Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 November 2023
67. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence how many Irish Defence Forces personnel deployed on 14 November 2023 are on the UNIFIL mission in Lebanon; of that number, how many of them were filled through “mandatory selection”; and how many were already in Lebanon as part of the UNIFIL deployment who were asked to stay on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50899/23]
View answerThe deployment of the 123rd Infantry Battalion to the UNIFIL in Lebanon is well underway and is expected to be completed later this week. On November 14th, 156 personnel deployed to the mission and the remainder are due to deploy on 24th November.
In the event that there are insufficient numbers of volunteer personnel to fulfil all of the mission specific appointments, the Defence Forces utilises a process of Mandatory Selection. Defence Forces personnel are mandatorily selected for overseas service in accordance with the provisions laid down in the relevant Administrative Instruction. This process includes an appeals mechanism.
Personnel that are qualified to fulfil the appointments, but who have not volunteered for overseas service, are identified by their unit and formally interviewed by their Unit Commander. Depending on the individual’s personal or professional circumstances, the Unit Commander will either recommend or not recommend the individual for mandatory selection.
There are further selection criteria applied to those personnel who are considered qualified and recommended for mandatory selection by their Commanding Officer. This includes a provision whereby personnel should not be considered for mandatory selection without the prior approval of Deputy Chief of Staff (Support), if they have returned from overseas service in the previous two years.
Of those 156 personnel who commenced their deployment on November 14th , it was necessary to fill one (1) post through mandatory selection.
With regard to the issue of personnel staying on in mission, I am advised that the Defence Forces do not ask personnel to ‘stay on’. I am informed, however, that 12 personnel serving with the 122nd Infantry Battalion volunteered to remain with the battalion and were subsequently selected to serve with the 123rd Infantry Battalion.
