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Irish Parliament Approves Naval Mission to Enforce Libya Arms Embargo

April 30, 2023
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The Irish Parliament has voted in favour of deploying a Naval Service patrol ship to the Mediterranean, in order to enforce an arms embargo on Libya, according to Ireland’s Afloat newspaper.

Before the vote on Wednesday, the opposition raised concerns about whether the Naval Service would be working with the Libyan Coast Guard.

The Libyan Coast Guard is known to intercept vessels carrying migrants, and return them to detention camps where there have been reports of human rights violations.

Tánaiste and Minister for Defence, Micheál Martin said it was “not intended” that Naval Service personnel would engage with the Libyan Coast Guard when deployed to the EU’s Operation IRINI.

The Tánaiste is the Deputy Head of the government of Ireland, and thus holder of its second-most senior office. Operation IRINI involves enforcing the arms embargo, but also training the Libyan Coast Guard.

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has written to the Tánaiste, raising “serious concerns” about Ireland’s mission.

MSF has asked that the Irish Government to “refuse Irish naval training of the Libyan Coast Guard at any time in the future, as part of Operation IRINI” and to “make a statement on its decision.”

Irish Social Democrats MP, Gary Gannon proposed an amendment to the government’s motion, which emphasised the Naval Service’s primary responsibility to assist anyone in trouble at sea.

Martin said that stopping a flow of weapons to Libya would help to “create the conditions for a permanent ceasefire.” He acknowledged that Operation IRINI “has no mandate” for search and rescue.

Before the vote, MSF claimed that the Libyan Coast Guard is intertwined with militias and armed groups that mistreat migrants.

In a letter to Martin, seen by BreakingNews.ie, the humanitarian organisation said the Libyan Coast Guard has used “abusive tactics” including shooting at migrant boats.

“At least one Detention Centre is under the direct control of the Libyan Coast Guard,” the letter states.

The letter highlights the report of the UN Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Libya, “which supports our direct experience that migrants, many of whom are returned to Libya by the Coast Guard, are facing grave human rights abuses.”

The letter asks the government to clarify the Irish Navy’s role in IRINI, and “refuse Irish Naval training of the Libyan Coast Guard at any time in the future, as part of Operation IRINI, and to make a statement on its decision.”

MSF pointed to Germany’s refusal to take part in the operation in 2022, “due to what their Foreign Ministry described as ‘repeated unacceptable behaviour by individual units of the Libyan coast guard toward refugees and migrants’.”

“MSF Ireland is concerned that any training of the Libyan Coast Guard as part of Operation IRINI will support a system that contributes to the forced return of people to Libya in this continued cycle of cruelty,” said Isabel Simpson, the executive director of MSF Ireland.

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