Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Socialist Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

24. To ask the Minister for Defence the resources deployed by the Irish Defence Forces in Afghanistan, including troop numbers; the missions they are engaged in; and details of the other forces with which they are co-operating. [6897/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

On 9 December 2014, the Government approved the participation of seven members of the Defence Forces in the new NATO-led Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan, which commenced on 01 January 2015, following the withdrawal of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission from Afghanistan.

Resolute Support Mission is a non-combat training and advisory mission. It is 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 the ISAF mission. 

The United Nations Security Council welcomed the Resolute Support mission with the unanimous adoption on 12 December 2014 of Resolution 2189. This Resolution underscores the importance of continued international support for the stability of Afghanistan.

As of 01 February 2015, a total of 39 countries are contributing approximately 13,000 personnel to the mission. The main contributors are Australia, Czech Republic, Georgia, Germany, Italy, Romania, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom and United States.

The seven (7) Defence Forces personnel who were deployed to the ISAF mission were reassigned to the new Resolute Support Mission on the 1st of January 2015. They are based in the mission headquarters in Kabul. These personnel are employed in training and advisory roles in Operations, Training and Support appointments. The work being carried out by the Defence Forces personnel represents an important contribution to this new mission.