OEF: IRISH OFFER ADVANCED EOD TRAINING IN LIEU OF

S E C R E T DUBLIN 000042 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/11/2015 TAGS: MOPS MARR EU SUBJECT: OEF: IRISH OFFER ADVANCED EOD TRAINING IN LIEU OF DEPLOYING TEAM REF: 04 STATE 265971 Classified By: DCM JONATHAN BENTON FOR REASONS 1.4 AND D 1.(U) This is an action request. Please see para 4. ¶2. (S) Keith McBean, Director of Security Policy at the Irish DFA, informed POL/ECON chief on January 11, that Ireland does not have sufficient resources to deploy an Explosives Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team to Afghanistan, as requested reftel. According to McBean, the GOI is close to the 850 cap on forces it can deploy overseas, and EOD teams in particular are stretched thin. McBean said that the GOI would instead like to offer advanced EOD training in Ireland. ¶3. (S) January 13, Defense Forces General Staff confirmed to DATT their interest in providing support for Afghan Army Explosive Ordnance Teams. They have instructors and facilities available in Ireland to assist. The Defense Forces Ordnance Corps is responsible for operational EOD coverage to overseas missions, as well as within Ireland. The Ordnance Corps runs its own training program, which includes classroom and on the job training. EOD Instructors at the Defense Forces Training Center function as members of operational teams on duty throughout the Republic and, as such, are heavily tasked. Defense Staff contacts stressed that they have the capacity to offer training in Ireland and believe there are advantages in doing the training in a facility that offers all the technical requirements to develop experts in the field. The Defense Staff feels it is prudent at this point to better define specific training requirements and may deploy an assessment team to Afghanistan to further examine the proposal. ¶4. Please advise whether we should pursue Ireland's offer further. KENNY