Written Answers. - Foreign Service.
Peadar Clohessy
Ceist:
17
Mr. Clohessy
asked the
Minister for Defence
the number of requests that have been received by his Department during 1996 to supply Defence Forces personnel for service outside the State; the dates such requests were received; the organisation or agency which made each request; the nature, duration and location of the missions to which the requests related; the number of personnel requested in each case; the ranks and skill-type requested in each case; the date on which a decision was made by his Department in respect of each case; the decision made in each case; the requests, if any, that were refused; if so, the reason(s) for refusals of requests in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14436/96]
A total of seven requests to supply Defence Forces personnel for service outside the State were received during 1996. Details of these requests are as follows. A request was received from the United Nations on 2 January 1996 for two ammunition technical officers for deployment to Croatia and Bosnia for approximately six weeks. Deployment was approved on 8 January.
However, the United Nations indicated that as there was already an adequate number of suitable personnel deployed they would not be taking up our offer. A request dated 5 February 1996 was received from the United Nations seeking our agreement to the redeployment of five military observers with the United Nations Peace Forces (in the former Yugoslavia) to the United Nations mission in Croatia, Eastern Slavonia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. These missions have a one year tour of duty. The required redeployments took place on 29 February 1996.
A request dated 14 March 1996 was received from the United Nations seeking explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) teams to operate with the United Nations Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia (UNTAES) for a period of about nine months. It was indicated that each team would consist of two or three personnel of a rank no higher than captain. The duties would involve demining and destruction of unexploded ordnance and booby traps. Further clarification required by my Department was recently received and a decision will be given shortly. The United Nations issued a request on 4 April 1996 seeking to increase the number of Irish military personnel serving with the United Nations Preventative Deployment Force in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (UNPREDEP) from one to two observers, the tour of duty to be for one year. The request was met on 18 April and deployment took place on 18 May.
HMD International, a UK-based charity issued a request in April 1996 for up to 15 military personnel to take part in a hospital rehabilitation programme in Angola for a period of three months, but there may be a requirement to replace some of the personnel at the end of the three-months period. The request was approved at the end of May and arrangements are currently under way to select volunteers. It is proposed that the following personnel will be provided: two medical officers, two nurses, two paramedics, one engineer officer, four tradesmen, two logisticians, one cook and one fitter.
On 21 May 1996, the United Nations requested an engineering officer for assignment to the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, United Nations, New York, for a period of one year. On 10 June 1996 it was decided not to accede to the request due to priority commitments at home. Requests were received from the Department of Foreign Affairs on 24 June last for the provision of two monitors for the municipal elections in Mostar and for the appointment of a presidency co-ordinator to liaise between the EU administration in Mostar and the Presidency. The requests were approved on 27 June and the required personnel have been provided.
