Vol. 485 No. 3
64 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Defence if, in relation to the incident in June 1997 in which six members of the Defence Forces serving with UNIFIL in the Lebanon were injured including one solider who lost part of his leg, the report identified those believed to have been responsible; if he will publish the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23096/97]
On 21 June 1997 six Defence Forces personnel were injured, one seriously, when a mine exploded in the UNIFIL area of operations in South Lebannon. As is standard practice following serious incidents of this nature the United Nations established inquiries into the incident as follows: (1) UNIFIL Headquarters Board of Inquiry; (2) UNIFIL Military Police Inquiry; (3) Irish UNIFIL Contingent Board of Inquiry.
These inquiries have been completed and are being examined by the military authorities. The relevant standard operating procedures are being reviewed at present by the military authorities in the light of these reports.
I am advised that United Nations Board of Inquiry reports are the property of the UN. These reports are confidential and the UN stipulates that they may not be made public in any form in whole or in part.
