John Connor
Question:57 Mr. Connor asked the Minister for Defence if he will outline the plans he has to improve communications for Irish troops and their families while the soldiers are on duty in the Lebanon.
Written Answers. - Army Links with Irish UNIFIL Force.
Pádraic McCormack
Question:72 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Defence if he will consider making the necessary arrangements to provide an overseas radio service for Irish troops in the Lebanon.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 57 and 72 together.
Efforts are ongoing to improve communications between Irish troops serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon and their families. Existing facilities include one free five minute telephone call home per month for each member of UNIFIL and the use of a special radio system linked to the telephone system in Dublin which is used as required for contact between personnel in Lebanon and their families in Ireland. There is also a family support system in Ireland whereby relatives of personnel serving with UNIFIL can be put in urgent contact with them in the event of an emergency.
While there are no plans for an overseas radio service, as such, overseas requests recorded by RTE are sent to the Irish contingent in UNIFIL for rebroadcast. The main GAA and soccer matches are transmitted by telephone to Lebanon and are relayed to the Irish Battalion by UN radio. A news digest of extracts from Irish newspapers is sent to Lebanon every day.