Vol. 421 No. 8
9 Mrs. Taylor-Quinn asked the Minister for Defence the number of bomb disposal operations which have been carried out by Irish UNIFIL personnel in the past five years; and if there are any grounds for recent reports that Irish UNIFIL personnel, engaged in bomb disposal operations, have been the target of known local assailants in the Lebanon.
22 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Defence the number of bomb disposal operations which have been carried out by Irish UNIFIL personnel in the past five years.
33 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Defence the number of bomb disposal operations which have been carried out by Irish UNIFIL personnel in the past five years.
35 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for Defence the number of Irish UNIFIL personnel killed or injured by explosive devices while on active service in the past five years; and the number who have been killed or injured during the course of bomb disposal operations.
39 Mrs. Taylor-Quinn asked the Minister for Defence whether there are any grounds for recent reports that Irish UNIFIL personnel engaged in bomb disposal operations have been the target of local assailants in the Lebanon.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 9, 22, 33, 35, 39, 52 and 54 together.
Explosive ordnance disposal operations are very much a routine part of the activities of Irish UNIFIL personnel. Statistics relating to the past five years in respect of the operations involved which include the disposal of unexploded munitions and devices are not readily available. There has been no recent evidence that Irish personnel engaged in such operations have been the target of local armed elements. No Irish personnel have been killed or injured in the course of bomb disposal operations at any stage of our involvement with UNIFIL.
In the past five years three members of the Permanent Defence Force have been killed by an explosive device while on operational duty with UNIFIL. All three deaths were caused on 21 March 1989 as a result of the explosion of a land mine beneath the truck in which they were travelling. This was the last serious incident involving an explosive device which resulted in Irish casualties.
The safety of Irish personnel serving with UNIFIL is kept under constant review. Troops selected for overseas service undergo a rigorous programme of training designed to help them carry out their peacekeeping mission and to provide for their protection. All developments affecting the safety of Irish personnel serving in UNIFIL are closely monitored and security procedures are continually reviewed. Operational procedures in Lebanon are geared — I have had experience of this — to provide maximum safety for our troops consistent with the carrying out of their mission. Every effort will continue to be made to ensure the greatest possible protection for our troops on overseas service.
Is the Minister aware of a report in the Sunday Times of 21 June 1992 which clearly stated that the Shi'ite guerillas were specifically targeting Irish UNIFIL troops in South Lebanon because of their extraordinary expertise in relation to bomb disposal and that Lieutenant Aonghus Murphy died as a result of this targeting?
I have the Sunday Times article in front of me and it is quite flattering to our troops in the Lebanon. I do not have anything further to add because my reply was full and gave all the facts. I was very pleased with the article because usually articles from certain sources are not very flattering to our troops. However, that article was in touch with reality and paid a great tribute to our troops operating in the Lebanon.
In relation to South Lebanon, has the Minister received any further report or indication as to who killed Corporal McCarthy from Cork before Christmas?
We are pursuing that with the authorities. Lieutenant Murphy served with the 64th Battalion and — to give an idea of how far back that was — the 71st Battalion are serving in the Lebanon at present. We are pursuing the matter of Corporal McCarthy's killing with the Israeli authorities. The de facto forces in South Lebanon, if not commanded by the Israeli Army, are sponsored by them.
