Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:53 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the extent and location of the Defence Forces peacekeeping commitment; if it is intended to increase this commitment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14077/02]
Written Answers. - Defence Forces Personnel.
The total number of Defence Forces personnel currently serving overseas is 518. Full details are listed in the tabular statement which will be circulated in the Official Report.
The question of Defence Forces participation in overseas missions is kept under regular review. Requests from the United Nations for Irish participation in new missions are considered on a case by case basis within the context of the United Nations stand-by arrangement system. As I have indicated in the House previously, in October 1998 Ireland signed a memorandum of understanding with the United Nations in relation to UNSAS. Ireland has committed up to 850 Defence Forces personnel for UN service at any one time under this system. There is no obligation to participate in any particular mission and Dáil approval is required for the despatch of a contingent to a specific operation. The decision to participate in UNSAS is a tangible expression of Ireland's continuing commitment to involvement in peacekeeping operations.
Members of the Permanent Defence Force serving overseas with effect from 17 June
|
1. |
UN Missions |
||
|
(i) |
UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) |
5 |
|
|
(ii) |
UNTSO (United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation) – Israel, Syria and Lebanon |
13 |
|
|
(iii) |
UNFICYP (United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus) |
7 |
|
|
(iv) |
UNIKOM (United Nations Iraq Kuwait Observer Mission) |
6 |
|
|
(v) |
MINURSO (United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara) |
3 |
|
|
(vi) |
UNMIK (United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo) |
3 |
|
|
(vii) |
UNMOP (United Nations Mission of Observers in Prevlaka) |
2 |
|
|
(viii) |
UNMISET (United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor)(Formerly UNTAET) |
44 |
|
|
(ix) |
UNMEE (United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea) |
220 |
|
|
(x) |
MONUC |
||
|
(United Nations Mission in Democratic Republic of the Congo) |
2 |
||
|
UN Mandated Missions |
|||
|
(xi) |
SFOR Stabilisation Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina SFOR HQ Sarajevo |
60 |
|
|
(xii) |
KFOR International Security Presence in Kosovo |
112 |
|
|
Total number of personnel serving with UN missions |
477 |
||
|
2. |
EU Missions |
||
|
European Union Monitor Mission (EUMM) to the former Yugoslavia |
14 |
||
|
3. |
Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) |
||
|
(i) |
OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina |
3 |
|
|
(ii) |
OSCE Mission in Croatia |
2 |
|
|
(iii) |
OSCE Mission in Kosovo |
1 |
|
|
(iv) |
OSCE Presence in Albania |
1 |
|
|
(v) |
OSCE Mission in FRY |
1 |
|
|
(vi) |
OSCE Mission in Macedonia |
2 |
|
|
(vii) |
OSCE Mission in Georgia |
1 |
|
|
(viii) |
Staff Officer, Higher Level Planning Group, Vienna |
1 |
|
|
Total number of personnel serving OSCE |
12 |
||
|
4. |
Head of Military Staff (Brussels) |
1 |
|
|
5. |
EU Military Staff (Brussels) |
3 |
|
|
6. |
Liaison Office of Ireland, PfP (Brussels) |
3 |
|
|
7. |
Permanent Representative to EU (Brussels) |
4 |
|
|
8. |
Military Representatives/Advisers (on secondment to Dept of Foreign Affairs) |
||
|
(i) |
Military Advisers, Permanent Mission to UNHQ, New York |
1 |
|
|
(ii) |
Deputy Military Adviser, Permanent Mission to UNHQ, New York |
1 |
|
|
(iii) |
Military Adviser, Irish Delegation to OSCE, Vienna |
1 |
|
|
(iv) |
Military Representative to Partnership Co-ordination Cell/Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), Mons, Belgium. |
1 |
|
|
Total Number Defence Forces Personnel Serving Overseas |
518 |