I propose to take Questions Nos. 18, 46, 55, 163 and 167 together.
Ireland has offered, through the UN Standby Arrangements System (UNSAS), to provide up to 850 military personnel 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.
Ireland is currently contributing 763 Defence Forces personnel to 13 different missions throughout the world. Full details of all personnel currently serving overseas are listed in the tabular statement set out below.
The main overseas missions, in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed, are the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT) with 422 personnel, the NATO-led International Security presence (KFOR) in Kosovo with 235 personnel and the EU-led operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, ALTHEA, with 44 personnel. Other personnel are serving as monitors and observers with the United Nations and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Staff are also deployed at the organisational headquarters of the EU, OSCE and NATO.
Ireland is currently committed to MINURCAT until mid-March 2010, to KFOR until April 2010 and to Operation ALTHEA until December 2009. The additional cost to the Defence Vote of participation in MINURCAT, net of UN reimbursements, is in the region of €7.6m. The additional cost to the Defence Vote of participation in KFOR and Operation ALTHEA is in the region of €10.5m and €2.4m respectively.
Planned expenditure levels for my Department will be considered as part of the Estimates and budgetary process for 2010. This will include consideration of the report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes. Decisions on all of the issues arising, including continued participation in Chad and in other overseas missions, will be a matter for the Government in the context of the Estimates.
It would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this stage pending the outcome of the estimate process.
I wish to assure the House that Defence Forces personnel serving on all overseas missions are equipped with the most modern and effective equipment. This equipment enables troops to carry out the mission assigned, as well as providing the required protection specific to the mission. Ongoing threat assessments are carried out in mission areas and we continually review both personal equipment and force assets, to ensure that Defence Forces personnel are appropriately equipped to fulfil their roles.
With regard to the upskilling of members of the Permanent Defence Force, all Defence Force personnel receive ongoing training to enable them to participate fully in UN, EU and other missions overseas. Troops selected for overseas service undergo a rigorous programme of training, designed to help them carry out their peacekeeping mission and to provide for their protection. Pre-deployment training is provided to members of the Permanent Defence Force and is updated on an ongoing basis in the light of any changes in the threat assessment or mission requirements. I am satisfied that Defence Forces personnel serving overseas will continue to receive the necessary training to enable them to carry out their duties in a professional manner.
Members of the Permanent Defence Force Serving Overseas as of 01 OCTOBER 2009
|
|
Number
|
1.
|
UN Missions
|
|
(i)
|
UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) HQ
|
8
|
(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)
|
MONUC (United Nations Mission in Democratic Republic of Congo)
|
3
|
(v)
|
UNOCI (United Nations Mission in Ivory Coast)
|
2
|
(vi)
|
MINURCAT (United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad) — HQ
|
13
|
|
MINURCAT (United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad) — 101st Inf Battalion
|
409
|
|
TOTAL
|
450
|
|
UN Mandated Missions
|
|
(vii)
|
EUFOR (EU-led Operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina)
|
44
|
(viii)
|
EUFOR TCHAD/RCA (EU-led Operation in CHAD and the Central African Republic) OHQ — Paris
|
1
|
(ix)
|
EUNAVFOR (EU-led Operation Atalanta) OHQ — UK
|
2
|
(x)
|
KFOR (International Security Presence in Kosovo) — HQ
|
17
|
|
KFOR (International Security Presence in Kosovo) 40th Inf Group
|
218
|
(xi)
|
ISAF (International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan)
|
7
|
TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONNEL SERVING WITH UN MISSIONS
|
739
|
2.
|
Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)
|
|
(i)
|
OSCE Mission to Bosnia & Herzegovina
|
2
|
(ii)
|
OSCE Mission in Belgrade — Serbia
|
1
|
(iii)
|
Staff Officer, Higher Level Planning Group, Vienna
|
1
|
TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONNEL SERVING OSCE
|
4
|
3.
|
EU Military Staff
|
|
|
Brussels
|
7
|
4.
|
Nordic Battlegroup HQ Staff — Sweden
|
4
|
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 Representative to EU (Brussels)
|
4
|
(iv)
|
Liaison Office of Ireland, NATO/PfP (Brussels)
|
2
|
(v)
|
Military Representative to NATO/PfP Co-ordination Cell/Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), Mons. Belgium
|
1
|
TOTAL NUMBER OF DEFENCE FORCES PERSONNEL SERVING OVERSEAS
|
763
|