As I indicated in the House on 11 November 1998, during the course of my visit to the United Nations Headquarters in New York on 14/17 October 1998, I signed, on behalf of the Government, a memorandum of understanding which commits Ireland to the United Nations Stand-by Arrangements System, UNSAS.
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 UN peace support operations. Ireland has committed up to 850 military personnel for overseas service at any one time.
The total number of personnel currently serving abroad is 869. This short-term excess over the agreed maximum commitment under UNSAS arose from the Government's desire to respond to the very difficult situation in East Timor.
Requests for personnel of the Defence Forces to serve on overseas missions are considered on their merits in the prevailing circumstances within the context of the United Nations Stand-by Arrangements System, UNSAS. Among the factors taken into account when considering the deployment of Defence Forces personnel overseas are security considerations at home and the level of existing overseas commitments.