Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 28: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the Irish Government representative agreed with the proposal by the EU Council of Ministers to provide military assistance for the humanitarian requirements of Libya if requested by the UN; and if this means that the Nordic Battle Group which includes more than 100 Irish soldiers and which is on stand-by until the end of June, might be sent to Libya. [13733/11]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

At its meeting on 12 April 2011, the Foreign Affairs Council decided that "it shall, if requested by UN OCHA, conduct a CSDP operation "EUFOR Libya" to support humanitarian assistance in the region, in full respect of the principles governing humanitarian action, particularly impartiality and neutrality". The EU is currently undertaking the necessary planning to allow it to react quickly in the event of a request for assistance from UN OCHA. At present, there seems little likelihood that such a request will be forthcoming from the UN, and a further Council decision would be required before any operation could be launched.

The April decision was taken in accordance with Article 31 of the Treaty on European Union which provides that decisions having military or defence implications shall be taken by the Council acting unanimously. The same requirement would apply to any decision to launch an operation. There are no plans to deploy the battlegroup in this regard.