Ivor Callely
Ceist:123 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Defence the moneys owing to his Department from the United Nations for reimbursement of troop costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12045/02]
Written Answers. - Overseas Missions.
Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith): The only missions for which Ireland is currently entitled to reimbursement of troop costs by the UN are the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia-Eritrea, UNMEE, the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus, UNFICYP, and the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor, UNTAET. Such costs were also reimbursable in respect of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL. Troop costs in respect of these missions are calculated at the rate of about €1,109 per person per month.
The total amount of money due to my Department by the United Nations as at 31 March 2002, in respect of contributions towards troop and other costs associated with the participation of Defence Force personnel in UN missions is calculated at €9.29 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 Departments of Defence and 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 concern regarding arrears. In 2001 the UN repaid arrears of €7.957 million approximately almost entirely in respect of UNIFIL. Since 1 January 2002, the UN has repaid arrears of €1.29 million approximately.