Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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24. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if Ireland supported the European Union request to the United Nations to sanction military action against migrant boats crossing from Libya to Europe; the discussions that preceded this request; the persons who participated in these discussions; and the role Ireland had; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19324/15]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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The current humanitarian situation in the Mediterranean is of great concern to Ireland, and our EU and Southern partners. Solutions must be found jointly to address a crisis on this scale and to prevent further loss of life.

The EU High Representative recently visited the Headquarters of the United Nations in New York to discuss aspects of the EU's response to the crisis, including the possibility of a CSDP operation. In her address to the Security Council, the High Representative made clear that the priority must be to prevent the loss of lives at sea and that this requires a comprehensive approach which must be undertaken in close partnership with countries in the region, with regional organisations, the wider international community and in particular with the UN Security Council. She recalled the EU's firm intention "to always respect international law, international humanitarian law and human rights". While reference was made to ongoing preparations for a possible naval operation in the framework of the CSDP, no request was made to the UN Security Council to sanction military action.

On 20 April, I attended a joint meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs and Justice and Home Affairs Councils to discuss migration issues, and in particular the situation in the Mediterranean. At that meeting, Minister Frances Fitzgerald and I, together with our EU partners, confirmed our strong commitment to act to prevent recurrence of such tragedies. We agreed that work would be taken forward along three strands: reinforcing Frontex activities to save lives at sea, a fairer sharing of responsibilities regarding resettlement and relocation projects within the EU and a range of options to combat organized crime networks and human traffickers.

The Taoiseach attended a special meeting of the European Council on 23 April at which Heads of State and Government agreed that the immediate priority is to prevent more people from dying at sea. They undertook to use all tools at the EU's disposal and to work with countries of origin and transit of migrants to tackle the root causes of the current human emergency.

A comprehensive range of commitments were agreed under four broad headings: strengthening the EU’s presence at sea, countering traffickers in accordance with international law, preventing illegal migration flows and reinforcing internal solidarity and responsibility.

This comprehensive strategy included a commitment to undertake systematic efforts to identify, capture and destroy vessels before they are used by traffickers, who exploit vulnerable people for profit and put their lives at risk. The Council invited High Representative Mogherini to begin preparations for a possible EU CSDP operation to this effect.

At the Foreign Affairs Council which I attended yesterday, EU Foreign Ministers adopted a Council Decision to establish a European Union military operation in the Southern Central Mediterranean. The Mission will be called EUNAVFOR MED and will implement its mandate in several phases. The first phase will focus on the detection and monitoring of migration networks through information gathering and patrolling on the high seas and in accordance with international law. A second phase will involve the boarding, search seizure and diversion of vessels of human traffickers who drive this trade in human misery and exploit people for profit. A third phase provides for taking measures against the vessels including through disposing of them or rendering them inoperable.

The Political and Security Committee, acting under the responsibility of the Council of Ministers, will decide on when to make the transition between the different phases, taking into account any applicable UN Security Council Resolution and consent by the coastal states concerned.

In discussions to date Ireland has insisted that the EUNAVFOR MED operation should be carried out in full accordance with international law. We have also placed particular emphasis on ensuring that any vessels assigned to the CSDP operation will be ready and equipped to perform Search and Rescue tasks as necessary.

Separately, in line with the Taoiseach's commitment at the European Council, the Government has despatched a naval service vessel and crew to assist in humanitarian search and rescue tasks in the Mediterranean.