Michael Bell
Question:53 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Defence if he will make a statement on his recent visit to the Lebanon to mark the end of the Irish mission with UNIFIL. [30636/01]
Vol. 545 No. 4
53 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Defence if he will make a statement on his recent visit to the Lebanon to mark the end of the Irish mission with UNIFIL. [30636/01]
152 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Defence if he will make a statement on his recent visit to the Lebanon to mark the end of the Irish mission with UNIFIL. [30545/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 53 and 152 together.
I visited Irish troops serving with the United Nations in Lebanon during the period 12 to 13 November 2001. During my visit I was accompanied by the Secretary General of the Department and the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces.
On 12 November I paid a courtesy call on the Acting Force Commander at UNIFIL HQ in Naquora. Later that day I paid a visit to Qana, the site of the massacre of approximately 100 civilians while in a UN compound in 1996. I travelled on to the headquarters of the Irish Battalion in Tibnin. I also met local leaders – mayors and muchtars – in Tibnin, Barashit, Haddatah and At Tiri.