Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 1 Apr 1992

Vol. 418 No. 1

Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - UN Personnel in Western Sahara.

Madeleine Taylor-Quinn

Question:

4 Mrs. Taylor-Quinn asked the Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to, (a) the difficulties being experienced by UN military observers in Western Sahara, (b) the fact that personnel are forced to assume logistical and administrative duties, thus preventing them from carrying out their peacekeeping duties and (c) the fact that personnel have been forced to live in rough, harsh and sometimes life-threatening conditions; and if he will outline the action, if any, he proposes to take in this matter.

Alan Shatter

Question:

11 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Defence if he will outline the living conditions of Irish Army personnel serving on UN missions in the Western Sahara; and if he has satisfied himself with the existing arrangements.

Alan Shatter

Question:

19 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to, (a) any attacks or threatened attacks by Moroccan personnel on UN military observers in Western Sahara, (b) delayed delivery of crucial supplies and (c) interference with observer patrols.

Donal Carey

Question:

21 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to the fact that personnel serving with UN peacekeeping forces in Western Sahara are prevented from carrying out their peacekeeping duties because they are required to assume logistical and administrative duties.

Godfrey Timmins

Question:

34 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Defence if he will outline the living conditions of Irish Army personnel serving on UN missions in the Western Sahara; and if he has satisfied himself with the existing arrangements.

Peter Barry

Question:

61 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to the fact that personnel serving with UN peacekeeping forces in Western Sahara are prevented from carrying out their peacekeeping duties because they are required to assume logistical and administrative duties.

Charles Flanagan

Question:

67 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Defence if he will outline the living conditions of Irish Army personnel serving on UN missions in the Western Sahara; and if he has satisfied himself with the existing arrangements.

Godfrey Timmins

Question:

72 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to, (a) any attacks or threatened attacks by Moroccan personnel on UN military observers in Western Sahara, (b) delayed delivery of crucial supplies and (c) interference with observer patrols.

Michael D'Arcy

Question:

75 Mr. D'Arcy asked the Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to the fact that personnel serving with UN peacekeeping forces in Western Sahara are prevented from carrying out their peacekeeping duties because they are required to assume logistical and administrative duties.

Michael Lowry

Question:

82 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to, (a) any attacks or threatened attacks by Moroccan personnel on UN military observers in Western Sahara, (b) delayed delivery of crucial supplies and (c) interference with observer patrols.

Mr. Wilson

I propose to take Questions Nos. 4, 11, 19, 21, 34, 61, 67, 72, 75 and 82 together.

There are six Irish military officers serving as observers in Western Sahara. When Irish military observers were first deployed in Western Sahara last September as part of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), logistic support provided by the United Nations was inadequate. This was due partly to the fact that United Nations equipment shipped to the area was held at Moroccan ports. These supplies were released in December 1991 and the situation is now improving. Steps are being taken to erect modern prefabricatd camps in order to provide adequate accommodation for UN military observers. Arrangements are also being made by the United Nations to improve the supply of food, fuel and water.

Observers in most UN missions are required to carry out logistical and administrative duties in addition to their operational duties. There are no reports available to the military authorities that such duties are preventing officers serving with MINURSO from carrying out their peacekeeping duties.

No reports of attacks or threatened attacks on observers by Moroccan personnel have been received. A good working relationship is understood to exist between MINURSO and Moroccan forces.

I would like to assure the House that the first priority for the Government in relation to participation in United Nations missions is to ensure the safety and well-being of the members of the Permanent Defence Forces and of the Garda Síochána who serve with them. We will continue to monitor closely all developments in Western Sahara affecting the Irish members of MINURSO.

Mrs. Taylor-Quinn

I thank the Minister for his reply. Is he aware of a staff report to the Committee of Foreign Relations in the US Senate in January of this year which very clearly outlined the serious problems in the Western Sahara in relation to the MINURSO operations there? The report particularly castigated the United Nations support of the MINURSO operation and further stated that the proposed referendum was in danger because of the lack of co-operation between the UN MINURSO and the Moroccan authorities. They also said that the matter was being viewed very seriously. Will the Minister raise this matter with the United Nations to ensure that the operation is not hindered and that peacekeeping duties are conducted properly instead of the personnel being involved in logistical and administrative duties, which is happening at present?

Mr. Wilson

I have been made aware of the report. The United States supply 30 of the 375 personnel and, of course, they have an equal interest in seeing that their personnel are properly looked after. It is my obligation to ensure that our six Army officers are properly equipped for the mission which they are carrying out for the United Nations. As the House knows, it is a difficult one because of the political situation in the Western Sahara but conditions have improved since the report was made and we are in constant touch with our officers to ensure they get adequate support from the United Nations.