Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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149. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the legislative basis for mandatory selection which would compel members of the Defence Forces to serve overseas as part of an EU battlegroup; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53457/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Defence (Amendment) Act 2006 Section 4 is the primary legislation governing service overseas.

The authority to mandatory select personnel for overseas service is governed by Defence Forces Regulations, and subject to the administrative process contained in Administration Instruction CS5 – Administration of Overseas Service, which details the circumstances and eligibility for mandatory selection. The administration process for mandatory selection includes an appeal mechanism, also detailed in Admin Instruction CS5.

In the event that there are insufficient numbers of volunteer personnel to fulfil all of the mission specific appointments, I am advised that the Defence Forces utilises a process of Mandatory Selection.

Defence Forces personnel are mandatorily selected for overseas service in accordance with the provisions laid down in the relevant Administrative Instruction.

Personnel that are qualified to fulfil the appointments, but who have not volunteered for overseas service, are identified by their unit and formally interviewed by their Unit Commander. Depending on the individual’s personal or professional circumstances, the Unit Commander will either recommend or not recommend the individual for mandatory selection.

There are further selection criteria applied to those personnel who are considered qualified and recommended for mandatory selection by their Commanding Officer. This includes a provision whereby personnel should not be considered for mandatory selection without the prior approval of Deputy Chief of Staff (Support), if they have returned from overseas service in the previous two years.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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150. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the occasions on which the Defence Forces have used a process of mandatory selection to enlist members to missions or operations in each of the years from 2000 to date in 2023; the number of members involved in each instance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53485/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Military Authorities advise that it is not possible to collate the required information in the time available. I will revert to the Deputy as soon as the information is made available to me.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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151. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he has any proposals for the Defence Forces to participate in overseas missions for which the triple-lock neutrality protection currently precludes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53486/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The so-called "triple lock" mechanism sets out the requirements for the deployment of Defence Forces' personnel for peacekeeping operations overseas. These requirements are provided for in legislation, in particular the Defence (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1960 and the Defence (Amendment) Act 2006, as amended.

The Defence (Amendment) Act 2006 also provides for a series of other circumstances in which members of the Permanent Defence Forces may be deployed overseas“with the prior approval of and on the authority of the Government”.

Having reflected on the very well-informed discussion on the issue of UN peacekeeping and the “Triple Lock” at the Consultative Forum on International Security, at which there was no single consensus over how to proceed, I have concluded that we need a new process to replace the current system which effectively allows Security Council members to bind Ireland’s hands in its international engagement.

In my statement to the Dáil on 22 November, I was not prescriptive about what about what changes would be made to the existing legislation. As I indicated in the debate, I have instructed officials in the Department of Defence to prepare legislative proposals without delay that would govern the future overseas deployments of our Defence Forces.

Work on the preparation of those legislative proposals has commenced, with a view to proposals being brought to Government in due course. Any proposals agreed by Government will then have to be presented to, debated and approved by the Dáil and Seanad, thus providing the Oireachtas with ample opportunity to scrutinise any such proposals.

It is important that I emphasise that any legislative proposals will remain fully consistent with the principles of the UN Charter and international law.

Any change to the Triple Lock will continue to require Government and Dáil approval for the despatch of Defence Forces’ personnel to take part in peacekeeping and similar missions and will do nothing to change Ireland’s traditional position of military neutrality, which is characterised by Ireland's non-participation in any military alliance.

The Government currently has no plans for the Defence Forces to participate in any new overseas missions, but will consider any requests to contribute to such missions, subject to any deployments being consistent with the provisions of Irish law.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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152. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if there are proposals to deploy the German-led EU battlegroup to missions that Ireland is currently precluded due to the triple-lock neutrality protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53487/23]

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.

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.

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 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.

Given that the battlegroup has not yet been stood-up, there are currently no plans for its deployment. However, any such deployments could take place only in accordance with Irish law.

The decision to participate in an EU Battlegroup does not presume any further decision in relation to participation in an actual Battlegroup operation. Any such decision is subject to national decision-making procedures.

Any change to the Triple Lock will continue to require Government and Dáil approval for the despatch of Defence Forces’ personnel to take part in peacekeeping and similar missions and will do nothing to change Ireland’s traditional position of military neutrality, which is characterised by Ireland's non-participation in any military alliance.