Dan Boyle
Question:86 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Defence the command structure under which Defence Forces personnel are operating in Afghanistan. [23164/02]
Written Answers. - Overseas Missions.
On 2 July, 2002, the Government authorised the despatch of seven members of the Permanent Defence Force for service, for a period of one year, with the International Security Assistance Force, ISAF, in Afghanistan, which was established under UN Security Resolution 1386 (2001), to assist in the maintenance of security in Kabul and the surrounding areas. The seven Irish personnel, who are deployed in ISAF HQ in Kabul, currently report to the commander of ISAF, a Turkish major general, as Turkey is the lead nation of ISAF since June 2002.