Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 April 2008
13 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence if he has received communication from the EU or UN requesting further deployment of Irish troops on overseas missions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13576/08]
View answer158 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence if he has had recent discussions with his UN colleagues regarding possible future UN lead peacekeeping deployments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13773/08]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 158 together.
Currently, a total of 486 Defence Forces personnel are serving overseas, full details of which are listed in the following statement.
Ireland has offered, through the UN Standby Arrangements System (UNSAS), to provide up to 850 military personnel, configured as a light infantry mounted battalion, for overseas service at any one time. This figure equates to some 10% of Ireland's standing Army (excluding Reserves) and demonstrates Ireland's commitment to the cause of international peace. This is the maximum sustainable commitment that Ireland can make to overseas peacekeeping operations. There are no plans at this time to increase the level of our commitment to UNSAS.
Ireland receives requests, from time to time, in relation to participation in various missions and these are considered on a case-by-case basis. In response to an EU request in 2007, Ireland agreed to participate in the UN mandated EU-led mission to Chad and the Central African Republic, EUFOR TCHAD/RCA, When the deployment of the Irish contingent of some 450 personnel is completed at the end of next month, we will have reached the limit of our sustainable commitments. No further such requests have been received.
|
No. |
|
|
1. UN Missions |
|
|
(i) UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) HQ |
7 |
|
(ii) UNTSO (United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation) — Israel, Syria and Lebanon |
12 |
|
(iii) MINURSO (United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara) |
3 |
|
(iv) UNMIK (United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo) |
4 |
|
(v) MONUC (United Nations Mission in Democratic Republic of the Congo) |
3 |
|
(vi) UNOCI (United Nations Mission in Ivory Coast) |
2 |
|
TOTAL |
31 |
|
UN Mandated Missions |
|
|
(vii) EUFOR (EU-led Operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina) |
45 |
|
(viii) EUFOR TCHAD/RCA (EU-led Operation in CHAD and the Central African Republic) OHQ — Paris |
18 |
|
EUFORTCHAD/RCA (EU-led Operation in CHAD and the Central African Republic) FHQ — Chad |
10 |
|
EUFOR TCHAD/RCA (EU-led Operation in CHAD and the Central African Republic) Initial Entry Force |
53 |
|
EUFOR TCHAD/RCA (EU-led Operation in CHAD and the Central African Republic) — 97th Infantry Battalion (National Support Element) |
2 |
|
(ix) KFOR (International Security Presence in Kosovo) Framework Nation |
57 |
|
KFOR (International Security Presence in Kosovo) HQ |
11 |
|
KFOR (International Security Presence in Kosovo) 37th Inf Group |
217 |
|
(x) ISAF (International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan) |
7 |
|
Total number of personnel serving with UN missions |
451 |
|
2. Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) |
|
|
(i) OSCE Mission to Bosnia & Herzegovina |
2 |
|
(ii) OSCE Mission in Tbilisi — Georgia |
1 |
|
(iii) OSCE Mission in Belgrade — Serbia |
1 |
|
(iv) OSCE Mission in Skopje — Macedonia |
1 |
|
(v) Staff Officer, Higher Level Planning Group, Vienna |
1 |
|
Total number of personnel serving OSCE |
6 |
|
3. EU Military Staff |
|
|
Brussels |
7 |
|
New York |
1 |
|
4. HQ EU Nordic Battlegroup |
12 |
|
5. Military Representatives/Advisers/Staff |
|
|
(i) Military Adviser, Permanent Mission to UN, New York |
1 |
|
(ii) Military Adviser, Irish Delegation to OSCE, Vienna |
1 |
|
(iii) Military Representatives to EU (Brussels) |
4 |
|
(iv) Liaison Office of Ireland, NATO/PfP (Brussels) |
2 |
|
(v) Military Representative to NATO/PfP Co-ordination Cell/Supreme |
1 |
|
Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), Mons, Belgium |
|
|
Total Number Defence Forces Personnel Serving Overseas |
486 |
