Vol. 416 No. 1
46 Mr. Taylor asked the Minister for Defence the number of members of the Defence Forces, if any, who are serving overseas, and who consistently spend or are anticipated to spend more than 30 days per year overseas in non-United Nations missions as at 31 December 1991, and currently; if he will outline the legislation that permits such service; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
As at 31 December 1991, seven members of the Permanent Defence Force were serving overseas with non-United Nations missions, six with the EC Monitor Mission to Yugoslavia and one officer in Vienna acting as Military Adviser to the Irish delegation to the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE). On 29 January 1992, three officers took up duty with the EC Task Force for Food Aid to Russia, bringing the total number of Irish military personnel currently with non-UN missions to ten. All the Military personnel concerned are serving in a voluntary unarmed capacity.
There is provision in the Defence Act, 1954, for military service within the State as well as service outside the State in certain circumstances. Provision for service overseas under the aegis of the United Nations is contained in the Defence (Amendment) Act, 1960. These provisions do not preclude service otherwise outside the State on a voluntary basis.
