Brendan Ryan (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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584. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence whether the Army Ranger Wing is to double in size, due to current concerns regarding the threat of international terrorism; when this will happen and if additional funding will be allocated specifically for this purpose; if he will indicate what he believes is the optimum level of the Army Ranger Wing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17293/16]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Primary responsibility for the internal security of the State rests with the Department of Justice and Equality and An Garda Síochána. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces in the White Paper on Defence is the provision of Aid to the Civil Power (ATCP) which, in practice, means to provide assistance and support to An Garda Síochána when requested to do so. There is ongoing and close liaison between An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces regarding security matters, including ATCP deployments and a wide variety of military training activities are specifically designed to counter or respond to possible security emergencies. The Army Ranger Wing is an integral unit of the Defence Forces whose roles include provision of specialist ATCP support to An Garda Síochána. The need for a high level of preparedness to deal with any requests for special forces operations is inherent in the unit’s mission. Members are trained to the highest levels of motivation, physical fitness and skill at arms for their specialist role. The ARW is on standby to be called upon to undertake duties in any part of the country.

In the recently published White Paper on Defence, the Government has committed to further enhance the capabilities of the Army Ranger Wing, in particular with the aim of increasing the strength of the unit considerably. As the Army Ranger Wing is the Special Operations Force of the Defence Forces the exact number of personnel in it or their location is not released into the public domain, for reasons of operational security.

It is my priority as Minister for Defence to ensure that the operational capacity of the Defence Forces is maintained to the greatest extent possible.

Brendan Ryan (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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585. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he has liaised with his counterparts across the European Union, on the ongoing threat of international terrorism; if he is satisfied at the level of preparedness here, if such an event were to occur; if the Irish Defence Forces have been asked to provide any support, whether of an intelligence nature or otherwise, to support European Union partner states who have been the subject of international terror threats or actions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17294/16]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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At Ministerial level there is ongoing contact as required with EU colleagues both in the context of European Defence and Security and other matters. In addition to these bilateral contacts, two official meetings of EU Defence Ministers are held during each six month EU Presidency. The most recent meeting of Foreign Affairs and Defence Ministers took place in Luxembourg on 18 April 2016. Discussions at the meeting covered a wide range of European Defence and Security issues and associated challenges. I am also kept fully appraised of issues arising from meetings which officials from my Department attend in the area of European Defence and Security. As with the formulation of any policy, best practice and lessons learnt in other jurisdictions will always inform EU policy formulation to ensure that it is robust, coherent and meets the needs of Member States.

In relation to International Terrorism issues at EU level, this is primarily a matter for Justice and Interior ministers under the Justice and Home Affairs umbrella. Within this State, primary responsibility for the internal security of the State rests with the Department of Justice and Equality and An Garda Síochána. In that regard, among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces in the White Paper on Defence is the provision of Aid to the Civil Power (ATCP) which, in practice, means to provide assistance and support to An Garda Síochána when requested to do so.  There is ongoing and close liaison between An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces regarding security matters, including ATCP deployments and a wide variety of military training activities are specifically designed to counter or respond to possible security emergencies. Regular coordination and liaison meetings also take place between the Defence Forces and An Garda Síochána in relation to ATCP issues. It is my priority as Minister for Defence to ensure that the operational capacity of the Defence Forces is maintained to the greatest extent possible. As the Deputy will be aware, the previous Minister for Defence attended the meeting of Foreign Affairs and Defence Ministers, which took place in Brussels on 17 November 2015 at which my French colleague, Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drein, invoked Article 42.7 of the Treaty on European Union, following the tragic events in Paris on 13 November last.

Following that invocation there was liaison between officials from my Department and French authorities at which various options for how Ireland could be of assistance were explored. One option explored was examining what support Ireland would be able to offer to UN mandated missions which suffered gaps as a result of France or other nations withdrawing forces to undertake alternative operations. The outcome to the French request for support was the enhancement of our current deployment to the EU Training Mission in Mali, to which 10 members of the Permanent Defence Force were previously deployed. This figure will now be increased to 18. The issue of also providing support to the UN peacekeeping mission MINUSMA is being kept under review.

Brendan Ryan (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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586. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the purpose of the recent exercises in the Irish Sea conducted by the Defence Forces Special Operations Task Group; if this was a regular exercise or was it linked to ongoing anti-terror training; if other anti-terror exercises have recently taken place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17295/16]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Justice and Equality and An Garda Síochána have primary responsibility for the internal security of the State and, in the event of a terrorist incident, it is An Garda Síochána who would be the first responders. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces in the White Paper on Defence is the provision of Aid to the Civil Power (ATCP) which, in practice, means to provide assistance and support to An Garda Síochána when requested to do so.  There is ongoing and close liaison between An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces regarding security matters, including ATCP deployments and a wide variety of military training activities are specifically designed to counter or respond to possible security emergencies. Regular coordination and liaison meetings also take place between the Defence Forces and An Garda Síochána in relation to ATCP issues.

When not engaged in actual operations, the Defence Forces conduct regular exercises. In this regard, on the 18th of May 2016, Exercise Poseidon was commenced. The purpose of the exercise was to enhance military capability and particularly joint operations involving all three services (Army, Air Corps, Navy). This is a regular exercise which is generally conducted every two years. The exercise was not linked to any known terror threat.

For security and operational reasons it would not be appropriate to comment further.