Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 2 Apr 1996

Vol. 463 No. 6

Written Answers. - Garda Foreign Postings.

Noel Ahern

Ceist:

228 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Justice the number and grade of gardaí currently working for the United Nations outside this State; the number in each location; the duration of their contracts; the number involved for previous years; the number of volunteers for these postings; whether the full costs are paid by the United Nations; and the benefits gained by this country. [7101/96]

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen)

The number and rank of members currently serving on UN missions outside the State is set out in the table following as are the details requested in respect of previous years.

The first Garda contingent was deployed on UN duty in April 1989. Since that first mission approximately 330 members of the Garda Síochána have served with various UN missions throughout the world. The duration of the contracts depends on the mission but usually lasts for one year. I am informed by the Garda authorities that approximately 500 members apply annually for overseas duty. The United Nations pay the deployment cost of the contingent to the mission area and repatriation costs on completion of the tour of duty. They also pay an allowance to members in respect of food and accommodation. The State provides suitable equipment and continues to pay the salary costs of the contingent and an overseas allowance which can vary from £11.57 to £18.73 per day. One paid journey home during the term of the mission may also be borne by the State depending on the duration and nature of the mission.

The reputation of the Garda Síochána and Ireland has been greatly enhanced by the contribution made by gardaí to these missions. Tributes and commendations not only from the UN but also from the local communities where they have been based testify to this. It was because of this high reputation that Chief Superintendent M. Murphy was appointed by the UN as commissioner of the UN civilian police component in Somalia in April 1994 and Assistant Commissioner P. Fitzgerald, was appointed recently as commissioner of the UN International Police Task Force in Bosnia and Hercegovina. The members of the contingents themselves have gained valuable experience in working abroad and also by contact with police contingents of other nationalities, but we should not, at the same time, play down the very important role which has been played by this country, through the Garda Síochána, in assisting the UN in establishing-maintaining democracy throughout the world.

I would finally like to take this opportunity to thank those members of the force who have participated in or are currently abroad on UN missions and have brought distinction to this State in the discharge of their duties abroad.

Year	Location	Contingent	Duration of Mission
Present	Cyprus	15 members:	October 1993 — to date
	(UNFICYP)	1 C/Supt.
		1 Supt.
		2 Inspectors
		3 Sergeants
		8 Gardaí
	Former Yugoslavia	31 members:	January 1996 — to date
	(UNIPTF)	1 A/Comm.
		1 Supt.
		1 Inspector
		6 Sergeant
		22 Gardaí
1995	Former Yugoslavia	20 members	March 1992 — January 1996
	(UNPROFOR)
	Cyprus	15 members	October 1993 — to date
	(UNFICYP)
	Western Sahara	15 members	May 1995 — March 1996
	(MINUSO)
1994	Somalia	4 members	April 1994 — August 1994
	Mozambique	20 members	April 1994 — November 1994
	Cyprus	15 members	October 1993 — to date
	Former Yugoslavia	20 members	March 1992 — Jan 1996
	(UNPROFOR)
1993	Cambodia	40 members	April 1992 — July 1993
	Cyprus	15 members	October 1993 — to date
	Former Yugoslavia	20 members	March 1992 — January 1996
	(UNPROFOR)
1992	Angola	10 members	September 1991 — November 1992
	Cambodia	40 members	April 1992 — May 1994
	Former Yugoslavia	20 members	March 1992 — January 1996
	(UNPROFOR)
1991	Angola	10 members	September 1991 — November 1992
	El Salvador	1 members	March 1991 — April 1991
1990	Namibia	50 members	April 1989 — March 1990
1989	Namibia	50 members	April 1989 — March 1990