Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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210. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of Irish personnel who are or have been taking part in Operation Irini in the Mediterranean; if Ireland's participation will be continuing; if not, the reasons for withdrawing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41400/26]

Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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211. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the position in relation to the UN Security Council mandate for the continuation of Operation Irini in the Mediterranean; whether Ireland can continue to participate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41401/26]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 210 and 211 together.

EUNAVFOR MED Operation IRINI was established by the European Union with the core executive task being the implementation of the UN arms embargo on Libya under UNSCR 1970 (2011) and UNSCR 2292 (2016), with the EU Council Decision underpinning the Mission particularly referencing UNSCR 2292.

Government approval for Ireland’s participation in Operation IRINI was granted on 22nd May 2020 on that basis. This approval provided for the deployment of up to three (3) Permanent Defence Force personnel to the Operational Headquarters (OHQ) in Rome, as well as the potential for the future deployment of up to two personnel to the Force Headquarters (FHQ) at sea.

In 2023, Government approved the deployment of a single Naval Service patrol vessel to the Operation for a period of 46 days in total during June and July of that year. This deployment required the approval of Government and Dáil Éireann in accordance with the “Triple Lock” provisions of the Defence Acts.

Recently, operational and political constraints have increasingly limited the effective implementation of the Mission's core taskings, with the UN mandate requiring renewal every six months since 2024, at significant political cost. Difficulties in carrying out the embargo related taskings of the Mission have also resulted in a move to more of a Shadow Fleet monitoring focus in its Mediterranean Area of Operations.

The non-renewal by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) of its mandate for EUNAVFOR MED Operation IRINI (UNSCR 2292 of 2016), which expired on 24th May (Sunday), now requires that Ireland withdraw its Defence Forces personnel from the Mission.

In the context of the proposed Defence Amendment (Triple Lock) Bill, if it proceeds with the removal of the requirement for a United Nations mandate as part of the “Triple Lock”, our decision on Operation Irini would have differed materially.

Overall, a total of 95 personnel have deployed on the mission which includes personnel on board one (1) naval ship which deployed during June and July 2023 for a 34-day deployment period. The breakdown of Defence Forces Personal are as follows: three (3) in the OHQ and one (1) in the FHQ. The four (4) personnel currently in the mission have been advised that they will likely be leaving the operational HQ as the mandate has lapsed.

The European External Action Service and the Director General of the European Union Military Staff are being advised of Ireland’s intention to conclude its participation in EUNAVFOR Operation IRINI following the expiration of the UNSC mandate.