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Defence Minister Alan Shatter announced today that he proposes to seek the approval of the Government for participation by the Defence Forces in the planned EU Training Mission in Mali (EUTM Mali) as part of a joint training contingent with the United Kingdom armed forces.  The EU mission to Mali will be responsible for providing the Malian Armed Forces with military training and advice in order to improve their capacity to maintain security in Mali and restore the authority of the Malian Government and the territorial integrity of the Malian State. 

The Minister stated that

Alongside standard infantry training, training will also be provided in international humanitarian law, the protection of civilians and human rights

Planning for the operation has been ongoing at EU level for some weeks now and Ireland has been engaged in discussions with EU partners on a possible contribution by the Defence Forces to the mission.

Both myself and my colleague, Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore, have been following this issue very closely and we have been strongly supportive of this EU mission to Mali from the outset

The Minister added:

I am glad to say that, following my meeting with Mr Andrew Murrison MP, the Minister for International Security Strategy at the UK Ministry of Defence, and subject to formal Government approval, the United Kingdom and Ireland will provide a joint Infantry Training Team to the proposed EU Training Mission in Mali.  Our contribution to this mission will be similar to that provided to EUTM Somalia where we provide a joint training team alongside Malta.

In total, approximately 200 military training personnel will be deployed as part of the EU training mission in Mali.  Four Infantry Training teams each comprising twenty four (24) military trainers will be provided within the mission.  France will provide two of the training teams.  A number of Nordic countries will provide a team and the UK and Ireland will now also provide a team.  Ireland expects to contribute six to eight members of the Defence Forces to the Mission.  It is expected that the mission, including the force protection element will comprise some 500 military personnel in total.  The training mission is expected to be fully deployed by Mid March with training commencing at the beginning of April.  The training mission will not be involved in operations conducted by the Malian Forces. 

Read the full press release here.