Written answers
Tuesday, 23 June 2009
Department of Defence
Overseas Missions
10:00 pm
Chris Andrews (Dublin South East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 70: To ask the Minister for Defence if Ireland will be contributing to or participating in the Operation Atlanta mission to tackle the problem with pirates off the coast of Somalia; the nature and extent of that participation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24580/09]
Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The frequent and ongoing piracy attacks off the coast of Somalia have been threatening commercial shipping and fishing in the region since the beginning of Somalia's civil war in the early 1990s. A very severe consequence of this piracy has been the impediment to the delivery of humanitarian assistance to hundreds of thousands of Somalis.
In December 2008, the European Union launched Operation ATALANTA to contribute to the deterrence, prevention and repression of acts of piracy and armed robbery off the Somali coast. The UN Security Council welcomed the launch of the operation to combat piracy off the coast of Somali and to protect vulnerable ships bound for Somalia.
From the outset, Ireland has fully supported the objectives of Operation ATALANTA. Following approval by the Government at its meeting on 9 June 2009, two (2) Naval Service officers deployed to the Operational Headquarters of Operation ATALANTA at Northwood in the UK on 12 June 2009. The officers are filling appointments in force generation and civilian-military cells.
Deployment to this operation is fully in accordance with Ireland's commitment to UN-mandated peace support operations.
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