Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Defence if he has received a request from the EU for Irish soliders to partictate in the EU Training Mission in Mali; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6310/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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On 17 January 2013, the Council of the European Union established the European Union Training Mission (EUTM Mali), which will provide military training and advice to the Malian Armed Forces to improve their military capacity and their effectiveness in guaranteeing the country's territorial integrity. Training will also be provided in international humanitarian law, the protection of civilians and human rights. It is envisaged that the training component of the mission will be made up of approximately 250 personnel, and this will be further supplemented by additional troops who will be deployed to provide force protection. The Council has tasked the Mission Commander, General François Lecointre, with preparations for the early launch of the mission and to this end force generation for the mission is currently ongoing at EU level. All Member States have been invited by the Mission Commander to provide contributions to the mission. The mission will be conducted at the invitation of the Malian Government and in close coordination with the UN, the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and other key partners.

Ireland is currently considering the provision of a small number of Defence Forces personnel to the mission. Any participation by Ireland to this mission would most likely be limited to a small contribution of trainers and would be subject to Government approval.