Written Answers. - Overseas Missions.
John Gormley
Question:
80
Mr. Gormley
asked the
Minister for Defence
if he will report on Ireland's commitment to the United Nations standby arrangements system; if Ireland has supplied a list of available capabilities to the UNSAS; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20464/02]
Eamon Ryan
Question:
91
Mr. Eamon Ryan
asked the
Minister for Defence
the present contribution to UN peacekeeping; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20465/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 80 and 91 together.
Ireland's commitment to collective security is pursued through the United Nations, which has the primary role to play in the maintenance of international peace and security. Ireland has a long record of participation in international peacekeeping, monitoring and observer missions and the Government's policy is to continue our involvement in international missions in the cause of world peace. In October 1998 Ireland signed a memorandum of understanding with the UN in relation to the UN standby arrangements system, UNSAS. Ireland offered, through UNSAS, to provide up to 850 military personnel for overseas service at any time to meet UN and other peace, support and humanitarian commitments. This level of deployment equates to the provision of a light infantry battalion which is armoured personnel carrier mounted, together with observers and staff. The figure of 850 equates to about 10% of the Army. Ireland's commitment under UNSAS does not entail an obligation to participate in a particular mission.
Requests for Defence Forces personnel to serve on overseas missions are considered on a case-by-case basis in the prevailing circumstances, within the context of UNSAS. Any decision to dispatch a contingent of the Defence Forces to a specific mission would require a UN mandate, as well as Government and Dáil approval. The decision to participate in UNSAS is a tangible expression of Ireland's continuing commitment to involvement in peacekeeping operations. The total number of Defence Forces personnel serving overseas is 488, of whom 447 are currently serving on UN missions, as follows:
UN Missions
(i) UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon): 6
(ii) UNTSO (United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation) – Israel, Syria and Lebanon: 13
(iii) UNFICYP (United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus): 6
(iv) UNIKOM (United Nations Iraq Kuwait Observer Mission): 6
(v) MINURSO (United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara): 3
(vi) UNMIK (United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo): 3
(vii) UNMOP (United Nations Mission of Observers in Prevlaka): 1
(viii) UNMISET (United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor): 9
(ix) UNMEE (United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea): 219
(x) MONUC (United Nations Mission in Democratic Republic of the Congo): 2.
UN Mandated Missions
(xi) SFOR Stabilisation Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina (SFOR HQ Sarajevo): 60
(xii) KFOR International Security Presence in Kosovo: 112
(xiii) ISAF International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan: 7.
Total number of personnel serving with UN missions 447.
