Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 March 2025
233. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to outline each UN peacekeeping mission the Defence Forces have served on since 1960; the UN mandate that sanctioned each; the number of peacekeeping missions Ireland currently participates in; the number of personnel assigned to each, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11318/25]
View answerIreland 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).
Ireland has a proud tradition of participation in UN and UN-authorised peace operations, as the only country with an unbroken record of service in UN peacekeeping missions since 1958. Our peacekeepers are recognised internationally for their expertise and experience.
Full details of Defence Force deployments to UN peacekeeping operations since 1960 are listed in the tabular statement below. The mandate that sanctioned each Mission is available in the United Nations Digital Library, which contains the full text of UN resolutions related to each peacekeeping mission, and available at the following link: digitallibrary.un.org
THE DEFENCE FORCES CONTRIBUTIONS TO UN PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS as at 1st March 2025
|
MISSION |
FROM |
TO |
|
UNTSO |
DEC 58 |
|
|
UNIFIL |
MAY 78 |
|
|
MINURSO |
SEP 91 |
JUL 21 |
|
MONUC/MONUSCO |
JUN 01 |
Apr 21 |
|
UNDOF |
JUN 13 |
|
|
MINUSMA |
SEP 19 |
SEP 22 |
|
ONUCI |
JUN 04 |
MAR 17 |
|
RSM |
JAN 15 |
MAR 16 |
|
ISAF |
2002 |
DEC 14 |
|
UNMAS |
AUG 13 |
SEP 14 |
|
UNSMIS |
MAY 12 |
AUG 12 |
|
UNFICYP |
MAR 64 |
MAY 05 |
|
UNNY |
NOV 78 |
OCT 07 |
|
UNIKOM |
APR 92 |
MAR 03 |
|
UNMOP |
FEB 96 |
DEC 99 |
|
UNSMA |
JUL 96 |
OCT 99 |
|
UNSCOM |
SEP 97 |
MAR 03 |
|
UNPREDEP |
FEB 96 |
FEB 99 |
|
ONUC |
JUL 60 |
JUN 64 |
|
UNTEA |
AUG 62 |
OCT 62 |
|
UNIPOM |
SEP 65 |
MAR 66 |
|
UNEF II |
OCT 73 |
SEP 74 |
|
UNDOF |
JUN 97 |
AUG 98 |
|
UNIT |
JUN 84 |
JUL 88 |
|
UNMOGIP |
SEP 87 |
JUN 92 |
|
UNRWA |
FEB 88 |
JUN 92 |
|
UNMOGAP |
APR 88 |
MAR 90 |
|
OSGAP |
MAR 90 |
DEC 94 |
|
OSGA |
DEC 94 |
JUL 96 |
|
UNIIMOG |
AUG 88 |
MAR 91 |
|
UNTAG |
MAR 89 |
APR 90 |
|
ONUCA |
DEC 89 |
JAN 92 |
|
ONUSAL |
JAN 92 |
MAY 94 |
|
UNAVEM II |
JUL 91 |
SEP 93 |
|
UNTAC |
MAR 92 |
NOV 93 |
|
UNMLO-Y |
JAN 92 |
APR 92 |
|
UNPROFOR |
MAR 92 |
FEB 96 |
|
UNTAES |
FEB 96 |
JAN 98 |
|
UNHCR (Y) |
DEC 92 |
MAR 93 |
|
UNOSOM II |
AUG 93 |
JAN 95 |
|
UNMIH |
SEP 94 |
MAR 96 |
|
UNAMET |
JUN 99 |
OCT 99 |
|
UNMIK |
JUL 99 |
APR 09 |
|
UNMISET |
MAY 02 |
MAY 04 |
|
UNMEE |
NOV 01 |
JUN 03 |
|
UNTAET |
FEB 00 |
MAY 02 |
|
MINUCI |
JUN 03 |
JUN 04 |
|
UNMIL |
NOV 03 |
JAN 08 |
|
UNJLC |
JAN 05 |
MAY 05 |
|
ACEH |
SEP 05 |
DEC 06 |
|
MINURCAT |
MAR 09 |
DEC 10 |
As of 10 March 2025, the most recent date at which figures are available, Ireland is contributing 428 Defence Forces personnel to overseas missions and locations, which reflects the Government's continued commitment to our responsibilities in the area of international peace and security. The main mission in which personnel are currently deployed is the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 347 personnel.
Ireland also contributes personnel to two other UN missions located in the Middle East, the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO) Israel & Syria with 13 personnel, and the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Syria, with 3 personnel. Observers and staff are also deployed to various United Nations and OSCE missions and in addition, Defence Forces personnel hold staff appointments at UN, EU, NATO/PfP and OSCE headquarters.
Full details of all personnel currently serving in missions overseas are listed below.
MEMBERS OF THE PERMANENT DEFENCE FORCE SERVING OVERSEAS
As of 10 March 2025
|
UN MISSIONS |
|
|
UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) HQUNIFIL 125th Infantry BattalionUNIFIL Sector West HQ |
73394 |
|
UNTSO (United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation) Israel & Syria |
13 |
|
UNDOF (COS Staff/FHQ Staff - Camp Faouar - Bravo side) |
3 |
|
TOTAL |
366 |
|
UN MANDATED MISSIONS |
|
|
EUFOR (EU-led Operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina) |
5 |
|
KFOR (International Security Presence in Kosovo) HQ |
13 |
|
Naval Service EU Naval Mission (Op Irini) OHQ/FHQ (Op Irini HQ - 5 in OHQ)(1 in FHQ) |
4 |
|
TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONNEL SERVING WITH UN MISSIONS |
388 |
|
|
|
|
ORGANISATION FOR SECURITY AND CO-OPERATION IN EUROPE (OSCE) |
|
|
Staff Officer, High Level Planning Group, Vienna |
1 |
|
EU MILITARY STAFF (EUMS) |
|
|
Brussels |
8 |
|
EU BATTLE GROUP (EUBG) |
|
|
German Led Battle Group 2024-2,FHQ , Stadtallendorf |
14 |
|
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 Officer of Ireland, NATO /PfP (Brussels) |
4 |
|
EU OHQ Operation Althea, Mons, Belgium |
1 |
|
Irish Liaison Officer to SHAPE & Military Co-Op Division, Mons, Belgium |
1 |
|
Military C-IED Expert, UNMAS, UN Training Entebbe |
1 |
|
EUMAM UA |
4 |
|
TOTAL NUMBER OF DEFENCE FORCES PERSONNEL SERVING OVERSEAS |
428 |
