Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 March 2004
36 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Defence the financial arrangements with the United Nations in respect of Irish troops serving overseas in UN and related missions; if all payments due are up to date; if not the amounts involved; and his proposals in this regard. [9219/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland is entitled to reimbursement of troop and other costs by the UN in respect of Defence Forces participation in UN-mandated missions in Lebanon, Cyprus, East Timor, Ethiopia and Eritrea — UNMEE, and Liberia. The level of reimbursement in respect of troop costs is US$1,131.30 per person per month. The total amount of money due to my Department by the United Nations as at 29 February 2004 in respect of troop and other costs associated with the participation of Defence Forces personnel in UN missions is approximately €10.8 million. Since 1 January 2003, the UN has repaid arrears of €4.3 million approximately, mainly in respect of UNMEE.
Continual efforts are made to recover from the United Nations the moneys owed. These efforts are strenuously pursued 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.
