Seán Crowe
Question:88. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Defence if he foresees more Irish troops being deployed to Lebanon as a result of the current conflict in the region. [21285/13]
View answerTuesday, 7 May 2013
Questions (88, 95)
Michael Moynihan
Question:95. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Defence if he will report on the Defence Forces mission in the Lebanon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21309/13]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 88 and 95 together.
The 107th Infantry Battalion, comprising some 332 personnel, will complete its deployment with UNIFIL later this month when it will be replaced by personnel of the 108th Infantry Battalion. The Irish Battalion has been working alongside a contingent of 170 personnel of the Finnish Armed Forces as part of a joint Irish/Finnish Battalion since 1 June 2012.A further 16 Irish personnel are deployed to the Force Headquarters in Naquora and 8 personnel at the UNIFIL Sector West headquarters in Shama.
The Irish/Finnish Battalion conducts operational tasks on a daily basis, which include the provision of security, vehicle and foot patrols, checkpoints, establishing and occupying temporary observation posts and liaison/engagement with local leaders.Joint operations are conducted with units of the Lebanese Armed Forces deployed in the UNIFIL area of operations. Irish and Finnish troops also occupy two forward static UN posts on the Blue Line.
The security situation in the area in which the Irish/Finnish Battalion operates remains calm but increasingly unstable due to domestic and international factors largely stemming from the spillover effects of the Syrian crisis. The Battalion implements Force Protection measures appropriate to the prevailing operational and security developments in the region.
Ireland currently holds command of the joint Irish Finnish Battalion.Finland, in accordance with agreements entered into on the deployment of the joint battalion, will assume command of the joint battalion in November 2013.At that stage, the Irish contribution to the Finnish/Irish Battalion will reduce from 332 to approximately 181 Defence Forces personnel. The joint Irish/Finnish battalion currently consists of a total of 503 personnel (332 Irish and 171 Finnish).
Ireland is operating in accordance with agreed arrangements with the UN and Finland.There are no plans at this time to increase Ireland’s contribution to UNIFIL.