Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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In January of this year, the Government approved the participation by the Defence Forces in the German-led EU Battlegroup in 2024/2025. This will be the eighth occasion on which the Defence Forces have been part of an EU Battlegroup and the first since 2020. The Battlegroup will be stood-up during 2024 and will be on standby throughout 2025.

It is currently foreseen that the total number of the proposed Defence Forces contribution to the Battlegroup will be approximately 182 personnel. This will be comprised of a Mechanised Infantry Company (with a Company HQ, Infantry platoons and a weapons platoon consisting of 138 personnel) together with a National Support Element (consisting of 34 persons providing the necessary transport, medical, CIS, maintenance and ordnance support) and staff posts of 10 personnel to the Force Headquarters. The Operational Headquarters will be located in Ulm, Germany, while the Force Headquarters will be based in Strasbourg, France.

As of now, all of the staff posts in the Force Headquarters have been filled. With regard to the remaining approximately 172 posts, the Defence Forces are currently finalising the terms and conditions that will apply to those personnel participating in the EUBG. The most recent information available to me is that there thirty-five personnel have volunteered to participate in the Mechanised Infantry Company/National Support Element. This is an increase of ten on the numbers last week and I expect to see that number continuing to rise.

The Defence Forces’ contingent will be stood-up on a phased basis through the first months of 2024, beginning with a relatively modest number from 1 January. It is anticipated that, as the terms and conditions relating to those participating in the Battlegroup are finalised in the coming weeks, there will be an appreciable increase in the numbers volunteering to participate.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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There is no plan to review the decision to withdraw the Defence Forces' Infantry Group from the UNDOF mission next year .The placement Troop Contributing Country (TCC) has been selected to take over the role of the Force Reserve Company, following the scheduled Irish departure in April 2024. Planning for the withdrawal of the Defence Forces' contingent and their replacement is well advanced, involving the United Nations, the Force Headquarters, the current Irish contingent and the replacement TCC to ensure a smooth handover that in no way compromises the mission.

Notwithstanding the withdrawal of the Defence Forces' Infantry Group, it is likely that the DF will continue to occupy a small number of staff officer posts at the UNDOF mission HQ.

Battlegroups are a key component of the capabilities that the EU can make available in support of UN-authorised crisis management operations. Within the EU Battlegroup concept, the purpose of the Battlegroup, as a rapid response capability, includes 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.

The decision to withdraw personnel from the UNDOF mission was made following the receipt of military advice which stated that this would allow the Defence Forces to undertake a process of consolidation with regard to their overseas commitments and to prepare for future peace-keeping missions as well as to ensure that the Defence Forces have the capacity available to fulfil their commitment to the EU Battlegroup 2024/2025.