Vol. 533 No. 4
59 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Defence the moneys owed to the Government by the United Nations for missions undertaken by the Defence Forces in Cyprus and the Lebanon; if he will provide a detailed breakdown of the specific matters in relation to which moneys are outstanding; the date when the payments became due in respect of each matter; the steps taken by the Government to recover moneys due by the United Nations to the State. [8834/01]
63 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Defence the moneys due and payable to the State by the United Nations in respect of our mission in East Timor; the moneys which have been received to date in respect of this mission from the United Nations; and the steps being taken to secure payment of outstanding moneys due. [9020/01]
83 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Defence the moneys due and payable to the State by the United Nations in respect of our mission in East Timor; the moneys which have been received to date in respect of this mission from the United Nations; and the steps being taken to secure payment of outstanding moneys. [9158/01]
84 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Defence the moneys owed to the Government by the United Nations for missions undertaken by the Defence Forces in Cyprus and the Lebanon; if he will provide a detailed breakdown of the specific matters in relation to which moneys are outstanding; the date when the payments became due in respect of each matter; and the steps taken by the Government to recover moneys due by the United Nations to the State. [9159/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 59, 63, 83, and 84 together.
The only missions for which Ireland is entitled to reimbursement of troop costs by the UN are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus UNFICYP, and the United Nations Transitional Authority in East Timor, UNTAET, troop costs in respect of these missions are calculated at the rate of US $1087.10 per person per month. The total amount of money due to my Department by the United Nations as at 28 February 2001, in respect of contributions towards troop and other costs associated with the participation of Defence Force personnel in UN missions, is calculated at £9.5 million approximately. This figure breaks down as follows: UNIFIL £7.93 million; UNFICYP £0.95 million; UNTAET £0.2 million; UNOSOM £0.4 million; miscellaneous £0.02 million.
The bulk of the moneys owed is in respect of troop costs arising from service with UNIFIL, UNFICYP and UNTAET. A sum of £1.25 million is owed in respect of death and disability claims arising from service with UNIFIL and UNFICYP.
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. Both my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Cowen, and I take every opportunity to raise with the UN Ireland's concerns regarding arrears. In 2000, the UN repaid arrears of approximately £9 million almost entirely in respect of UNIFIL. Since 1 January 2001, the UN has repaid arrears of approximately £1.2 million.
