Paul Bradford
Question:40 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Defence the implications which joining the Danish initiative, SHIRBRIG, would have for Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12682/99]
Written Answers. - Overseas Missions.
Frances Fitzgerald
Question:83 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Defence the implications which joining the Danish initiative, SHIRBRIG, would have for Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13358/99]
SHIRBRIG is an initiative undertaken by Denmark for the establishment of a UN Standing High-Readiness Brigade, drawn from United Nations member states which have made a commitment to the United Nations Standby Arrangements System UNSAS.
It is the intention that the brigade, which would have reaction times of between 15 to 30 days, would be deployed for up to six months on UN peacekeeping operations under Chapter VI of the United Nations Charter. Ireland has participated in SHIRBRIG meetings as an observer since 1995. SHIRBRIG, however, is not yet operational.
In accordance with the United Nations Standby Arrangements System UNSAS, I signed, on behalf of Ireland, a memorandum of understanding with the UN when I visited its headquarters in New York in October 1998. The memorandum commits Ireland to the provision of up to 850 military personnel. There is, however, no obligation to participate in any particular mission and Dáil approval would be required for the dispatch of a contingent to any specific operation. UNSAS gives the UN a precise understanding of the forces and other capabilities that Ireland would have available at a given state of readiness for a UN operation.
Any commitment by Ireland to SHIRBRIG would involve the same personnel currently committed under the UNSAS arrangement. There are currently approximately 710 military personnel serving with UN peacekeeping missions, 613 of whom are serving with UNIFIL. The total num ber of military personnel currently serving overseas, including six personnel seconded to humanitarian relief agencies, is 754.
My Department continues, as an observer at SHIRBRIG, to keep abreast of developments and the question of a deeper involvement with this initiative will be kept under review in light of the Defence Forces overseas commitments generally.