Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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256. To ask the Minister for Defence if he will confirm that the seven Irish members of the Defence Forces currently participating in the IASF mission in Afghanistan, will be withdrawn on or before 31 December 2014; if no replacement will take place; and in the event that he cannot provide this confirmation, that he will provide a commitment that Dáil Éireann will be allowed to discuss this matter. [44989/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Ireland has participated in the NATO–led UN mandated International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission in Afghanistan since 5 July 2002. Seven members of the Permanent Defence Force are currently serving in the mission headquarters.

The ISAF mission is due to conclude and withdraw from Afghanistan on 31 December 2014, whereupon the Afghan National Security Forces will take over full responsibility for security within Afghanistan.  NATO will lead a follow on training support operation in Afghanistan called Resolute Support Mission with effect from 01 January 2015. The NATO-led follow-on mission post December 2014 is a training support mission designed to support and develop the capacity of the Afghan National Defence Forces so as they can ensure the security of the Afghan population and its national governmental institutions following the withdrawal of ISAF.

The question of Ireland contributing to the Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan is currently under consideration and I propose to bring proposals to the Government in this regard in the coming weeks.