Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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147.To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence further to the recent peace summit in Switzerland if he will report on Ireland's contribution towards demining efforts in Ukraine.[33865/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland remains steadfast in our support for efforts to help Ukraine defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity. This includes the provision of non-lethal military support via the European Peace Facility and the training of Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel through EUMAM Ukraine.

Given the enormous needs on the ground in the area of demining and the expertise of the Irish Defence Forces in this and related areas, demining has been identified as an important area of focus for Ireland’s non-lethal military support commitments. This is expressed in the Agreement on support for Ukraine and Cooperation between Ukraine and Ireland, signed in Kyiv on 4 September 2024, which identifies mine action as a key priority in the short to long-term.

To date, the Defence Forces have delivered two modules of Demining and Clearance training via EUMAM Ukraine to Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel in Cyprus.

In March 2024, Ireland provided two DO-KING IV mine flail systems to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. In addition, the Defence Forces provided training on the use of the mine flails to the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Poland. These mine flails responded to a direct request from the Ministry of Defence in Ukraine seeking assistance with mine clearance.

Planning is currently underway for the donation of three Bomb Disposal Robots and spare parts, a course of training on their operation and maintenance will be delivered by the Defence Forces as part of this donation.

Ireland is also a member of the Demining Coalition for Ukraine and has been participating in planning and coordination meetings since Q4 2023. This coalition, consisting of approximately 20 countries and led by Lithuania and Iceland was formed out of discussions which took place at the Ukraine Defence Contact Group.

Ireland will continue to explore further means of support in this area in response to Ukrainian needs.