Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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420. To ask the Minister for Defence the extent to which he has had discussions or communication with EU or UN sources in the matter of further deployment of Irish troops overseas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29317/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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During each EU Presidency both formal and informal meetings of Defence Ministers are held. On 12-13 February 2013, I hosted an informal meeting of EU Ministers of Defence in Dublin Castle. The Operational Commanders of three of the four current EU-led missions were also in attendance. Discussions were focused on these current operations and future proposed developments. Ireland contributes Defence Forces personnel to three of the four current EU military missions. Ireland contributes seven personnel to the Operation ALTHEA mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Ireland also contributes ten Defence Forces personnel, including Mission Commander Brigadier General Gerald Aherne, to EUTM Somalia, the EU’s mission to train Somali security forces in Uganda. Ireland has also contributed eight Defence Forces personnel to the EUTM Mali mission as part of a joint contingent with the UK.

The other EU military mission, Operation EUNAVFOR ATALANTA, is the EU’s first maritime operation which contributes to improving maritime security off the coast of Somalia and in the Indian Ocean. Ireland does not currently contribute personnel to this operation.

As well as these four military operations, the EU has recently launched three new civilian Common Security and Defence Policy missions. These include EUCAP Nestor, a Regional Maritime Capacity Building mission to enhance the capacity of Somalia and the wider Horn of Africa region to fight piracy. This mission is complementary to and has close coordination with Operation EUNAVFOR ATALANTA and EUTM Somalia and international actors. This civilian mission is augmented with military expertise.

Regarding UN missions, Ireland currently contributes 361 personnel to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Mission. Following the deployment of a contingent of some 170 personnel of the Armed forces of Finland to UNIFIL, a joint Irish-Finnish Battalion was formed in May 2012. Other personnel are serving as monitors and observers with several United Nations missions. Overall there are currently 445 Defence Forces personnel serving overseas.

In response to a request from the United Nations to deploy personnel to the headquarters of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Syria, three personnel are expected to deploy to the mission shortly. A fourth member of the Permanent Defence Force will deploy to the mission in the coming weeks.

In April 2013 a request was received from the United Nations to deploy additional Military Observers to the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation in the Middle East to the Headquarters of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Syria. This request is currently receiving consideration and a decision is expected shortly.

We have also received a request from the UN to deploy a specialist training team on Conventional Munitions Disposal (CMD), mine and specialist search awareness to South Sudan to support the work of the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS). I will shortly be bringing proposals to Government to seek approval for the deployment of a training team of four (4) personnel to South Sudan.

As regards future deployments of Defence Forces personnel overseas, Ireland receives requests, from time to time, in relation to participation in various missions and these are considered on a case-by-case basis. When considering any particular request, the existence of realistic objectives and a clear mandate, which has the potential to contribute to a political solution, consideration of how the mission relates to the priorities of Irish foreign policy and the degree of risk involved are amongst the factors considered.

Within the EU itself, a number of committees, including the Political and Security Committee and the EU Military Committee, keep the issues of troop deployments, including rapid response, under constant review in consultation with all EU Member States.