Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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120. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the end goal of the commitment in Ireland's civilian CSDP national implementation plan to develop relationship and support training provided by the European Security and Defence College and to develop a more structured relationship with the college, bearing in mind the national policy of neutrality of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7480/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The European Security and Defence College (ESDC) is a virtual college operating under the European External Action Service. It offers a range of courses to support both civilian and military CSDP. These courses are provided free of charge to participants by institutions from the Member States.

In Ireland, the Edward Kennedy Institute at NUI Maynooth became a participating institute in the ESDC in 2013 and since then has provided ESDC courses focussed on conflict resolution and conflict analysis.

As part of our Civilian CSDP national implementation plan (NIP), Ireland has committed to develop our relationship with the ESDC and to support its provision of training. In practical terms, this involves greater efforts to ensure that our Civilian CSDP deployees can benefit from courses offered by the ESDC and can thereby be better prepared to fulfill their roles in missions . I am pleased to report that we now register all newly selected Irish experts for pre-deployment training facilitated by the ESDC. In addition, we are working to support the provision of more courses by the Edward Kennedy Institute at NUI Maynooth. In 2019, my Department, along with the Department of Defence, agreed funding for the provision of two ESDC-affiliated courses by the Kennedy Institute, on Mediation & Dialogue and Conflict Analysis.

These activities are fully compatible with Ireland’s traditional policy of military neutrality.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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121. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason the Department of Defence, as per Ireland's national implementation plan for civilian CSDP, will be consulted on national or multinational structures and facilities that will help support the strengthening of civilian CSDP; if the plan to involve the Department of Defence in civilian CSDP is part of the broader EU strategy to alter the scope of civilian CSDP to include a strong military dimension; if there are risks for Irish neutrality in this approach; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7481/21]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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122. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason Ireland is engaging in supporting the civilian CSDP compact goal of fostering synergies and complementarity between the civilian and military dimensions of the CSDP through a commitment to liaise with the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces to explore options in this regard, as per the national implementation plan for civilian CSDP, in view of Ireland's long-standing policy of neutrality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7482/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 121 and 122 together.

EU Member States, including Ireland, have committed to strengthening synergies and complementarity between the civilian and military dimensions of CSDP, in line with the EU’s integrated approach and the Civilian CSDP Compact. Synergies relate primarily to common interests of Civilian and Military CSDP missions deployed in the same geographical area. The experience of the Covid-19 pandemic has demonstrated that strengthened cooperation in areas such as supplies, medical resources, and communications is of mutual benefit to Civilian and Military missions.

Civilian CSDP engages with partners to support them in building capacity around Rule of Law, policing and civil administration, which are vital to establishing and maintaining security and stability. There is no EU strategy in place to alter the scope of civilian CSDP to include a strong military dimension. As the December 2020 Council Conclusions on the Civilian CSDP Compact state, work to strengthen cooperation in these areas will respect the ‘distinctive roles and lines of command’ of the two dimensions of CSDP. Ireland will continue to work to ensure that this distinction is upheld.

Under Ireland’s National Implementation Plan, my officials are committed to working with the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces on areas of complementarity between Civilian and Military CSDP. Cooperation between the Departments has focused on coordinated policy approaches to issues that cover the whole scope of CSDP. Work with the Defence Forces has allowed for practical improvements to our support for Civilian CSDP Deployees.

The Department of Defence and Defence Forces have no involvement in the planning or execution of Ireland’s contribution to Civilian CSDP. Our support for CSDP missions entails no risks for Irish neutrality.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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123. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of deployed civilian CSDP experts who are retired members of the Defence Forces; the number who are retired members of An Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7483/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Foreign Affairs currently funds 17 Irish experts in civilian CSDP missions in Europe, the Caucasus, the Middle East, and Africa. Seven of these experts have previously served with An Garda Síochána, and two are retired members of the Defence Forces.

The skills and experience these individuals have gained in their previous roles have been evaluated favourably within the competitive EEAS recruitment process for these civilian CSDP missions. I am proud of the contribution they make, alongside our other secondees drawn from other career backgrounds.