The EU’s Operation IRINI said it has investigated 403 merchant vessels via radio calls and carried out 23 visits on ships with Masters’ consent during April.
In its April report, the Operation said it has also monitored seven suspect flights, and continued to monitor 25 airports (and landing strips) and 16 ports (and oil terminals).
On three occasions, IRINI has confiscated cargo that it deemed violated the UN arms embargo on Libya, and diverted the ships to an EU member state port.
Recently, the Irish Parliament voted in favour of deploying a Naval Service patrol ship to the Mediterranean, according to Ireland’s Afloat newspaper.
Before the vote, the opposition at the Parliament raised concerns about whether the Naval Service would be working with the Libyan Coast Guard.
The Libyan Coast Guard intercepts vessels carrying migrants and returns them to detention camps where there have been reports of human rights violations.
Tánaiste and Minister for Defense Micheál Martin said it was “not intended” that Naval Service personnel would engage with the Libyan Coast Guard when deployed to Operation Irini.
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 naval ship 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 had proposed an amendment to the government’s motion which emphasised the Naval Service’s primary responsibility to assist anyone in trouble at sea.
He said that stopping the flow of weapons to Libya would help to “create the conditions for a permanent ceasefire”. He acknowledged that IRINI “has no mandate” for search and rescue.
On 31 March 2020, the operation was launched to enforce the UN arms embargo on Libya, while retaining the task of contributing to the capacity-building and training of the Libyan Coast Guard, and Navy for law enforcement tasks at sea.