asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the money owed to this country by the United Nations for services rendered by our troops; and the steps being taken to recoup this money.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - UN Debt to Ireland.
10.
In replying to the Deputy I should like to distinguish between the costs arising out of Ireland's participation in the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and those resulting from Ireland's participation in other UN peacekeeping forces.
The amount owed by the UN to Ireland for its participation in peacekeeping operations other than UNIFIL amounts to approximately £570,000. The Deputy will be aware from replies to previous questions on this topic that the greater part of this amount has to do with certain pension awards which in many cases do not arise until some time after participation in a particular operation has ceased. The rest of the amount refers to claims for extra and extraordinary costs. We are continually in contact with the United Nations about these claims which often take some time to be processed.
As regards UNIFIL, the actual extra cost incurred by the State arising out of Ireland's participation in UNIFIL for the period May 1978, when Ireland joined UNIFIL to February 1982 is estimated at £12.80 million. Payments from the UN to date total £10.30 million. Thus the amount outstanding at present would come to £2.50 million.
It is estimated, however, on the basis of present reimbursements that £12.5 million will eventually be received by Ireland for the period May 1978 to February 1982. Thus the net extra cost to the State for participation in UNIFIL to date would come to £300,000.
I would draw the Deputy's attention to the fact that the estimated cost to the State arising out of Ireland's participation in UNIFIL has been reduced from £1.3 million in December 1980 to £300,000 at February this year. This is principally due to the increase in the amount which troop-contributors are scheduled to be paid by the UN per man per month. As mentioned in the reply to the Deputy in April 1981, this amount was increased from $680 to $950 at the 1980 General Assembly. Ireland played a major part in the negotiations to bring about this increase.
It is estimated, on the basis of present costs and reimbursements, that the overall extra cost to the State for participation in UNIFIL would continue to be reduced in the coming months and should in fact be eliminated in the near future. I should like also to point out that the decision to increase our participation in UNIFIL by 70 troops should not have a deleterious effect on the elimination of the net extra cost to the State.
As I have said, these estimates are based on present costs. I would, however, assure the Deputy that I am keeping the matter under review to ensure as far as possible that the level of reimbursements keeps pace with any rising costs.
I was glad to hear the Minister's statement that the deficit has been reduced. When I put down the question the amount outstanding was more than £2 million, solely because the USSR and other Eastern bloc countries had failed to pay their proper proportions of the cost.
The deficit has been reduced but I understand there is still difficulty in getting money due from all member states. There are political problems and I understand from my advice in the Department that our permanent representative at the UN has been working on this problem.
Can the Minister say if it is only the USSR and other Eastern bloc countries who have been in default, as Deputy Deasy says? Are they continuing to be in default?
There are other countries in default.
Are they still in default?
I cannot say offhand.