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