Delay in sending Irish special forces to Kyiv to protect Irish envoy

A deployment of Irish special forces soldiers to Ukraine has been delayed due to confusion over the legality of sending troops abroad on protection missions.

The Irish Times understands that legislation is being drafted to clarify the law and permit a team of Army Ranger Wing (ARW) personnel to deploy to provide protection to Irish Embassy staff in the capital, Kyiv. The Irish Embassy in the city reopened in August, six months after the evacuation of its staff following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, The Irish Times reports.

Irish Ambassador Thérèse Healy is understood to be one of the only EU ambassadors in the country who does not have a close protection team, a matter which has caused significant concern among Department of Foreign Affairs officials. The plan is now to send a small, armed “close protection team”, composed of elite troops, to Kyiv to provide security to Ms Healy and her staff.

A request for a close protection team was made to the Department of Defence last year. However, this has been delayed as the department took the view that the Defence (Amendment) Act 2006 does not explicitly permit Defence Forces deployment overseas on protection missions. This is despite the ARW being deployed several times in the past to conduct overseas protection of Irish people.