Godfrey Timmins
Question:25 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Defence if any request has been received from the United Nations to provide troops for a peace-keeping mission in Iraq; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - UN Iraq-Kuwait Observer Mission.
Gerry Reynolds
Question:26 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for Defence if preparations are currently underway in his Department to send troops on an United Nations peace-keeping mission to Iraq.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 and 26 together.
Following the receipt of a request from the Secretary-General of the United Nations eight Irish Officers were despatched for service with the United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observer Mission.
Can the Minister tell the House if, despite the very definite rejection of this proposal by Saddam Hussein, serious negotiations are under way in the EC and the United Nations on the provision of peace keeping troops in Iraq?
This mission refers to the Iraq-Kuwait border. The United Nations Iraq-Kuwait observer mission was set up under the United Nations Security Council Resolution 689 of 9 April 1991. The observer mission is stationed on the Iraq-Kuwait border. The mandate of the mission is to monitor the demilitarised zone of approximately 200 kilometres in length, extending 10 kilometres inside Iraq and five kilometres inside Kuwait, from the Iraq-Kuwait border to deter violations of this border and to observe any hostile or potentially hostile action which might be mounted from Iraq or Kuwait. A total of 32 countries, including Ireland, were invited to send observers to that mission. Up to now there have been no reports of any incidents there.
Does the Minister envisage any increase in the number of Irish Army personnel in that area in the future? Are preparations under way in his Department to respond to such an event?
As I said in reply to previous questions, any request for additional personnel will be dealt with speedily and expeditiously. I do not think there is any such application on hands at present. Usually these requests are first made through informal contacts through the United Nations and when the requirements are ascertained decisions are then made. In the light of previous experience, any application for additional personnel will be dealt with speedily and effectively.
May I ask the Minister if the number of personnel sent to this area comply with the request in relation to numbers?
There was some confusion at the outset about this issue. It was originally intended to send ten officers but only eight were requested. As far as I am aware the number requested initially was greater than the number requested later. These issues are dealt with on a day-to-day basis and if any further requests are made they will be dealt with at that stage.