Paul McGrath
Ceist:35 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Defence if payments have been made within the past month by the UN for peace-keeping work abroad by our troops; and if he will outline the amount of current payments due to us by the UN.
Written Answers. - UN Troops Remuneration.
Brendan McGahon
Ceist:40 Mr. McGahon asked the Minister for Defence if payments have been made within the past month by the UN for peace-keeping work abroad by our troops; and if he will outline the amount of current payments due to us by the UN.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 35 and 40 together.
In the past month, payments totalling approximately £2.3m were received from the United Nations in respect of Irish participation in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The bulk of this amount — about £2m — represents arrears to troop costs.
A total of about £14.6m is currently due to my Department by the UN. Of this amount, £13.8m relates to involvement in UNIFIL since May, 1978. The remaining shortfall of £0.8m arises out of participation in the United Nations Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) which commenced in April, 1964. The arrears in question are the subject of ongoing representations to the United Nations by the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Defence made both bilaterally and in conjunction with our partners in the European Community.