Coveney may send troops to fight pirates

Defence Minister Simon Coveney is examining proposals to send Irish troops to the Indian Ocean to battle piracy as part of plans to expand peacekeeping missions abroad.

The proposed mission is being costed at present and would form part of a likely greater spend on the Defence Forces in the run-up to the next budget.

In an interview with the Irish Examiner, Mr Coveney said a number of new missions were being considered ahead of the long-awaited white paper on the future of the Defence Forces.