Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 March 2014
817. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the total number of Irish Defence Forces personnel currently posted overseas on various missions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13367/14]
View answer819. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the total number of personnel current posted from the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps at various trouble spots overseas under the aegis of the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13369/14]
View answer834. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide an update on the current peacekeeping missions in which the State has a role; if he expects to see further requests from the UN for Irish involvement in any other peace keeping operations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12881/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 817, 819 and 834 together.
As of 01 March 2014, Ireland is contributing approximately 404 Defence Forces personnel to 14 different missions throughout the world. Full details of all personnel currently serving overseas, and the total number of personnel currently posted from the Army, Navy and Air Corp to various overseas operations under the aegis of the EU, are listed in the tabular statements attached.
The main overseas missions in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 204 personnel, and the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) with 112 Defence Forces personnel.
Other missions in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed are the EU Training Mission (EUTM) Somalia with six (6) personnel, the EU Training Mission in Mali (EUTM Mali) with eight (8) personnel; the EUFOR mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina with seven (7) personnel; the NATO-led international security presence (KFOR) in Kosovo with twelve (12) personnel; and the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan with seven (7) personnel. Four (4) personnel were deployed in August 2013 for service with the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) in South Sudan. Ireland also contributes 26 observers and staff to various United Nations and OSCE missions, 3 personnel to the Nordic Battle group headquarters in Sweden and 15 other personnel to staff appointments at UN, EU and OSCE headquarters.
Defence Forces participation in all overseas missions is reviewed on an ongoing basis. The overall drawdown of ISAF personnel is currently underway and the withdrawal of the Defence Forces personnel will be coordinated in this context. While it is anticipated that Irish personnel will complete their service with the mission in September 2014, this will be kept under review in the context of the proposed NATO led follow on training advisory and assistance mission.
As regards future deployments of Defence Forces personnel overseas, Ireland receives requests, from time to time, in relation to participation in various missions and these are considered on a case-by-case basis. When considering any particular request, the existence of realistic objectives and a clear mandate, which has the potential to contribute to a political solution, consideration of how the mission relates to the priorities of Irish foreign policy and the degree of risk involved are amongst the factors considered.
Apart from the recent deployment of personnel to the UNDOF mission, no new deployments are envisaged at this time.
The current contribution of some 404 personnel to overseas missions reflects the Government’s continued commitment to our responsibilities in the area of international peace and security.
AS OF 01 MARCH 2014
|
1. |
UN MISSIONS |
- |
|
- |
UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) HQ |
16 |
|
- |
UNIFIL 42nd Infantry Group |
184 |
|
- |
UNIFIL Sector West HQ |
4 |
|
- |
UNTSO (United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation ) Israel & Syria |
13 |
|
- |
MINURSO (United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara) |
3 |
|
- |
MONUSCO (United Nations Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo) |
4 |
|
- |
UNOCI (United Nations Mission in Ivory Coast) |
2 |
|
- |
UNDOF (United Nations Disengagement Observer Force) Golan Heights Syria |
112 |
|
- |
UNMAS (United Nations Mine Action Service ) South Sudan |
4 |
|
- |
TOTAL |
342 |
|
- |
UN MANDATED MISSIONS |
- |
|
- |
EUFOR (EU led Operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina) |
7 |
|
- |
EUTM Somalia (EU led Training Mission) |
6 |
|
- |
EUTM Mali (EU led Training Mission) |
8 |
|
- |
KFOR (International Security Presence in Kosovo) HQ |
12 |
|
- |
ISAF (International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan) |
7 |
|
- |
TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONNEL SERVING WITH UN MISSIONS |
382 |
|
2. |
ORGANISATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE (OSCE) |
- |
|
- |
OSCE Mission to Bosnia & Herzegovina |
2 |
|
- |
OSCE Mission in Belgrade – Serbia |
1 |
|
- |
Staff Officer, High Level Planning Group Vienna |
1 |
|
- |
TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONNEL SERVING OSCE |
4 |
|
3. |
EU MILITARY STAFF |
- |
|
- |
Brussels |
5 |
|
4. |
NORDIC BATTLE GROUP 2015 |
- |
|
- |
FHQ Sweden |
3 |
|
5. |
MILITARY REPRESENTATIVES/ADVISERS/STAFF |
- |
|
- |
Military Adviser, Permanent Mission to UN, New York |
1 |
|
- |
Military Adviser Irish delegation to OSCE, Vienna |
1 |
|
- |
Military Representative to EU (Brussels) |
4 |
|
- |
Liaison Office of Ireland, NATO/PfP (Brussels) |
2 |
|
- |
EU OHQ Operation Althea, Mons, Belgium |
1 |
|
- |
Irish Liaison Officer to SHAPE & Military Co-Op Division, Mons, Belgium |
1 |
|
- |
TOTAL NUMBER OF DEFENCE FORCES PERSONNEL SERVING OVERSEAS |
404 |
Irish Defence Forces personnel deployed to missions under the aegis of the EU (21 March 2014)
|
Mission |
Air Corps |
Army |
Naval Service |
Total |
|
EUTM Somalia |
0 |
6 |
0 |
6 |
|
EUTM Mali |
0 |
8 |
0 |
8 |
|
EUFOR BiH |
1 |
6 |
0 |
7 |
|
Total |
1 |
20 |
0 |
21 |
