Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Irish Naval Mediterranean EU rescue patrols

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • So moving to Sophia seems to be growing:


    The Government is to consider a change in the status of Ireland's naval operations in the Mediterranean.

    Minister of State for Defence, Paul Kehoe will bring proposals to Cabinet on Tuesday seeking approval for Ireland to join the UN mandated, EU Naval group known as Operation Sophia.

    At present Irish Navy operations in the Mediterranean are based on a bilateral arrangement with the Italian government. Operation Sophia was established in 2015 and involves naval vessels from several EU members.

    The primary objective of Operation Sophia is to target and stop gangs using vessels for human trafficking mainly from Libya.

    Over the last two years Irish naval personnel have saved almost 16,000 migrants in the southern Mediterranean operating on a humanitarian search and rescue basis.

    Changing the status of current Irish Naval operations requires the Government to activate the so-called "triple lock".

    This means any operation that would involve the Irish Defence Forces taking part in an international military operation must have UN sanction, the approval of the Cabinet and the approval of the Dáil.

    The Government is proposing a Dáil motion for next Wednesday morning following Tuesday's Cabinet meeting.

    Last December Minister Kehoe told the Dáil there were no plans at that stage for Ireland to join Operation Sophia.

    It is understood that in January he asked a number of senior Defence Forces officers to travel to the Mediterranean to make an assessment of Operation Sophia and possible Irish involvement. It is on foot of their report that a change the status of the Irish mission is now being sought.

    If approved Ireland would maintain its current level of deployment but our naval personnel would operate under a broader mandate to take action against mainly Libyan-based human traffickers.

    Ships operating under Operation Sophia have been targeting, seizing and destroying some boats used by smugglers, once they are empty.

    Operation Sophia is currently in what is called Phase 2. Phase 3, if activated, would involve a more aggressive approach to tackling human smuggling, including possible action on Libyan soil.

    However, to move to Phase 3 would require approval by the EU Council, where Ireland has a veto, and it would also require a new UN Security Council mandate.

    No discussions on Phase 3 have taken place to date and Government sources do not believe it will be activated.

    Comment


    • In effect the NS has been doing the Sophia tasking already on their own. Now they get to do it with support from other EU naval forces.
      A historic move politically.
      Bottom line though, who pays?
      For now, everything hangs on implementation of the CoDF report.

      Comment


      • Originally posted by Sparky42 View Post
        So moving to Sophia seems to be growing:
        Link / date on the article?

        Originally posted by na grohmití View Post
        In effect the NS has been doing the Sophia tasking already on their own. Now they get to do it with support from other EU naval forces.
        A historic move politically.
        Bottom line though, who pays?
        Parts not all, the article is deceptive in the mandate. Op Sophia is more focused on the people smugglers.

        The disposals that Op Sophia can perform include before use (ie on the Libyian beach). But as it says that is Phase 3. Standard practice is destroy those found at sea as a hazard to navigation. 2 additional tasks have been added - enforcement of the arms embargo on Libya and training Libyan Coastguards (not sure if this has begun).

        The contributing member states pay all their own costs (eg pay, fuel, ammo, welfare etc etc (as with Pontus) plus a contribution to the overall running of the op (eg admin, ops, logs etc) - same as all EU missions.

        Comment


        • Originally posted by DeV View Post
          Link / date on the article?



          Parts not all, the article is deceptive in the mandate. Op Sophia is more focused on the people smugglers.

          The disposals that Op Sophia can perform include before use (ie on the Libyian beach). But as it says that is Phase 3. Standard practice is destroy those found at sea as a hazard to navigation. 2 additional tasks have been added - enforcement of the arms embargo on Libya and training Libyan Coastguards (not sure if this has begun).

          The contributing member states pay all their own costs (eg pay, fuel, ammo, welfare etc etc (as with Pontus) plus a contribution to the overall running of the op (eg admin, ops, logs etc) - same as all EU missions.
          The Government is to consider a change in the status of Ireland's naval operations in the Mediterranean.

          From today, so I guess it will be at this weeks Cabinet meeting.

          Comment


          • Leaving out the utter BS from Leo, the Cabinet has signed off on Sophia and it goes to the Daíl tomorrow, and I think FF have already indicated they're ok with it:
            The Irish Navy is to step up its work in the Mediterranean in an effort to clamp down on human trafficking.

            The Cabinet today approved Ireland's participation in what is known as Operation Sophia.

            It means an expansion of the Navy's duties - up to now the had just focused on removing refugees from open water.

            Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said it is a vote of confidence in how Ireland values its Defence Forces.

            "I think that's testament and evidence that the Government is committed to our Defence Forces, the fact that we are approving these additional operations and resource from the Defence Forces in order to do so,

            "It will, of course, happen under the triple-lock, so Government approval today, UN mandate in place, and we'll be asking the Dáil tomorrow to approve that motion."

            Comment


            • Originally posted by Sparky42 View Post
              Leaving out the utter BS from Leo, the Cabinet has signed off on Sophia and it goes to the Daíl tomorrow, and I think FF have already indicated they're ok with it:
              I for one hope that all of the parties in the dail vote in favour of it. In fact, the world leaders and the EU as a collective should be doing a lot more to help stop the transit of these economic migrants. I do realise that there is a percentage of refugees mixed up in the transit but there has to be ways of restricting this mass movement of people to Europe.

              Comment


              • NS (with 1 vessel deployed at a time) has rescued approx 16,000 in 2 years.

                In approximately the same time frame (with probably around 5 vessels deployed at any one time), EUNAVFOR Med (Op Sophia) has rescued over 33,000.

                Except to see much less white overalls and face masks and much more Naval Boarding Teams with body armour and USPs
                Last edited by DeV; 11 July 2017, 21:17.

                Comment


                • Originally posted by DeV View Post
                  NS (with 1 vessel deployed at a time) has rescued approx 16,000 in 2 years.

                  In approximately the same time frame (with probably around 5 vessels deployed at any one time), EUNAVFOR Med (Op Sophia) has rescued over 33,000.

                  Except to see much less white overalls and face masks and much more Naval Boarding Teams with body armour and USPs
                  Not sure about necessary rig dealing with sea borne migrants. In any event Navalising our input increases ranges of support, increases inter-operability of crews and required communications. There may be difference in how those creating difficulties in the Mediterranean will view us going forward and may also require a different level of security at home as a consequence.

                  Comment


                  • Originally posted by ancientmariner View Post
                    Not sure about necessary rig dealing with sea borne migrants. In any event Navalising our input increases ranges of support, increases inter-operability of crews and required communications. There may be difference in how those creating difficulties in the Mediterranean will view us going forward and may also require a different level of security at home as a consequence.
                    Because they will also be enforcing a UN arms embargo, they could be dealing with fishing boats and container ships (and every thing in between not just ones stuffed with migrants).
                    Last edited by DeV; 13 July 2017, 13:09.

                    Comment


                    • Just read on bookface that families of enlisted will not be allowed down to wave off loved ones on LE WBY in haulbowline

                      reason: security for Kehoe

                      Real reason (guess): afraid of a WPDF protest aimed at Kehoe.
                      "He is an enemy officer taken in battle and entitled to fair treatment."
                      "No, sir. He's a sergeant, and they don't deserve no respect at all, sir. I should know. They're cunning and artful, if they're any good. I wouldn't mind if he was an officer, sir. But sergeants are clever."

                      Comment


                      • Originally posted by morpheus View Post
                        Just read on bookface that families of enlisted will not be allowed down to wave off loved ones on LE WBY in haulbowline

                        reason: security for Kehoe

                        Real reason (guess): afraid of a WPDF protest aimed at Kehoe.
                        He just can't help himself can he?

                        Comment


                        • He's a bit thick - by not allowing people in to say goodbye at a difficult time for families, for some of whom this is their first time being separated for this length, they are effectively inviting protest - my guess is that there will most likely BE a protest at the gates possibly blocking Kehoe OUT of the base unless he arrives by chopper.
                          "He is an enemy officer taken in battle and entitled to fair treatment."
                          "No, sir. He's a sergeant, and they don't deserve no respect at all, sir. I should know. They're cunning and artful, if they're any good. I wouldn't mind if he was an officer, sir. But sergeants are clever."

                          Comment


                          • Originally posted by morpheus View Post
                            He's a bit thick - by not allowing people in to say goodbye at a difficult time for families, for some of whom this is their first time being separated for this length, they are effectively inviting protest - my guess is that there will most likely BE a protest at the gates possibly blocking Kehoe OUT of the base unless he arrives by chopper.

                            He could try the reverse of what Higgins did to avoid the protesters on Cobh, he came across from the base, Kehoe could go the other way if he's that desperate to avoid the people. But yeah given the strain this will put on families (given it's still a relatively new demand) it's inviting issues, course he doesn't have to answer any Daíl questions for the summer.

                            Comment


                            • Meh - apparently it was a miscommunication according to the group in question - nobody will be nor was any person going to be, prevented from coming down, torches and pitchforks to be returned to the armoury by 131645ZJUL17
                              .
                              Last edited by morpheus; 13 July 2017, 17:35.
                              "He is an enemy officer taken in battle and entitled to fair treatment."
                              "No, sir. He's a sergeant, and they don't deserve no respect at all, sir. I should know. They're cunning and artful, if they're any good. I wouldn't mind if he was an officer, sir. But sergeants are clever."

                              Comment

                              Working...
                              X