Vol. 527 No. 4
93 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Defence the total amount of moneys owing to his Department in respect of contributions towards troop and other costs associated with the participation of Defence Force personnel in overseas operations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28833/00]
The only missions for which Ireland is entitled to reimbursement of troop costs by the UN are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus, UNFICYP, and the United Nations Transitional Authority in East Timor, UNTAET. Troop costs in respect of these missions are calcu lated at the rate of $1087.10 US per person per month.
The total amount of money due to my Department by the United Nations as at 30 November 2000 in respect of contributions towards troop and other costs associated with the participation of Defence Force personnel in UN missions is calculated at IR£8.4 million approximately. Continuous efforts are made to recover from the United Nations the moneys owed. These efforts are strenuously pursued with the United Nations on an ongoing basis by the Department of Defence and the Department of Foreign Affairs in conjunction with the Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations in New York. Both my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and I take every opportunity to raise with the UN Ireland's concerns regarding arrears. Since 1 January 2000 the UN has repaid arrears of £8 million approximately almost entirely in respect of UNIFIL.
