Speech
Statement by Tánaiste seeking approval for deployment of a Naval Service Vessel to serve as part of Operation Irini
By: Minister for Defence; Micheál Martin
Published on
Last updated on
By: Minister for Defence; Micheál Martin
Published on
Last updated on
Statement by Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Micheál Martin on the Motion before Dáil Éireann seeking approval forthe deployment of a Naval Service Vessel to serve as part of EUNAVFOR MED - Operation Irini
Check against delivery
Ceann Comhairle,
The following motion has been placed on the Order Paper for Dáil Éireann:
“That Dáil Éireann approves, pursuant to section 2 of the Defence (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 1960, as applied by section 2 of the Defence (Amendment) Act, 2006, the deployment of a Naval Service Vessel and associated support staff and elements for service as part of the EU Common Security and Defence Policy naval operation, Operation Irini and in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1970 (2011) and subsequent UN Resolutions on the arms embargo on Libya. Noting that the planned deployment is for a period of seven weeks and will be subject to renewal of the UN mandate/authority for the mission.”
This recommendation was approved by Government on 5 April 2023. As the mission is also the subject of a resolution of the United Nations’ Security Council, I am today asking Dáil Eireann to complete the triple lock and approve participation in this UN mandated mission.
In commending the motion to the Dáil, I want to advise the House on the background to the mission - the EU naval operation in the Mediterranean (EUNAVFOR MED) Operation Irini - and outline why the government believes that Ireland should join it at this point and why the Dáil should now confirm its approval of Ireland’s participation.
This operation was launched on 31 March 2020 with the primary mission of implementing the United Nation Security Council (UNSC) Resolutions on the arms embargo on Libya.
Its core task is the implementation of the UN arms embargo on Libya through the use of aerial, satellite and maritime assets.
In particular the mission is mandated to carry out inspections of vessels on the high seas off the coast of Libya suspected to be carrying arms or related material to and from Libya in accordance with UNSC resolution 2292 (2016) and subsequent UNSC resolutions.
In terms of its objective, Operation Irini aims, by stemming the flow of weapons into Libya, to create the conditions for a permanent ceasefire in Libya.
The Libyan people have suffered terribly over many years, and all efforts to secure a permanent ceasefire in that country should be made.
The operation also has important secondary tasks of implementing measures, all covered by separate UN Security Resolutions:
While capacity building and training of the Libyan Coastguard is part of Operation Irini’s mandate, it is not intended that Naval Service personnel will engage in this activity when deployed to Operation Irini.
Operation Irini has no mandate for search and rescue events. It operates on the high seas and in areas which does not attract such activity.
Should, however, an occasion arise where an Operation Irini ship is involved in such an event and rescues migrants, these migrants would be disembarked to a European Coastguard ship as soon as possible so that the Operation Irini ship can return to its mandated operations with the minimum of delay.
In all, 23 EU member States contribute to Operation Irini and there are currently two ships and six planes deployed to the mission.
Countries are encouraged to provide naval assets on a temporary basis to Operation Irini to boost the capability and capacity of the mission.
This allows flexibility to participating nations to provide assets on a case-by-case basis and at a time of their choosing.
Deputies will recall that, during the period 2015 to 2018, the Irish Naval Service contributed ships to two missions in the Mediterranean.
Firstly, Operation Pontus from 2015 to 2017, was an important element in Ireland's response to the migration crisis and was conducted by way of a bilateral arrangement with Italy.
Then in July 2017, Government and Dáil approved the redeployment of Irish Naval Service assets from primarily humanitarian search and rescue operations, to primarily security and interception operations as part of EUNAVFOR MED Operation Sophia.
Operation Sophia officially closed on 31 March 2020 and the new EU naval mission, Operation Irini commenced.
In May 2020, Government approved the deployment of up to three Permanent Defence Force personnel to participate in Operation Irini and agreed to the possible future deployment of up to two personnel to the Force Headquarters at sea.
The Defence Forces currently have three personnel deployed to the Operational Headquarters of Operation Irini in Rome.
The Defence Forces and the Naval Service in particular, derived significant benefits from participation in these naval missions.
On behalf of the government, I am now seeking Dáil approval to deploy a single Naval Service patrol vessel to Operation Irini for a period of 46 days in total during June and July 2023.
The ship will be positioned in the area of operations for 34 days and the remaining days will be spent travelling to and from the mission area.
Participation in Operation Irini will have the following beneficial impacts:
On this last point, it will be noted that Naval Service personnel participating in this mission will gain valuable experience of participating in and working as part of an EU overseas mission.
It will also provide personnel with an opportunity to receive additional income, as they will qualify for receipt of the overseas armed peace support allowance for the period that they are in theatre.
Military Management has examined the anticipated impact of maintaining a naval vessel in the Mediterranean on operational capability at home. The Defence Forces advise that the Naval Service patrol plan can accommodate the deployment to Operation Irini.
The Naval Service have confirmed that they will maintain a patrol plan which will have two ships on domestic patrols for 61 per cent of the deployment period and one ship for the remaining 39 per cent of the time.
While the department recognises the operational challenges of having only 1-2 vessels available for domestic duties during this period, the potential benefits of participation in this mission to the recruitment and retention crisis in the Naval Service are accepted.
Participation in this mission has been identified by the Naval Service as one of the immediate actions that could potentially assist in aiding their recruitment and retention efforts.
However, this is not to overstate the impact of the initiative. Obviously, on its own, it will not deal with the issue.
Significant efforts are going to be needed to reverse the current and ongoing decline in the strength of the Naval Service.
A comprehensive Naval Service regeneration plan, which was approved in 2021, is currently being progressed and monitored by a senior civil/military team.
The deployment of a Naval Service Vessel for service as part of Operation Irini is just one action designed to accelerate progress in the regeneration plan.
A concentrated campaign to attract new recruits and specialist personnel is at an advanced stage of planning, and efforts will be made to target individuals with the skills and expertise required.
In addition, a number of retention measures, some specific to the Naval Service, are also in place as part of a Defence Forces’ retention strategy.
Ireland contributing a Naval Service vessel to Operation Irini is a positive gesture in support of our European partners.
It is a useful and important excise for our Naval Services and it will hopefully help amplify the message that a career in our Naval Services is an interesting, exciting and rewarding choice.
I wholeheartedly support it and I commend this motion to the House.