asked the Minister for Defence if he will report to Dáil Éireann on his recent visit to UNIFIL; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Visit to UNIFIL.
12.
Commencing on 25 May 1986 I made an official visit, extending over a period of six days, to the Irish contingent of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon and to our troops in Cyprus. The visit enabled me to see, at first hand, the conditions under which Irish troops are required to operate. Despite the generally unsatisfactory situation in South Lebanon, I am satisfied that the presence of UNIFIL affords protection and humanitarian assistance to the local population and provides a relative stability and sense of security. This assessment was reinforced by my visit.
The safety and welfare of Irish personnel are a source of constant concern to the Government and we are continuing to monitor developments in Lebanon very closely. I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the Irish officers and men serving with the United Nations for their exemplary dedication and courage in performing their difficult tasks.
During my visit, I availed of the opportunity to have discussions with the Minister for Justice and for South Lebanon and the Commander-in-Chief of the Lebanese Army. In my discussions, I raised the matter of the disappearance on 11 April 1986 of the Belfast teacher, Mr. Brian Keenan. I was given firm assurances that they would use their best endeavours to secure his safe release.
Is the Minister satisfied that the Irish troops have every opportunity of fulfilling the mandate which is to bring peace and stability to the area? Is he satisfied that sufficient national and international pressure is coming from this country to ensure that they are not being deprived of the opportunity through infiltration by other interests in the area.
The Irish troops are not fulfilling their mandate, nor is any other contingent there. They are not being allowed fulfil their mandate. We have, on a bilateral basis and also within the international community, protested at the fact that our troops in their peacekeeping role are not allowed to fulfil their mandate totally which is the preservation of the integrity of the geographical area of South Lebanon. That is not taking place because of the presence of Israeli forces in the security zone and Israeli-backed forces within the area of operation of the Irish contingent known as the South Lebanese Army or the de facto forces.
Does the Minister realise that his statement after his visit to the Lebanon indicated that he might not review the next battalion for peacekeeping forces in the Lebanon and that the impression was given that the considerations that would lead to the withdrawal of our services there are purely financial? Judging by the Minister's reply I agree with him that there is not the co-operation that one would wish to see with the other countries to fulfil their mandate as a peacekeeping force. I hope that our considerations in withdrawing our help to these countries is not based purely on financial reasons. Some countries do not meet the levies that are due to the United Nations.
The Deputy will realise that I am not responsible for headlines in newspapers. I am responsible for certain statements which are attributed to me. On the occasion of my return from the Lebanon I said that we were owed large sums of money in relation to this operation in the Lebanon and that a time would come when the financial aspect of our commitment must be taken into consideration. We cannot go on indefinitely providing this facility without getting some recompense in the form of financial aid from the agency who asked us to go there and to whose request we responded generously with our young men. That matter has been under consideration for some time as, I am sure, the Deputy is aware. It is something about which I am not happy. We have protested and made representations to the United Nations authorities. They point out, and rightly so, that they are short of finance because member states are not paying their share into the kitty. That is the UN's problem but we are the victims at the end of the queue. I understand that the same problem arises in relation to the other participating nations in UNIFIL.