The first group of 24 members of the newly-established Rapid Response Corps have completed their training and will soon be available for deployment "anywhere in the world".
The corps was established by Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern last February, will be available "to deploy to world trouble spots to provide expert humanitarian assistance at short notice for specific periods of time".
The corps is managed by Irish Aid, the development division of the Department of Foreign Affairs. It is a voluntary body comprising members of the public who provide their expertise in such areas as transport logistics, public health, communications, engineering and other skills.
Advertisements were placed, inviting applications, and a total of 64 persons were invited to join after the first recruitment round.
Similar agreements will shortly be signed with two more partner agencies, the UN World Food Programme and the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
The corps received a mixed reception from voluntary aid agencies at the time of its establishment. Goal chief executive John O'Shea warned that it would "leave Goal and other Irish implementing agencies at a serious disadvantage". However, Concern and Trócaire broadly welcomed the initiative. The Minister has also established a Conflict Resolution Unit (CRU). Set up last autumn, it is undertaking research on, and analysis of, conflict resolution initiatives elsewhere, possible themes and regions of focus and the identification of possible future partners.
A draft work plan will be submitted to the Minister in autumn.
The Programme for Government includes commitments to the appointment of a number of roving ambassadors to crisis regions and to establish an academic centre which will operate in tandem with the CRU.
The unit is intended to facilitate the peaceful outcome of foreign conflicts and apply the lessons learned through the Northern Ireland peace process.