Written answers

Wednesday, 12 December 2007

Department of Defence

Overseas Missions

9:00 pm

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 172: To ask the Minister for Defence if he is satisfied regarding the adequacy of strength of proposed deployments of Irish troops overseas with particular reference to the need to ensure sufficient strength for their own protection and that of their colleagues having particular reference to previous experiences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34602/07]

Photo of Willie O'DeaWillie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Force Protection is always a key consideration in relation to the deployment of Defence Forces personnel overseas. A threat assessment is conducted prior to each deployment, and the threat to Irish troops is evaluated on an on-going basis for the duration of the mission. Irish troops are armed and equipped as necessary to meet the force protection requirements. Mowag APCs are deployed where necessary to provide armoured protection, mobility, firepower and a communications platform.

In relation to the forthcoming deployment to the UN mandated EU operation in the Republic of Chad and the Central African Republic, known as EUFOR TCHAD/RCA, the threat level in the area of operations is assessed as Medium risk, and while the level of risk is consistent with any operational deployment into a dysfunctional African State, it is one which the Defence Forces have the capability to manage. The Irish contingent will be based on a mechanized Infantry Battalion Group comprising Manoeuvre elements and Combat Support and Combat Service Support elements. The contingent will amount to some 400 personnel.

Because of the nature of the operation and the mission area and environment, force protection will be a key consideration. It is expected that the Defence Forces will deploy a full range of Force Protection assets including Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) and Special Reconnaissance Vehicles. The Defence Forces will also deploy direct firing capabilities to include 0.5 machine guns, and indirect firing capabilities i.e. Mortars.

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 174: To ask the Minister for Defence the extent of the discussions he has had with his EU or UN colleagues in the matter of the creation of rapid response units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34604/07]

Photo of Willie O'DeaWillie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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In June 2004 the European Council approved the European Union's decision-making and planning ambitions for its rapid response operations. Rapid response is defined as "the ability to take the decision to launch an operation within 5 days of the approval of the crisis-management concept (CMC)", especially as regards battlegroup operations.

In the Headline Goal 2010, the EU set itself the objective inter alia, of being able "to respond with rapid and decisive action applying a fully coherent approach to the whole spectrum of crisis management operations covered by the Treaty on the European Union". A key element of the Headline Goal is the capability to deploy forces at high readiness, broadly based on the Battlegroups concept. "Battlegroup" is a military term and refers to a specific form of rapid response capability. It comprises approximately 1,500 personnel with a readiness to deploy within 5 to 10 days to a range of possible missions, sustainable for 30 days extendable to 120 days.

The purpose of the EU Battlegroups is to undertake operations (commonly referred to as the Petersberg Tasks) such as rescue tasks, tasks of combat forces in crisis management including peacemaking, in addition to peacekeeping and humanitarian tasks. Battlegroups could be deployed on operations at the higher end of the spectrum — i.e. robust peacemaking and high intensity combat operations.

In January 2006, the Government approved a proposal for me to enter discussions with Sweden, which is the Framework Nation for the Nordic Battlegroup, and other like-minded nations in relation to Ireland's contribution to EU Battlegroups. Representatives from the Departments of Defence and Foreign Affairs and the Defence Forces met with their Swedish counterparts on a number of occasions to discuss possible participation by the Defence Forces in the Nordic Battlegroup.

In November 2006, the Government formally approved the arrangements for Ireland's participation in the Nordic Battlegroup (NBG). It was agreed to both provide a contingent of the Permanent Defence Force to participate in the Battlegroup and to sign the Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) for the NBG, subject to the approval of Dáil Éireann which was given on 5 April 2007. On 26 April 2007, I issued a letter of Accession to all participating members of the Battlegroup to join the Nordic Memoranda of Understanding (MoU). The Nordic Battlegroup Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is an agreement between the participants comprising the Nordic Battlegroup, namely Sweden, Norway, Finland and Estonia, which set out principles in relation to the operation, deployment and management of the Nordic Battlegroup. The Operational Headquarters MoU defines the aim, principles and responsibilities for cooperation with regard to the establishment and operation of the EU Operational Headquarters (OHQ) in Northwood for the command and control of the Nordic Battlegroup.

The MoUs had already been signed by the existing participants in the Battlegroup. A Crisis Management Group for the NBG, has been established to manage and support Ireland's national decision-making process. The purpose of this group is to facilitate rapid decision making in the context of potential Battlegroup operations. The Group will advise Ministers and the Government on all relevant issues (policy, legal and operational) in respect of Ireland's participation in any proposed Battlegroup operation. This Group is chaired by an Assistant Secretary from the Department of Defence and comprises representatives from the Department of Defence, Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of the Taoiseach, the Oireachtas and the Attorney Generals Office.

The Nordic Battlegroup will be on stand-by from 1 January 2008 to 30 June 2008. As part of the initial familiarisation and training phase for the Nordic Battlegroup eleven (11) members of the Defence Forces are currently deployed to the Force Headquarters in Sweden and two (2) are currently deployed to the Operational Headquarters in the UK.

Our planned contribution to the Nordic Battlegroup will amount to 100 personnel involving an Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Improvised Explosive Device Disposal (E.O.D./I.E.D.D.) team with its own security detail, together with staff posts at the Operational and Force headquarters. E.O.D. relates to normal type munitions whereas I.E.D.D. generally refers to devices devised by terrorist groups, such as car bombs etc. This level of operational commitment will only arise should the Battlegroup be called on to undertake an operation. The number of personnel involved operationally during the stand-by period, where the Battlegroup has not been mobilised to undertake an operation, will be of the order of 10 to 12 personnel. The on-call personnel for the contingent will be based in Ireland during the stand-by period.

During my visit to Sweden on 7 November 2007 to attend the Final Exercise (FINEX) of the Nordic Battlegroup, I held discussions with the Defence Ministers of the other four nations contributing to the Battlegroup. Ireland is committed in principle to participation in the Nordic Battlegroup in 2011. Very preliminary discussions have also been held regarding possible participation in the proposed Austrian/German Battlegroup in 2012.

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