Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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12. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 601 of 21 March 2023, if he will provide an update on Ireland’s involvement in the European Union Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine); the number of Defence Forces personnel deployed to the mission to-date; if the training of Ukrainian soldiers on EU soil has begun to-date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22851/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland has fully supported the establishment of the European Union Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine) and Government approval is in place in respect of the areas where the Defence Forces can contribute to the mission, responding to the identified needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

The aim of EUMAM Ukraine, formally established on 17 October 2022, is to enhance the military capability of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to allow them to defend Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty within its internationally recognised borders, as well as to protect the civilian population against the ongoing Russian aggression.

Since the Government approval of 21 February 2023, the Defence Forces has been engaged with the Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC) based in Brussels and the multi-national Special Training Command (STC) in Strausberg, Germany to identify suitable training modules that the Defence Forces could deliver.

There is currently one Defence Forces officer in a senior staff position in the EU’s Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC) in Brussels, which operates as the mission’s Operational Headquarters, while a further three (3) have taken up staff officer positions in the multinational Special Training Command (STC) in Strausberg, Germany.

Following the identification of a number of potentially suitable opportunities for the provision of training to the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF), six members of the Defence Forces commenced the delivery of a course in Demining and Clearance to 24 members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Cyprus on 24 April.

The Defence Forces have also further identified a Combat Life Saver (CLS) course, which is within the Defence Force capability and capacity to deliver. A decision will be made very soon on the delivery of this course, with a view to delivery in Germany in June.

These training modules reflect the information provided earlier that such modules would involve relatively small teams of trainers being deployed for short periods of time.

I am, however, pleased with the recent progress made and I am anxious that we explore further training opportunities.