Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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423. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if there are plans to deploy the Air Corps Casa aircraft in support of EUNAVFORMED Operation IRINI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3789/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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EUNAVFORMED Operation IRINI, the UN mandated EU Naval mission in the eastern Mediterranean was launched on the 31st of March 2020. Its core task is the implementation of the UN arms embargo on Libya (through the use of aerial, satellite and maritime assets). As secondary tasks, the operation will contribute to the implementation of UN measures to prevent illicit export of petroleum from Libya, assist in the development of the Libyan Coast Guard & Navy in law enforcement tasks at sea and contribute to the disruption of the business model of human smuggling and trafficking networks, in accordance with the applicable international law, including UNCLOS and UN Security Council Resolution 2240 (2015).

As of January 2021, Ireland has three members of the Defence Forces deployed to Operation IRINI. These personnel are deployed to the Operational Headquarters (OHQ) in Rome in staff officer posts.

There are currently no plans to deploy Air Corps Casa aircraft in support of EUNAVFORMED Operation IRINI.