asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is conducting any review of Irish troop movement in the United Nations peace-keeping operations with particular reference to our involvement in the Lebanon.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish Troops in the Lebanon.
21.
The Deputy will, no doubt, be aware of the outline of the recent situation concerning the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) which my colleague, the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry, gave to the House on Tuesday, November 20, in reply to questions on this matter.
As regards a review of Irish involvement in UN peace-keeping operations, the Government naturally keep under review any involvement by our troops in such operations. Without going into the detail of Tuesday's replies concerning our involvement in UNIFIL, I could perhaps recall for the Deputy that a relative ceasefire obtains in South Lebanon since the beginning of September with a resulting lessening of military activity in the area. This is not to say, however, that the situation is satisfactory. The possibility of incidents remains and the de facto forces, supported by Israel, continue to control a strip of territory just north of the border with Israel, thus preventing UNIFIL from establishing control over all the territory covered by its mandate.