Written answers

Tuesday, 16 November 2021

Photo of Catherine MurphyCatherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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328. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to correspondence from an organisation (details supplied); the nature of Ireland’s specific role and involvement in the training of the Libyan Coast Guard; if this role has changed or undergone a review in view of the matters outlined in the correspondence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55988/21]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of the correspondence referred to.

Ireland currently has three Defence Forces personnel deployed in staff office posts at the Operational Headquarters (OHQ) of EUNAVFOR MED Operation IRINI in Rome. As of October 2021, 24 EU Member States contribute personnel to the mission.

Launched in March of 2020, the core task of EUNAVFOR MED Operation IRINI is to contribute to the implementation of the UN arms embargo on Libya. In June of this year, the UN Security Council renewed Resolution 2292 of 2016 which allows for the offshore inspection and port diversion of vessels suspected of breaching the UN arms embargo on Libya.

Along with the monitoring and gathering of information on illicit petroleum exports and contributing to the disruption of the business model of human smuggling and trafficking networks, supporting the capacity building and training of the Libyan Coast Guard and Navy (LCG&N) is a secondary task of the operation. However, no agreement has yet been concluded between Operation IRINI and the Libyan authorities for the delivery of the capacity building and training component.

Photo of Richard Boyd BarrettRichard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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329. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the recent decision to extend the Army Ranger's deployment to Mali as part of the MINUSMA mission required the triple-lock and specifically Dáil Éireann approval; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55488/21]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The conditions under which the Defence Forces may participate on overseas peace support operations are set out in the Defence Acts. Where the Defence Forces contingent comprises part of an International United Nations Force, the conditions, known as the “triple lock”, must be satisfied. These are that the operation must be authorised/mandated by the United Nations; it must be approved by the Government; and it must be approved by way of a resolution of Dáil Éireann, where the size of a Defence Forces contribution is more than twelve personnel.

Having already been approved by Government, Dáil approval was received on 20 June 2019 for the deployment of a contingent of the Permanent Defence Forces, to serve with MINUSMA, the UN mission in Mali, when the following motion was approved:

That Dáil Éireann approves, pursuant to section 2 of the Defence (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1960, as applied by section 2 of the Defence (Amendment) Act 2006, the deployment of a contingent of the Permanent Defence Force to MINUSMA, established under United Nations Security Council Resolution 2100 (2013) and extended in subsequent Resolutions and subject to renewal of the UN mandate/authority for the mission thereafter.

The current contribution to the mission comprises Army Ranger Wing Human Intelligence Teams and support staff located in Camp Castor in Gao and in MINUSMA HQ in Bamako.

Earlier this year, the Government approved the continued provision of up to 14 Defence Forces personnel, drawn primarily from the Army Range Wing to participate in MINUSMA, the United Nations led operation in Mali, up until 30 September 2022.

As Dáil approval has already been given in relation to the deployment of a contingent of the Permanent Defence Force to the MINUSMA mission, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Deence Acts, further Dáil approval is not necessary for the deployment of replacement contingents to the mission.

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