I propose to take Questions Nos. 27 and 55 together.
The safety of Irish personnel serving with UNIFIL in South Lebanon is a matter of paramount concern to the Government and is kept under careful review, here in Ireland and at the United Nations. It is also the subject of regular discussions with the Israeli authorities, who are fully aware of the importance we attach to the question. It was raised most recently during the Israeli Ambassador's visit to Dublin last month.
Proposals for the establishment of direct formal communications between individual UNIFIL contingents and Israeli forces operating in South Lebanon would not be in conformity with UN procedures. In accordance with longstanding UN practice, such communications are conducted at the level of UNIFIL Headquarters, located at Naqoura in South Lebanon, and not at battalion level. The various battalions that comprise UNIFIL operate within an integrated military command structure. In common with the Irish battalion, they do not maintain direct formal communications with the Israeli forces.