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Justice Committee welcomes realignment of UNDOF mission on the Golan Heights

8 Oct 2014, 15:26

The Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality has welcomed Minister for Defence Simon Coveney’s statement that United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), which includes Irish troops, has continued to reconfigure its operations with a view to minimising unacceptable risks to peacekeepers, while continuing to implement the mission’s mandate.

Speaking at a meeting with the Committee today, Wednesday, 8th October 2014, the Minister told members that there had been a fundamental realignment of the UNDOF mission following an escalation of fighting in the UNDOF area of responsibility in which troops from the Irish contingent came under fire and returned fire.

Committee Chairman David Stanton TD said: “Our Committee is reassured by the Minister’s statement that there has been a fundamental realignment of the UNDOF mission. The Minister said that the realignment reflects the deteriorating situation on the ground and endeavours to ensure the safety of personnel, while continuing to implement the mission’s mandate. According to the Minister, the Headquarters of the UNDOF mission, including the Irish contingent, has now been relocated to Camp Ziouani on the Israeli side of the area of separation. The UNDOF mission has evacuated all but one of the posts in the southern half of the area of responsibility. Movement in the area of responsibility is also restricted.

“The Committee would also like to welcome home the soldiers from the 44th Infantry Group who last night returned from a very challenging and difficult six month mission to the Golan Heights. They displayed a level of professionalism of which we should all be proud. We would also like to wish the new deployment of 130 troops from the 46th Infantry Group well on their six month mission to the region.”

Media Enquiries to:

Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2

P: +3531 618 3903
M: 086-0496518
F: +3531 618 4551
Email: Ciaran.brennan@oireachtas.ie

Committee Membership

Deputies: Niall Collins (FF); Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (FG); Alan Farrell (FG); Anne Ferris (LAB) [Vice-Chairman]; Seán Kenny (LAB); Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (SF); Finian McGrath (IND); John Paul Phelan (FG); David Stanton (FG) [Chairman]

Senators: Ivana Bacik (LAB); Martin Conway (FG); Rónán Mullen (IND); Denis O’Donovan (FF); Katherine Zappone (IND); Tony Mulcahy (FG)

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