Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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139. To ask the Minister for Defence in view of the French Minister for Defence having invoked article 42.7 of the Lisbon Treaty, if Ireland will be deploying troops to assist France without a vote in Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42033/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Following the invoking of Article 42.7 of the Treaty on European Union by the French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drein, at the recent meeting of EU Defence Ministers in Brussels, it is expected that the framework within which the French authorities will request the aid and assistance required, military and otherwise, will be clarified in the coming days. I will report to Government in due course on any potential Defence Forces contribution. It goes without saying that any potential contribution will be considered within the framework of the Irish Constitution and Irish law.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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140. To ask the Minister for Defence if the attack on a hotel in Bamako in Mali on 20 November 2015 will have an impact on the planned deployment of the Defence Forces to Mali; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42043/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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As evidenced by the recent tragic event in Bamako, the situation in Northern and Eastern Mali remains difficult. An anti-terrorist military operation Barkhane in Africa's region is being implemented by France on a bi-lateral basis, in partnership with Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Niger and Chad, as well as Mali. Defence Forces personnel will not become involved in this mission.

On 18 February 2013 the EU launched the EU Military Training Mission (EUTM) Mali, a CSDP mission to train and mentor the Malian Armed Forces (MAF) to improve their military capacity and their effectiveness in guaranteeing the country's territorial integrity. The mission has two aims: (1) to reform the chain of command in areas of training, logistics and military policy to ensure compliance with civilian authority and (2) to re-structure and train MAF units. There are 10 members of the Permanent Defence Force deployed to EUTM Mali, of whom 6 are part of a joint UK/Ireland training contingent.

A UN stabilisation force, Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), is also currently deployed to stabilise the country following the Tuareg rebellion. Ireland is not currently participating in this mission.

At a meeting of EU Defence Ministers in Brussels on 17 November, the French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drein invoked Article 42.7 of the Treaty on European Union.

There were initial contacts with French representatives outlining the broad areas in which France would seek support, including providing personnel to UN missions should France reduce their contributions to focus on their national security requirements. French personnel serve on UN-mandated missions in various locations including Mali. The purpose of an Irish deployment, if any, would be to ensure the continued effectiveness of UN peacekeeping missions where France may withdraw forces from these missions so as to address its security requirements.

The framework, within which the French authorities will request the aid and assistance required, military and otherwise, will be further clarified over the coming days.