Vol. 453 No. 2
12 Mr. E. Byrne asked the Minister for Defence the number of United Nations boards of inquiry convened to investigate incidents involving members of the Irish Defence Forces in each of the years 1990 to 1994 inclusive; whether he considers the procedures adopted by such boards of inquiry to be entirely satisfactory; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9041/95]
United Nations boards of inquiry cover all incidents in which United Nations personnel or property are involved and which result in personal injury or death, or damage to or loss of property.
Details or records relating to all UN boards of inquiry are not available on the basis that many of them refer to incidents which are relatively trivial in nature. However, in the years 1990 to 1994, inclusive, the numbers of UN boards of inquiry convened to investigate significant incidents involving Irish military personnel were as follows: 1990, 7; 1991, 7; 1992, 3; 1993, 3; 1994, 3. The administrative procedures for boards of inquiry are governed by the very comprehensive United Nations Standard Operating Procedures applicable to each mission. To date these procedures have not given any cause for concern.
