dublinstreams: Ireland's part of the Global Coalition against ISIS

Wednesday Dec 2 2015, ISIL released a video threatening 'coalition of devils' , see the Irish Times.

Security expert calls for alert public in case of terrorist attack Peter Murtagh Irish Times 12/2/2015

Sadhbh McCarthy of the pointed out that the video chose the flags based on the 'Global Coalition against ISIS'.

The Irish Times asked the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for comment,

Responding to questions from The Irish Times, the Department of Foreign Affairs said that the list was of countries “that have participated in discussions with them on international co-operation to address the Isil terrorist threat”.

“Ireland along with other EU member states, and the EU itself, participate in those discussions,” the statement said.

“There are no obligations arising from our participation in the global coalition, which involves sharing of information and views . . .The contribution of different countries varies according to their circumstances and policies. Ireland’s primary focus is on the political and humanitarian spheres.”

The Global Coalition to Counter ISIL US Department of State 9/10/2014

On September 10, 2014, President Obama announced the formation of a broad international coalition to defeat The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) emphasizing, “Our objective is clear: We will degrade, and ultimately destroy, ISIL through a comprehensive and sustained counterterrorism strategy.”

Joint Statement Issued by Partners at the Counter-ISIL Coalition Ministerial Meeting

1. Sixty partners met at the invitation of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry for substantive deliberations at the first ministerial-level plenary session for the Global Coalition to Counter the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Brussels, Belgium.

The Irish ambassadaor to Belgium is Ireland's Head of the Liason office to NATO's Partnership for Peace and the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council and it was he that represented us in NATO's HQ when we joined the The Global Coalition to Counter ISIL in Winter 2014 which is the reason we appeared in that video as the 'coalition of devils'.

In a Parliamentary Written answers
Thursday, 17 December 2015 The Minister for Foreign Affairs Charles Flanagan pretends not to know why the Irish flag was included even though the Department acknowledge the link to the Irish Times,

The Irish flag is one of 60 flags that appear in the video to which the Deputy refers. The basis on which flags appear, including those of Ireland and other neutral states, is not explained by the makers of the video and it is not possible to draw conclusions in this regard.

in respone to question on the British attacks on the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria during Parliamentary Written answers Tuesday, 15 December 2015,

Ireland fully supports the removal of the threat to international peace and security posed by the Daesh, group, consistent with international law. The recent attacks in Paris, Tunisia, Lebanon and elsewhere, including those in which Irish citizens have been murdered and wounded, show that Daesh’s terrorist crimes are an international and indiscriminate phenomenon which does not respect borders or nationality.

The threat posed by international terrorism requires a coordinated response from the international community. An effective response also requires a comprehensive approach which addresses root causes and contributory factors, promotes a counter-narrative, prevents radicalisation, deters and disrupts terrorist travel, addresses terrorist financing and brings perpetrators to justice.

Ireland, in common with all other UN Member States has a duty to implement relevant UN Security Council Resolutions and we have taken steps to do so. These Resolutions include UNSCR 2161 on freezing the funds and other assets of terrorist groupings and UNSCR 2178 on measures to suppress the recruiting, organising, transporting or equipping of individuals who travel to another State in order to perpetrate, plan or participate in terrorist acts or training. We are coordinating our national efforts to counter Daesh, in particular by responding to the international threat from foreign terrorist fighters and addressing humanitarian needs, with a global coalition of international partners.a

It is for individual States to determine in what way they might best contribute to the concerted international effort underway to tackle the threat posed by Daesh, and other UN-designated terrorist groups. Security Council resolution 2249 calls upon UN Member States to “take all necessary measures, in compliance with international law, in particular with the United Nations Charter, as well as international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law, on the territory under the control of ISIL also known as Daesh, in Syria and Iraq, to redouble and coordinate their efforts to prevent and suppress terrorist acts committed specifically by ISIL also known as Daesh, as well as ANF, and all other individuals, groups, undertakings, and entities associated with Al Qaeda, and other terrorist groups, as designated by the United Nations Security Council, and as may further be agreed by the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) and endorsed by the UN Security Council, pursuant to the Statement of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) of 14 November, and to eradicate the safe haven they have established over significant parts of Iraq and Syria."

Ireland is not and will not be participating in any international military action to combat Daesh.

Defeating Daesh cannot be separated from resolving the Syrian conflict. Ireland supports the efforts of the UN to renew political negotiations based on the 2012 Geneva Communiqué and the statements of the International Syria Support Group of 30 October and 14 November. We urge all parties to expedite steps to end the conflict, to support the UN’s efforts and to commit themselves to a nationwide ceasefire and a negotiated peace agreement.

Ireland is not and will not be participating in any international military action to combat Daesh.

Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald keeps stating ISIS wants to attack democracy when its really power, resources and land they want.

Ireland's main part in this would be continueing to allow foreign military flights and sharing intelligence .

Mick Wallce TD (Member of Parliament) said during Leaders Question on in the Dail (Irish Parliament) on Thursday, 17 December 2015,

Is the Tánaiste prepared to stop Shannon Airport being used as a US military aircraft base? The dogs on the street know we are not neutral any more and we have taken sides. We facilitate the war-mongering of the Americans, as 2.5 million troops have passed through Shannon Airport, with arms and munitions of a quantity we cannot even imagine because we are not searching the planes. They have caused untold destruction. Conservative research has put the deaths of innocent civilians in Afghanistan and Iraq since 2001 at 2 million - 2 million innocent civilians. Many of those troops, bullets and bombs came through Shannon Airport. Why will the Government not search the planes and why will the Tánaiste not take a position on it? If she says that we are for peace and neutrality, we would not allow one of our airports to be used as a military base by anybody. We are allowing Shannon Airport to be used as a US military base to bomb the homes of people and destroy untold lives and countries. A total of 33 million people have been displaced today because of war and whether the Tánaiste likes it or not, the US military machine and the western allies are the cause of most of it. We are complicit by allowing them to use Shannon Airport to do so. Before the election, will the Tánaiste promise that if she is re-elected, she will insist on US military planes being searched? We need Shannon Airport to be a civilian airport again. The Irish people do not want it to be a military base for the US war machine.

The Tanaiste (Irish Deputy Primeminster) said that talking about is dangerous.

...in other words, he is basically implying that there are utterly illegal actions by authorities in Ireland. He is suggesting that Shannon is a military airport, which is fanciful in the extreme. Does he understand what the consequences of his statements might be in terms of the safety of people in Ireland?

Foreign Military flights
....
Sharing Intelligence
...

Reaction to France attacks... article 27? etc.

Activation of Article 42(7) TEU: France's request for assistance and Member States’ responses European Parliament Think Tank 10-12-2015

Did Newspapers get it wrong on Article 42.7 of the Treaty of Lisbon?

For some unknown reason both the New York Times and the Irish times decided to say Ireland voted on something when it didn't.

For France, an Alliance Against ISIS May Be Easier Said Than Done By STEVEN ERLANGER and PETER BAKERNOV. 18, 2015

It says 'The European Union countries voted unanimously to support France'.

and in the Irish Times Lara Marlowe wrote wrote Cameron offers air base as Hollande builds coalition against Isis Nov 23, 2015

And EU defence ministers voted unanimously on November 17th to assist France under article 42.7 of the Treaty of Lisbon.

did they actually vote? I don't think so.

Foreign Affairs Council, 16-17/11/2015
Outcome of Council meeting

Mutual Assistance Clause (Article 42/7 TEU)

Defence ministers discussed the reaction to the Paris attacks of 13 November 2015. French President François Hollande had invoked article 42(7) of the Treaty of the European Union, requesting aid and assistance from the other EU member states. Ministers expressed their unanimous and full support to France and their readiness to provide all the necessary aid and assistance. In the coming days France will have contacts with other member states.
As pointed out by High Representative, offers may consist of material assistance and of support in theatres of operation where France is engaged. No formal decision or conclusion by the Council will be required to implement article 42(7). The High Representative underlined that this is not a CSDP operation, but an activation of aid and assistance.

is expressed support a 'vote'? Theres always a need to be clarity on whether a vote was actually taken, its a particular thing.

Unanimity
Ok so I learn the common foreign and security policy proposals have to have unanimity, which explains most of that but still was there a vote? What does "No formal decision or conclusion by the Council will be required to implement article 42(7)."

European Council Briefing February 2016

No formal decision from either the Council or the European Council was needed, as the Treaty does not require it.

what does that mean?

EU agrees to French request for military helpJacopo Barigazzi Politco.eu 11/17/15
Europe’s self-defence: Tous pour un et un pour tous?Christophe Hillion and Steven Blockmans 20 November 2015

update

The Global Coalition against Daesh whois/theglobalcoalition.org October 15, 2015 Updated On March 07, 2016. @coalition twitter account senrt first tweet on 9 Mar 2016.

The Global Coalition against Daesh was formed in September 2014 and is unique in its membership, scope and commitment. Together, the Global Coalition is committed to degrading and ultimately defeating Daesh.

The Coalition’s 66 members [including Ireland] are committed to tackling Daesh on all fronts, to dismantling its networks and countering its global ambitions. Beyond the military campaign in Iraq and Syria, the Coalition is committed to: tackling Daesh’s financing and economic infrastructure; preventing the flow of foreign terrorist fighters across borders; supporting stabilisation and the restoration of essential public services to areas liberated from Daesh; and exposing Daesh’s delusional narrative including its claims to statehood, military success and the group’s false religious narrative.

Nothing listed under Ireland on the Global Coalition website.

Operation Inherent Resolve