John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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334. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of members of the Defence Forces who are currently deployed in Syria as part of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10832/23]

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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335. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will provide details on any analysis, review, or evaluation of Ireland's participation in the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force in Syria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10833/23]

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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336. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if there are any plans to withdraw members of the Defence Forces from the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force in Syria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10834/23]

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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337. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if any other analysis, review, or evaluation has taken place in respect of Ireland's participation in any other United Nations overseas missions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10835/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 334 to 337, inclusive, together.

As of 1 March 2023, Ireland is contributing 546 personnel to 7 different missions throughout the world. The main overseas missions in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 344 personnel and the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Syria with 133 personnel. Ireland also contributes observers and staff to various United Nations and OSCE missions and personnel to staff appointments at UN, EU, NATO/PfP and OSCE headquarters.

Of the 133 personnel currently deployed to UNDOF, Defence Force personnel currently comprise of an Infantry Group of approximately 127 personnel as well as 6 staff officers in UNDOF Headquarters. Personnel are based in Camp Faouar on the Syrian side of the area of separation. The role of the Irish Infantry Group includes the provision of a Quick Reaction Force which is on standby to assist with the on-going operations within the UNDOF area of responsibility.

The Department of Defence and the Defence Forces jointly review the overseas deployment of Defence Forces personnel on an ongoing basis. At the time of the recent Government Decision that the Defence Forces should join the EU Battlegroup 2024/2025, the Government was advised that a further assessment would be undertaken of the sustainability of overseas commitments.

Following the conclusion of this assessment and on the basis of the military advice available to me, I have decided to withdraw the Infantry Group personnel from UNDOF. The Government and the United Nations are being advised of this decision and the precise date of their withdrawal will be discussed with the United Nations.

Subject to the UN's agreement, I hope that Ireland can continue to occupy a number of staff officer positions in UNDOF headquarters.

The decision to withdraw personnel from the UNDOF mission has been taken in order to ensure that the Defence Forces have the capacity to fulfil their commitment to the EU Battlegroup 2024/2025 as well as allowing the Defence Forces to undertake a process of consolidation with regard to their overseas commitments and to prepare for future peace-keeping missions. Participation in overseas operations remains a priority for the Defence Forces in line with Government policy.

With regard to any future deployments of Defence Forces personnel overseas, Ireland receives requests from time-to-time in relation to participation in various missions and these are considered on a case-by-case basis. The changing nature of demands and potential future mission profiles need to be considered in the context of assets and capabilities which can be made available by the Defence Forces for overseas deployment, given existing operational demands at home and overseas.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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338. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his views on whether the Government's plans to allocate troops to an EU battlegroup will have a detrimental impact on Ireland's capacity to continue to contribute its UN overseas missions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10836/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Government has recently approved Ireland's participation in the next German-led EU Battlegroup, 2025, which will involve a two-year commitment from 1 January 2024. Battlegroups are a key component of the capabilities that the EU can make available in support of UN-authorised crisis management operations. As a concept, the purpose of the Battlegroup is as a rapid response capability, including the role of acting as an initial entry force to stabilise a situation pending the deployment of a follow-on force, to support an established peace support operation which is running into difficulties, and to respond to humanitarian crises.

Ireland’s full engagement in EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) and in Battlegroups significantly enhances our capacity to influence the development of CSDP and of the Battlegroup concept. Participation also demonstrates Ireland’s continuing commitment to the development of EU capabilities in the area of crisis management and contributes to our overall credibility within the Union.

Defence Forces' participation in EU Battlegroups also supports Ireland’s efforts in securing partners for UN blue hat operations due to the close civil and military relationships built through our participation. Experience has shown that Ireland’s previous participation in EU Battlegroups has enhanced the Defence Forces’ ability to work with other nations in a multinational environment and has served to enhance the Defence Forces reputation as a provider of a credible military capability for CSDP peacekeeping operations under UN mandates.

Arising from the Government's decision to participate in the EU Battlegroup 2024/2025, a reassessment of the sustainability of the Defence Forces' overseas commitments was undertaken. Arising from the conclusion of that reassessment and on the basis of the military advice available to me, the decision has been taken to effectively withdraw the DF Infantry Group's participation in the United Nations' Disengagement Observation Force (UNDOF). The date of withdrawal is now something that will be discussed with the United Nations.

The 2015 White Paper on Defence provides the defence policy framework for the period up to 2025. This policy framework is designed to be flexible and responsive given the dynamic nature of the security environment and enables the Defence Organisation to be adaptive to changing circumstances and to use resources as efficiently as possible.

Arising from the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces, the immediate focus is on stabilising the staffing situation in the Defence Forces and thereafter in bringing the strength to the numbers required to meet the agreed level of ambition.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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339. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will provide details of the proposed duties of members of the Defence Forces who will participate in the European Union Military Assistance Mission in Support of Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10837/23]

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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340. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the units of the Ukrainian armed forces that will be trained by members of the Defence Forces as part of the European Union Military Assistance Mission in Support of Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10838/23]

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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341. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if members of the Defence Forces will be involved in any other activities other than training Ukrainian forces in demining as part of the European Union Military Assistance Mission in Support of Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10839/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 339 to 341, inclusive, together.

As you are aware, on 21 February the Government approved the participation of up to 30 Defence Forces’ personnel in the newly established European Union Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine). The primary role of the Defence Forces will be to provide training to members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) in one or more EU Member States in which the training will take place.

These trainers will be supplemented by a small number of staff positions based in the Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC) staff based in Brussels, Belgium and in the multi-national Special Training Command (STC) in Strausberg, Germany.

In respect of training, Ireland’s Defence Forces has significant expertise in a number of areas where we believe we can bring some added-value to the mission, including in areas such as C-IED training (Counter Improvised Explosive Devices), EOD training (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), Medical Combat and Engineering.

Given that the DF have capacity to provide training in a relatively limited number of areas, it will be necessary to match that capacity with the identified training needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF). Until such time as this is done, it is difficult to anticipate exactly when and in what areas the DF will commence the delivery of such training. However, it is hoped that the delivery of training can commence relatively soon.

Depending on the matching of the DF's limited training capacity with the identified training needs of the UAF, it is expected that small training teams will be deployed for short periods, not normally for more than a few weeks at a time.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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342. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will detail both the maximum and the current strength levels of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10842/23]

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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343. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will detail both the maximum and the current strength levels of the Naval Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10843/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 342 and 343 together.

The following table details the current strength and establishment of the Permanent Defence Force, as of the 31 January 2023.

Ongoing challenges in relation to recruitment and retention in the Defence Forces have been acknowledged. My immediate focus is now on stabilising the staffing situation in the Defence Forces and thereafter in bringing the strength to the numbers required to meet the agreed level of ambition arising from the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces.