Defence Forces Personnel

Tuesday, 17 November 2020

Questions (58, 84)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

58. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Defence the number of military personnel serving abroad at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36562/20]

View answer

James Lawless

Question:

84. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Defence the number of Defence Forces personnel on overseas service at the end of October 2020, by rank. [36619/20]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Defence

I propose to take Questions Nos. 58 and 84 together.

As of 04 November 2020, Ireland is contributing 569 Defence Forces personnel to 10 different missions throughout the world and also to a range of international organisations and National representations.

The main overseas missions in which the Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 340 personnel and the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Syria with 137 personnel.

Other missions in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed are MINUSMA, the UN authorised operation in Mali with 14 personnel; the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO) in Israel and Syria with 12 personnel; the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) with two (2) personnel, the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) with three (3) personnel; the EU Training Mission in Mali (EUTM Mali) with 13 personnel; the EUFOR mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina with five (5) personnel, the NATO-led international security presence in Kosovo (KFOR) with 13 personnel and the EU Naval mission (Operation Irini) with three (3) personnel.

Ireland also contributes observers and staff to various United Nations and OSCE missions and personnel to staff appointments at UN, EU, NATO/PfP and OSCE headquarters.

Ireland has always been a strong supporter of the United Nations and UN Peacekeeping. Our commitment and support for the primary role of the United Nations, in the maintenance of international peace and security, is expressed in Ireland's long-standing tradition of participating in UN peacekeeping operations. This commitment is also expressed in our engagement in the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP).

The number of personnel serving overseas by rank is outlined in the following table.

Rank - Officers	Number	Rank - Enlisted Personnel	Number
Brigadier General	2	Sergeant Major	5
Colonel	8	Battalion Quarter Master Sergeant	3
Lieutenant Colonel	29	Company Sergeant	15
Commandant	38	Company Quarter Master Sergeant	19
Captain	35	Sergeant	74
Lieutenant	16	Corporal	99
		Private	224

There are also two chaplains serving overseas.