Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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123. To ask the Minister for Defence if he will clarify his statements to Dáil Éireann that the Defence Forces were solely involved with search and rescue operations in association with the Italian Government, in view of his public comments regarding agreeing a new military mission to deal with smuggling operations in the Mediterranean. [25234/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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L.É. Eithne is not engaged in Operation Triton or in any form of border security operations as part of its deployment to the Mediterranean. Section 3 of the Defence (Amendment) Act 2006 permits, with the approval of the Government, the despatch of the Naval Service vessel and personnel for the purpose of “undertaking humanitarian tasks in response to an actual or potential disaster or emergency”. It does not permit the carrying out of border control-type tasks, such as those undertaken by Operation Triton. The deployment of L.É. Eithne, following Government approval, supports those measures already taken by Italy and other EU States in the area of search and rescue of migrants and the provision of humanitarian assistance as provided under international law.

The humanitarian crisis in the Mediterranean is of great concern to Ireland and to our EU partners. L.É. Eithne and her crew are providing an invaluable asset in assisting with the Mediterranean migrant crisis. The success of the operations carried out to date involving the rescue of approximately 2,136 migrants, demonstrates clearly the value of Ireland’s participation in this important humanitarian mission.

At EU level, a Council Decision to launch the European Union military operation, EUNAVFOR MED, was adopted at the formal Meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on 22 June. The mission is one element of the EU’s comprehensive approach to addressing the migration crisis in the South Central Mediterranean.

Irish Defence Forces Personnel are not currently taking any part in this mission. Consideration of participation by the Irish Defence Forces in EU NAVFOR Med will only occur if there is a UN Security Council Resolution and the applicable National statutory requirements are met. I understand that discussions on a draft Security Council Resolution are ongoing.