IRELAND ON ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS IN AFGHANISTAN

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 DUBLIN 000510 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/26/2029 TAGS: NATO PREL MOPS MARR AF EI SUBJECT: IRELAND ON ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS IN AFGHANISTAN REF: A. HUIZINGA-HACKWORTH E-MAIL 11/25/09 ¶B. STATE 120807 ¶C. DUBLIN 360 DUBLIN 00000510 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Robert J. Faucher. Reasons 1.4(b/d). ¶1. (S) SUMMARY: On November 27, Charge discussed the possibility of additional Irish contributions in Afghanistan with David Donoghue, Political Director in the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). This underscored a November 25 meeting of Poloff with Isolde Moylan, Director of the Asia and Oceania Bureau in the DFA, and Peter McIvor, the Bureau's Deputy Director. Our interlocutors reiterated Ireland,s continued desire to stay involved in ISAF and support the mission in Afghanistan. While constrained by upcoming budget cuts, they said they would explore possibilities of increasing Ireland's contribution. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (S) We stressed that the U.S. was hoping to see strong public support for the U.S. strategy once it is announced, and that the U.S. is prepared to commit significant additional resources to the mission in Afghanistan. We said that increased contributions from Ireland would help underline Ireland's role as a partner in this international effort. We added that the announcement of a concrete Irish contribution, at the December 7 ISAF Force Generation conference if feasible, would be greatly appreciated. -------------- BUDGET IS TIGHT -------------- ¶3. (S) Our interlocutors said that, while the DFA favors Ireland,s increasing its contribution where possible, the need to reduce Ireland's ballooning budget deficit (ref C) was a considerable constraint on any new spending. With voters suffering in the current economic downturn and every government department facing cuts in next year's budget (to be presented on December 9),it would be difficult to find personnel and resources to do more in Afghanistan than what Ireland is currently doing. -------------- POSSIBLY MORE TRAINERS, ODA -------------- ¶4. (S) Donoghue told us the DFA was consulting with the Irish Department of Justice on the possibility of sending a limited number of police trainers to Afghanistan under the EU's EUPOL police training mission. Also, Donoghue said he would push Irish Aid to see if more development assistance could be announced by the time of the December 7 ISAF Force Generation conference or thereafter. (NOTE: Ireland,s total Afghanistan assistance over the past few years has been around 20 million euros. END NOTE.) Donoghue said that, because Ireland's small armed forces are feeling the strain of several foreign missions in which Irish troops are serving (especially Chad, Bosnia and Kosovo),it is unlikely that Ireland will increase the number of troops it is contributing in Afghanistan (currently, Ireland has seven troops in non-combat roles at ISAF headquarters). Donoghue said he was quite certain, however, that the number of troops would not be cut. DUBLIN 00000510 002.2 OF 002 ¶5. (S) Our interlocutors all stressed that Ireland recognizes the importance of success in Afghanistan, and that, despite budget constraints, Ireland will continue to participate in international efforts there. FAUCHER