Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 49: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has satisfied himself with the presence of a group of Defence Forces personnel with EUTM Somalia in view of the recent report by Amnesty International on the presence of a secret CIA detention centre in Somalia. [21988/11]

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

Ireland's participation in EUTM Somalia is part of a larger effort to support, together with our EU partners, the creation of functioning, stable institutions in Somalia, without which there is little prospect of political progress in that country. The EU is also supporting the Transitional Federal Institutions in an effort to encourage dialogue within Somalia as a whole, and to enable an inclusive settlement. The humanitarian problems which afflict Somalia are greatly magnified by the lack of government structures capable of meeting even the most basic needs of the Somali population. Recognising the need for the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia (TFG) to gain control of its territory, the United Nations, in Security Council Resolutions 1872 (2009) and 1910 (2010) called on the international community to provide technical assistance towards the training and equipping of the Somalia National Security Forces. The European Union established its training mission to Somalia (EUTM) in response to this call. The original mandate of the mission was to train 2,000 selected Somali recruits in two intakes over a twelve month period. This training, which was recently completed, took place in the Bihanga Camp in Uganda. The EU is now examining options to extend this mission, including refocusing the mission on developing command and control structures for the Somali National Security Forces.

Following Government approval on 23 February 2010, a Defence Forces team of five personnel, comprising two officers and three Non Commissioned Officers (NCOs), deployed to the mission in April 2010, as part of a joint Irish Defence Forces/Maltese Armed Forces training team. On 28 June 2011, the Government approved the continued provision of approximately 5 members of the Permanent Defence Force to serve with the mission for a further period of one year beyond August 2011, subject to an appropriate decision of the Council of the European Union authorising the extension of the mission.

I am satisfied that the provision of training to the Somali National Security forces is supported by the United Nations and is specifically provided for in relevant Security Council Resolutions 1872 (2009) and 1910 (2010). The role of the mission is consistent with the provisions of both UN Resolutions. The deployment of members of the Defence Forces in a training role to the EUTM Somalia is consistent with Defence legislation.

Ireland recognises that there can be no purely military solution to the crisis in Somalia. We are strongly supportive of a comprehensive approach to tackling the problems of the region. An important element will be to restore political stability in Somalia, but it will also be necessary to improve livelihoods and economic opportunities, and to develop the rule of law. The EU is preparing a strategy to assist states in the Horn of Africa region to address these and other problems in a comprehensive way.