asked the Minister for Defence the number and description of all items of clothing and equipment supplied to Irish troops serving with the United Nations overseas; the cost to his Department of providing each item; the price paid by the United Nations to his Department for each item; if his Department makes a profit or loss on each or any such item; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Clothing and Equipment.
45.
Limerick West): Personnel of the Permanent Defence Force serving with the United Nations are issued with certain additional items of clothing. Particulars of these items are in the form of a tabular statement which I propose to circulate in the Official Report.
Information in relation to the cost of each item is not readily available. The financial arrangements under which an Irish contingent is supplied to UNIFIL and a military police company is supplied to the United Nations Iran Iraq Military Observer Group (UNIIMOG) provide that countries contributing troops are entitled to reimbursement at the rate of $65 per man per month in respect of usage factor for personal clothing, gear and equipment. However, this payment has never been made in the case of UNIFIL.
Extra costs in respect of clothing supplied to personnel serving with the United Nations Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) are recoverable from the United Nations.
No reimbursement is received from the United Nations in respect of military observers serving with the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation in the Middle East (UNTSO), the United Nations Transition Assistance Group in Namibia (UNTAG), the United Nations Iran Iraq Military Observer Group (UNIIMOG) and the United Nations Good Offices Mission in Afghanistan and Pakistan (UNGOMAP).
Additional items of clothing issued to personnel serving with UN missions before departure to mission area:- (a) Badges Ireland, 7; (b) Boots Desert Combat (Pairs), 1; (c) Boots Knee Rubber 10A (Pairs), 1 (Winter Battalion only); (d) Brassards No. 1, 2; (e) Covers Plastic (ID Cards), 2; (f) Shirts 18A, 2; (g) Shoes Desert (Pairs), 1; (h) Sleevelets No. 5, 2; (j) Socks Khaki (Pairs), 3; (k) Sunglasses c/w case, 1; (l) Sweaters, 1; (m) Tabs Name Cloth, 6; (n) Tee Shirts, 6 (Cooks only); (o) Trousers Khaki, 2; (p) Under Pants, 4; (q) Vests, 4; (r) Wardrobes PVC, 1.
The United Nations supply the following items to personnel when they arrive in the mission area:- (a) Badges UN, 1; (b) Berets UN, 1; (c) Cravats UN, 1; (d) Caps Peaked UN, 1; (e) Flashes UN, 4; (f) Shirts Jungle Green, 3; (g) Trousers Jungle Green, 2.