2017, was an important element in Ireland's response to the migration crisis in the Mediterranean. Overall, 17,509 migrants were rescued under Operation Pontus and details are out in the table below. Year Deployed Naval vessel Persons ...

European Council: Statements (16 Jan 2018)

Helen McEntee: ...would join PESCO at the initial stage so that we would have an input into what happened in future and not join later as a third party country. That was the right course to take. Since the co-operation involved is in line with the Lisbon treaty, it does not impact on our neutrality. Nor would we allow it to reach that point. Politically, there would have to be a referendum to put the...

European Council Meeting: Statements (13 Dec 2017)

Helen McEntee: ...and the Parliament as a signal of the Union's shared commitment to strong social values and social progress. The aim of the Gothenburg summit was to ensure that, as we continue to develop and co-operate economically, we also protect and promote the necessary social standards and labour rights. As with the social dimension, culture and education are largely areas where member states...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Migration Crisis (13 Dec 2017)

Simon Coveney: ...the root causes of migration including through the Migration Partnership Framework; agreeing a plan to relocate migrants from Italy and Greece across the Union; the launching of an EU Naval Force, Operation Sophia, to disrupt people smuggling in the Mediterranean; and substantial financial assistance to countries hosting large numbers of migrants. EU Heads of State and Government concluded...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Overseas Missions (12 Dec 2017) See 1 other result from this answer

Clare Daly: 65. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the status of Defence Forces activities as part of operation Sophia to date. [52737/17]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Overseas Missions Data (12 Dec 2017)

Paul Kehoe: ...(UNIFIL) with 377 personnel, the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Syria with 136 personnel and the United Nations mandated Naval Service deployment to the EU naval mission (Operation Sophia) which commenced in October 2017 with 55 naval personnel. Ireland has, in addition, pledged to the United Nations Peacekeeping Capability Readiness System to make certain...

Permanent Structured Cooperation: Motion (7 Dec 2017) See 1 other result from this debate

David Cullinane: ...meet required capability thresholds, among other things. The nature of missions for which PESCO forces will be utilised is defined in Article 43, which states missions "shall include joint [...] operations, humanitarian and rescue tasks, military advice and assistance tasks, conflict prevention and peace-keeping tasks, tasks of combat forces in crisis management, including peace-making...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Permanent Structured Cooperation: Motion (6 Dec 2017)

Paul Kehoe: ...We participate in the European Defence Agency, EDA. I spoke last week about EDA projects and the committee and the Dáil cleared them. I am sure the Deputy is aware that we are participating in Operation Sophia. The maritime surveillance, and the project mentioned there, will assist in Operation Sophia and the work we do there.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Ireland's Participation in European Defence Agency Projects: Motion (29 Nov 2017) See 4 other results from this debate

Maureen O'Sullivan: ...part of a greater EU militarisation policy. There is no doubt that this will threaten our neutrality and the good standing in which our peacekeeping missions are held. I will take the example of Operation Sophia. We were respected because of the humanitarian work being done by the Naval Service on the migration crisis in the Mediterranean. Suddenly, we agreed to become part of this big...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Naval Service Vessels (15 Nov 2017) See 1 other result from this debate

Paul Gavan: ...and prevention of smuggling. As a neutral state, we have no requirements for aggressive warships. The misuse of the Irish Naval Service was highlighted when the LÉ William Butler Yeats replaced the LÉ Eithne in the Mediterranean for Operation Sophia, which unfortunately will result in the redeployment of Naval Service vessels from primarily humanitarian search and rescue to...

European Council: Statements (25 Oct 2017)

Helen McEntee: ...Ireland. Our focus will continue to be on tackling the root causes of migration and continuing our naval efforts to ensure those responsible for people smuggling are stopped. Our inclusion in Operation Sophia and our naval efforts overall have saved the lives of more than 40,000 people. When it comes to the trust fund on migration, the annual report on the fund's implementation last...

Other Questions: Military Neutrality (18 Oct 2017) See 1 other result from this debate

Clare Daly: ...about the Government's approach to neutrality being especially cavalier. When we raise concerns, as we did earlier, about the Irish Defence Forces being sent off to join the military offensive in Operation Sophia, we were told not to worry about it. When we raise again and again the use of Shannon Airport by US military troops we are told they are not involved in anything and they are...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Operations (18 Oct 2017) See 7 other results from this debate

Clare Daly: ...are of course aware of the situation in Libya [...] by providing support they are also responsible and make themselves liable." This opens up at least the possibility that by participating in Operation Sophia, Ireland might find itself part of a future investigation by the International Criminal Court or somebody else into criminal breaches of international law by the Libyan coastguard....

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: EU Bodies (18 Oct 2017) See 1 other result from this debate

Clare Daly: ...chipped away at our neutrality. They include the US military's use of Shannon Airport, NATO warships in Irish ports, sending Irish ships to global arms fairs and committing them to involvement in operations such as Operation Sophia, exporting arms and joining EU battle groups. We have done all of that and now want our man at the helm to be chair of the European Union Military Committee....

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Overseas Missions Data (18 Oct 2017)

Paul Kehoe: ...personnel to the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Syria. Also on 06 October 2017, L.É. Niamh with a crew of 57 personnel departed Haulbowline to join the EU naval mission Operation Sophia. Full details of all personnel currently serving overseas are shown in the tabular statement. The Department of Defence constantly reviews the deployment of Defence Forces...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence Forces Strategy Statement 2017 to 2020: Department of Defence (5 Oct 2017) See 4 other results from this debate

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: ...raised by Senator Daly is that neutrality should be reflected in the document. The second point on that issue of neutrality is that there seems to be a clamour to get the Defence Forces involved in operations overseas which are dubious in terms of Ireland's neutrality. I have had the argument around Operation Sophia and other operations. The point I want to raise on this aspect is that...

Report of Joint Committee on Justice and Equality on Immigration, Asylum and the Refugee Crisis: Motion (28 Sep 2017)

Seán Crowe: ...worse, we are replicating that deal with other countries. Before the Dáil went into recess for the summer, Sinn Féin spoke out and voted against the Government’s motion for Irish involvement in the EU military mission, Operation Sophia, in the Mediterranean. Operation Sophia is primarily a military response to a humanitarian problem. It responds to the symptoms and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Meetings (11 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: ...heard first-hand about some of the very difficult conditions facing migrants in Libya. I informed the Council of the Government’s approval for the participation of the Defence Forces in EUNAVFOR Operation Sophia in the Central Mediterranean, an indication of Ireland’s sincere commitment to the EU’s continuing efforts to find a satisfactory solution to the migrant...