Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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106. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence whether a formal decision has been taken, either by the Defence Forces or him, to initiate a process that would see Army Rangers deployed to the MINUSMA mission in Mali; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4032/19]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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MINUSMA, the UN mission in Mali is a authorised under Chapter VII of the UN Charter by the UN Security Council. It is a significant UN peace enforcement mission comprising both regular and special operations forces and high end capabilities.

Ireland currently has no Defence Forces personnel deployed to the MINUSMA mission. However, potential overseas missions are considered on an on-going basis. The option to deploy a small contingent of Army Ranger Wing personnel to UN mandated MINUSMA mission as part of a larger Special Operations Forces within the mission later this year has arisen. The Department and the Defence Forces are in the very early information gathering stage in considering this particular mission. This involves getting detailed information on the mission and its operations, consideration of the possible role which the Defence Forces may be able to undertake in the mission, how such a deployment fits with Defence Forces capabilities having regard to existing and potential commitments at home and overseas and a detailed threat analysis and assessment. This process has only just commenced and will take a period of time to reach a conclusion. On foot of the respective military and policy advice arising from this process, I will then consider the matter.

I should emphasise again, that no decision has been taken yet and there is some way to go in the process before we reach that point.