Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 March 2024
170. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to provide an update on the rationale, timeline of meetings and decisions in the lead up to and current withdrawal plan for the Irish Defence Forces contingent of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11335/24]
View answer171. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his views on the withdrawal plan for the Irish Defence Forces contingent of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force given the increasing tension and potential for conflict in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11336/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 170 and 171 together.
The decision to withdraw personnel from the UNDOF mission was taken on the basis of Military advice received in early 2023 in order to ensure that the Defence Forces have the capacity to fulfil its commitment to the EU Battlegroup 2024/2025, as well as allowing the Defence Forces to undertake a process of consolidation with regard to their overseas commitments and to prepare for future peace-keeping missions.
Planning for the withdrawal of the current Defence Forces' contingent (the 68th Infantry Group) and their replacement is well advanced, involving the United Nations, the Force Headquarters, the current Irish contingent and the replacement Troop Contributing Country to ensure a smooth handover that in no way compromises the mission.
There is no plan to review the decision to withdraw the Defence Forces' Infantry Group from the UNDOF mission. The replacement Troop Contributing Country (Kazakhstan) has been selected to take over the role of the Force Reserve Company in the Mission, following the scheduled Irish departure in April 2024, and plans at UN and Troop Contributing Country level are well advanced in this regard. Mission reconnaissance by Kazakhstani troops took place in late 2023, and an advance party of Kazakhstani troops is currently in-theatre, in advance of the Defence Forces departure.
Notwithstanding the withdrawal of the Infantry Group, the Defence Forces intend to continue to occupy a small number of staff officer posts at the UNDOF mission HQ.
