Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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79. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the supports that his Department and the Defence Forces have given to the Ukrainian army since the onset of the war in Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48886/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Since the invasion by Russia of Ukraine, Ireland has been and remains resolute in our solidarity and support for Ukraine. We are honouring our commitment to help people who have been displaced by this horrendous war.

Ireland is continuing to provide strong political and practical support for Ukraine and we continue to assert Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. While Ireland remains a militarily neutral country, we have not been politically neutral in response to Russia’s unprovoked aggression against Ukraine.

My Department, Civil Defence and the Defence Forces will continue to engage across Government in relation to any further requests for support that are required from the Defence Organisation.

In terms of practical supports for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the European Peace Facility has been the principal instrument through which Ireland has been able to provide meaningful and much-needed support to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

The EPF is a vital mechanism for the EU to provide practical support. Consistent with the terms of the Programme for Government, Ireland is contributing its full share (€55 million), which is being directed exclusively toward non-lethal support. This €55 million represents Ireland's full share of the €2.5 billion that the EU has provided to date through the EPF.

In addition to this support through the EPF, the Department of Defence have also provided approximately 10 tonnes or 5,000 units of ready-to-eat meals and 200 units of body armour directly to the Ukrainian Armed Forces in response to a direct request from Ukraine as a further tangible demonstration of Ireland’s support for and solidarity with the people of Ukraine.

Contrary to the media reports, the Defence Forces do not have a large inventory of spare or unused weapons or other equipment to donate to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The amount of stocks held by the Defence Forces is sufficient only for ongoing training, pre-deployment training for overseas missions and for deployment on missions. In addition, these weapons and equipment have significant lead times, in some cases a number of years for replacement.

Detailed discussions on a proposed EU military assistance mission to provide military training to Ukraine have been taking place amongst Member States in recent weeks and I expect that a fully developed proposal will be finalised shortly. I have previously confirmed my support in principle for such a mission and I look forward to seeing the final proposal, on the basis of which a decision on Ireland's participation in the proposed mission will be taken.