Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 December 2016
686. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the current level of deployment and location of Irish troops overseas on UN- or EU-related missions; the extent to which further missions are planned or required; the extent to which the need for any upgrading of equipment has been noted arising from such deployment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40145/16]
View answerAs of 1 December 2016, Ireland is contributing 661 Defence Forces personnel to 11 different missions throughout the world, along with deployments to two standby Battlegroup Headquarters and a range of international organisations and National Representations.
The main overseas mission in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed is the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 379 personnel. Since 22 November 2016, when Ireland assumed the lead of the joint Battalion in UNIFIL from Finland, Ireland's contribution to UNIFIL was increased by some 150 personnel. Ireland is also contributing 136 personnel to the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Syria.
Full details of all personnel currently serving overseas are shown in the following tabular statement.
With regard to the deployment of Naval Service vessels to the Mediterranean mission, L.É. Samuel Beckett, with a crew of 57, has recently completed her mission in the Mediterranean and is scheduled to return to the Naval Base, Haulbowline on Friday next, 16 December. To date, Irish participation in the humanitarian mission has resulted in the rescue of over 15,600 migrants, which clearly demonstrates the value of Ireland’s involvement in this important humanitarian response. The question of further deployment to the Mediterranean in 2017 will be considered in due course.
The Department of Defence constantly reviews the deployment of Defence Forces personnel overseas. With regard to any 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.
Defence Forces personnel serving on all overseas missions are equipped with the most modern and effective equipment to carry out their mission. The Defence Forces equipment is upgraded on a continual basis. This equipment enables troops to fulfill the roles assigned to them, as well as providing the required protection specific to the mission.
|
Members of the Permanent Defence Force Serving Overseas as of 1st December 2016 |
|
|
Defence Forces Personnel deployed |
Nos. |
|
1. UN MISSIONS |
|
|
(i) UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) HQ |
30 |
|
UNIFIL 109th Infantry Battalion |
341 |
|
UNIFIL Sector West HQ |
8 |
|
(ii) UNTSO (United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation) Israel and Syria |
13 |
|
(iii) MINURSO (United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara) |
3 |
|
(iv) MONUSCO (United Nations Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo |
4 |
|
(v) UNOCI (United Nations Mission in Ivory Coast) |
1 |
|
(vi) UNDOF (United Nations Disengagement Observer Force) HQ, Golan Heights, Syria |
6 |
|
UNDOF 54th Infantry Group |
130 |
|
TOTAL |
536 |
|
UN MANDATED MISSIONS |
|
|
(vii) EUFOR (EU-led Operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina) |
7 |
|
(viii) EUTM Mali (EU-Led Training Mission) |
18 |
|
(ix) KFOR (International Security Presence in Kosovo) HQ |
12 |
|
TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONNEL SERVING WITH UN MISSIONS |
573 |
|
2. OTHER DEPLOYMENTS |
|
|
Naval Service Humanitarian Mission in Mediterranean L.É. Samuel Beckett |
57 |
|
3. ORGANISATION FOR SECURITY AND CO-OPERATION IN EUROPE (OSCE) |
|
|
(i) OSCE Mission to Bosnia & Herzegovina |
1 |
|
(ii) Staff Officer, High Level Planning Group, Vienna |
1 |
|
TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONNEL SERVING WITH OSCE |
2 |
|
4. EU MILITARY STAFF |
|
|
Brussels |
4 |
|
5. EU BATTLE GROUP |
|
|
German-led Battle Group 2016 - HQ, STRASBOURG |
10 |
|
UK-led Battle Group 2016, UK |
5 |
|
6. 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 Officer of Ireland, NATO /PfP (Brussels) |
2 |
|
(v) EU OHQ Operation Althea, Mons, Belgium |
1 |
|
(vi) Irish Liaison Officer to SHAPE & Military Co-Op Division, Mons, Belgium |
1 |
|
TOTAL NUMBER OF DEFENCE FORCES PERSONNEL SERVING OVERSEAS |
661 |
