asked the Minister for Defence the amount of money owed by the United Nations at present to this country in respect of Army participation in United Nations peace-keeping activities; the steps, if any, he proposes to take to collect this money; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - UN Peace-keeping Activities.
21.
Limerick West): As at 30 June 1987 a total shortfall of about £20.5 million in reimbursable entitlements from the United Nations had accumulated in respect of participation by personnel of the Defence Force in peace-keeping operations in Lebanon and Cyprus. Of this amount £19.9 million relates to involvement in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) since May 1978. The remaining shortfall of £0.6 million arises out of participation in the United Nations Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), which commenced in April 1964. On the basis of present levels of reimbursement, it is expected that £3.5 million of the amount outstanding will be refunded by the United Nations leaving a total shortfall in reimbursable entitlements for this period of about £17 million.
The question of securing repayment of the amounts outstanding has been pursued vigorously and continuously with the United Nations through the Department of Foreign Affairs using all appropriate means at its disposal. In regard to UNIFIL, concern has been expressed by Irish delegations at successive sessions of the UN General Assembly regarding the withholding of contributions to the UNIFIL account by certain UN member states, which gives rise to the shortfall in the first place. As regards UNFICYP, the position is that the force is financed by voluntary contributions from member states and these fall considerably short of the costs incurred.
In conjunction with other countries participating in UNIFIL and UNFICYP we will continue to press the United Nations for full reimbursement of all the amounts outstanding and for a strong and assured financial basis for peace-keeping operations.