Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 September 2013
1139. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Defence the details of the recent appointment by the United Nations Secretary General of a member of the Irish Defence Forces to lead the UN Truce Supervision Organization; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37405/13]
View answerThe United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) was established in May 1948 by UN Security Council resolution 50 (1948) to assist the United Nations Mediator and the Truce Commission in supervising the observance of the truce in Palestine. Since then, UNTSO has performed various tasks entrusted to it by the Security Council, including the supervision of the General Armistice Agreements of 1949 between Israel and its Arab neighbours; the observation of the ceasefire in the Suez Canal area and the Golan Heights following the Arab-Israeli war of June 1967; and the assistance to the UN Interim Force in South Lebanon to fulfil its mandate. Ireland has participated in UNTSO since 18 December 1958.
In response to a request from the United Nations in April 2013, Ireland nominated Major General Michael Finn for the post of Head of Mission and Chief of Staff of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation. Ireland’s nomination was successful and the United Nations appointed Major General Finn to the post with effect from 01 July 2013 for an initial contract period of one year. Currently, apart from Major General Finn, there are twelve (12) Irish officers serving with the UNTSO mission. Major General Finn brings to his new position extensive command and peacekeeping experience attained through service at the national and international levels. He has served overseas in Lebanon, the Golan Heights in Syria and in Kosovo.
Our involvement in peace support missions has greatly enhanced the professional capacity and capability of the Defence Forces. This has, in turn, increased our value to the United Nations. The appointment of Irish officers, such as, Major General Finn, Brigadier General Patrick Phelan as Deputy Force Commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon and Brigadier General Gerald Aherne, as Mission Commander of the EU mission for the training of Somali Security Forces, is another indication of the high regard in which Irish personnel are held internationally.
