Vol. 522 No. 3
87 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Defence the amount of money due to the State by the United Nations for our peacekeeping activities; when or if this money will be paid; if he has had considerations made into accepting equipment such as SISU armoured personnel carriers equipped with Irish turrets as part payment; and his views on whether this is an option. [18690/00]
The total amount of money due to my Department by the United Nations as at 31 May 2000 in respect of peacekeeping activities is calculated at IR£7.5 million approximately. Continuous efforts are made to recover from the United Nations the moneys owed. These efforts are strenuously pursued with the United Nations on an ongoing basis by the Department of Defence and the Department of Foreign Affairs in conjunction with the Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations in New York. My colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and I take every opportunity to raise with the United Nations Ireland's concerns regarding arrears. Since 1 January 1999 the United Nations has repaid arrears of £9.5 million approximately almost entirely in respect of UNIFIL.
The question of an arrangement in relation to accepting equipment as part payment of arrears as suggested by the Deputy has not arisen.
