Written Answers. - Overseas Missions.
Proinsias De Rossa
Question:
64
Proinsias De Rossa
asked the
Minister for Defence
if, in regard to his comments at the annual conference of RACO, he will outline the role he envisages for the Defence Forces in a post-Taliban Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[30641/01]
John Gormley
Question:
68
Mr. Gormley
asked the
Minister for Defence
the Irish forces which have been earmarked for service in Afghanistan; if requests have been made by the United States or the United Nations for Irish forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[30249/01]
Jim O'Keeffe
Question:
90
Mr. J. O'Keeffe
asked the
Minister for Defence
if he has been involved in discussions regarding the supply of troops for peace keeping in Afghanistan; and the position in this regard.
[30614/01]
John Gormley
Question:
159
Mr. Gormley
asked the
Minister for Defence
his plans to send Irish troops to Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[30244/01]
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:
164
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for Defence
if Irish troops are likely to take part in peacekeeping missions in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[30877/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 64, 68, 90, 159 and 164 together.
As my colleague the Minister for Foreign Affairs indicated to the House on 22 November 2001, the Government fully support the efforts of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General to set up a transitional administration in Afghanistan as soon as possible. The Government believes that only a fully representative and broad-based government will ensure long-term peace and security in Afghanistan. EU foreign ministers also reiterated their support for this approach at their meeting on 19 November.
The process of putting in place a new administration will need to be undertaken in a secure environment and the various options for restoring long-term security will have to be examined carefully. The UN Secretary-General's Special Representative has made it clear that his preferred option is for an all-Afghan force supported, in the interim, by a multinational element. Security Council Resolution 1378, which was adopted in New York on 13 November, endorsed this approach.
Resolution 1378 also affirmed that the UN should play a central role in supporting the efforts of the Afghan people to establish a transitional administration leading to the formation of a new Government. However, while the UN is currently involved in the process which it is hoped will lead to the formation of such an administration, it is not possible at this stage to say exactly how the UN's role in Afghanistan will develop. The question of the possible deployment of Defence Forces personnel to a UN peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan does not, therefore, arise at this stage.
If requested by the UN at some future date to contribute Defence Forces personnel to a UN-mandated mission in Afghanistan, the Government would, of course, give serious consideration to such a request. Requests from the UN for Irish participation in new missions are considered on a case by case basis within the context of the United Nations stand-by arrangement system – UNSAS. As I have indicated to the House previously, in October 1998 Ireland signed a memorandum of understanding with the United Nations in relation to UNSAS. Ireland has committed up to 850 military personnel for overseas service at any one time under this system. Should the Government decide to seek Dáil approval to send military personnel to serve with a particular mission, full account would be taken of the security situation in the area, the mandate of the mission and such other factors as the equipment and skills necessary for the mission.
