Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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488. To ask the Minister for Defence if he will clarify a matter on Mali and Ireland’s military involvement on triple lock and US mandate; the date on which this happened; when approval by Dáil Éireann and the Government was given. [22398/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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On 26 February 2013, the Government approved the deployment of approximately eight (8) members of the Permanent Defence Force for service with the EU Training Mission in Mali (EUTM Mali). Three (3) Officers and five (5) Non commissioned Officers were deployed to EUTM Mali on 23 March 2013, for a tour of duty of approximately five months. As the size of the Defence Forces contribution to EUTM Mali does not exceed twelve personnel, the approval of Dáil Éireann is not required.

The deployment of members of the Defence Forces in a training role is consistent with the provisions of Section 3(1) (b) and 3(1) (d) of the Defence (Amendment) Act, 2006, which provide that “A contingent or member of the Permanent Defence Force may, with the prior approval of and on the authority of the Government, be despatched for service outside the State for the purposes of...(b) conducting or participating in training”.. . (d) undertaking monitoring, observation or advisory duties”.

While no UN Security Resolution is required to underpin a deployment of Defence Forces Personnel for training purposes, the training of the Malian Defence and Security Forces is specifically provided for in relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions 2071 (2012) and 2085 (2012).