Jim Mitchell
Question:59 Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Minister for Defence his views on whether we have enough troops to supply peacekeeping troops to the Lebanon mission. [18166/97]
Written Answers. - Peacekeeping Missions.
The last rotation of personnel to UNIFIL was completed in November 1997 and met requirements.
The current agreed establishment of the Irish UNIFIL contingent is 619. There is currently a total of 612 personnel serving with UNIFIL. The shortfall of personnel is due to a number of factors, chiefly, unanticipated repatriations where volunteers had to return home for domestic reasons and a small number of personnel of the 81st. Battalion (which returned home in October-November), who had initially indicated their intention to remain on for a further tour of duty but later changed their minds and returned home. The current shortfall of seven personnel is insignificant and I am satisfied that it has no implications for the operational efficiency of the contingent.