Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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7. To ask the Minister for Defence the plans in place for the Defence Forces to undertake more active conflict resolution as distinct from peacekeeping; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20043/14]

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Since before I was born, the Defence Forces have been distinguishing themselves internationally in their peace support operations. This question seeks to promote the idea that the capacity exists, in consultation with the Department of Finance, for our Defence Forces to play an even greater role in terms of conflict resolution. What are the plans of the Minister and his Department in this regard?

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Defence Forces have undertaken and continue to undertake a wide variety of peacekeeping missions. As part of these missions, at which the Defence Forces excel, conflict resolution, as the Deputy is aware, is one aspect. Conflict resolution is also one element of the reform of the security sector in the countries within which the missions are taking place. For example, the training of Malian troops, which Ireland is undertaking in conjunction with the United Kingdom as part of an EU mission, seeks to train in the area of human rights as part of the mission's mandate. This was also an element of the mission previously undertaken by Ireland as part of the EU training mission in Somalia.

As the Deputy will appreciate, conflict resolution requires a distinct set of skills, such as mediation and negotiation. These skills are crucial in the field, both during peacekeeping and also following the termination of conflict. However, the primary role of the Defence Forces in overseas missions is to maintain peace and, as such, their role in direct conflict resolution is minimal.

That said, the Defence Forces have partnered - I am sorry; I think my throat is giving up - with the Kennedy institute at NUI Maynooth and the European Security and Defence College to undertake a pilot course in mediation and dialogue skills for common security and defence policy crisis management activities. This course will be held in Maynooth from 19 to 23 May this year. The course will allow participants to explore these skills and to develop a personal capacity to be more effective in conflict resolution. The aim of the course is to give students an understanding of mediation and negotiation. It will allow them to apply these techniques in common security and defence policy crisis management operations and missions. I assume that that is the type of activity that the Deputy has in mind.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Generally, I welcome the Minister's response, but he seems to be placing a focus on limiting the role that the Defence Forces might play in conflict resolution. It is an area in which we can expand our activities. What we did in Mali and Somalia was of particular significance. For this reason, many others and I were disappointed when the Minister decided to withdraw our participants in Mali. Their work on human rights awareness was of great importance.

The Curragh Camp training centre is liaising and actively engaging with the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for Conflict Intervention in Maynooth. This is worthwhile and has the potential for further development. I would like our nation to build on its major international contribution to peacekeeping and on the work of Irish Aid and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade so that we might have an integrated approach to problems. Many of the situations in which peacekeeping and peace support are required derive from conflicts.

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I do not disagree with the Deputy; there is no question of limiting roles. We have not withdrawn forces from Mali. In fact, Deputy-----

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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I did not say "Mali". I said "Somalia".

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I think the Deputy said "Mali". He might have meant "Somalia". There was a reason for that, which I can come to. In the context of Mali, there is a possibility of some additional members of the Defence Forces becoming engaged. There is no question of limiting our role. I merely said that, so far, we were playing a limited role in that context because there has been substantial emphasis on peacekeeping. I think conflict resolution is of substantial important. That is why we have members of the Defence Forces participating in the course that I mentioned. I see it as a role in which we can have a greater engagement. I think, in fact, the Deputy and myself are at one on those issues.

The withdrawal from Somalia was not for that reason. It was because the nature of the mission very substantially changed. There were particular reasons about which the Deputy asked a question. I am sure it can be replied to in detail in that regard.

The Deputy and I are at one. This is an important area. I think, in the context of the various conflict zones that exist across the world, when we deploy troops to particular areas, the capacity of our troops to engage in the manner that the Deputy describes can, on occasion, be of great value. I would see this in the coming years as an expanding role, not a role to be limited, but there have to be particular circumstances to which it is appropriate. We cannot engage in a role of that nature obviously in areas to which it is not appropriate.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the Minister's latter comments. There is considerable scope for development, particularly in the relationship that has been developed between the UN school in the Curragh Camp training centre and the Kennedy centre for conflict resolution. Working with those two agencies, we have the opportunity to develop something on this island that can allow Ireland and its people to build on the successes of the past in terms of peace support. We could also support Irish Aid to do much more than simply empower people to deal with crises. Rather, they could be helped to avoid conflict and to deal with it where it exists. This is something of which the Irish people would be supportive. I am glad that the Minister is also supportive, but it will need capital investment. It is an important matter.

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Of course, helping individuals in states where there are difficulties or states to avoid conflict does not always require the engagement of military personnel. Often, military personnel are engaged after the conflict has commenced. There is a great deal of work that is done by civilians, by international organisations, by Ministers in governments across the world and by members of governments across the world to try to reduce tension levels and to provide prescriptions for conflict resolution, as we well know on this island in the context of the assistance that we have got from elsewhere, particularly the United States, in bringing about a conflict resolution.

Conflict resolution has a role to play in troubled parts of the world. It is not always appropriate to the Defence Forces to engage in that role. On occasions when the Defence Forces go to a troubled part of the world, unfortunately the conflict has broken out, but there are circumstances in which that skill can be of benefit and of use. I do not think the Deputy and I are in any great disagreement about the matter.