Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:112 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence if he anticipates any new locations to which Irish peacekeeping forces are likely to be sent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18107/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 16 June 2004
Ceisteanna (75)
Freagraí scríofa
Ireland is contributing approximately 738 Defence Forces personnel to 21 missions throughout the world. The main commitments are to KFOR in Kosovo, with 213 personnel, and to UNMIL in Liberia, with 435 personnel. Other personnel are serving as monitors and observers with the UN, the OSCE and the EU. Staff are also deployed at the organisational headquarters of the OSCE, the UN , NATO and the EU. Ireland reconfigured its commitment in the Balkans in the past year, replacing the existing SFOR military police platoon in Bosnia Herzegovina and the KFOR transport company with an APC mounted infantry company group in KFOR. The Defence Forces are serving as part of the Finnish-Irish battle group in a Finnish-led multinational brigade.
A reorganisation and down-sizing of the NATO-led forces in KFOR was planned and had partly commenced when civil disturbances broke out in Kosovo in March of this year. The down-sizing has been deferred to allow the situation to settle. The withdrawal of the Irish contingent, which was planned as part of the down-sizing, was to have been completed by October 2004. Having regard to the fragility of the peace in Kosovo and subject to ongoing assessments of the situation on the ground, however, Ireland will continue to maintain an appropriate presence in KFOR in 2004.
Ireland's other current major contribution to peacekeeping is in Liberia. Along with an infantry group from Sweden, Ireland provides the rapid reaction reserve to the UNMIL Force Commander. Despite the difficult start to the mission, when Sergeant Derek Mooney of the Army ranger wing died tragically in a road accident, the mission is proving very successful. That Ireland was specifically asked by the UN to participate in a substantive manner in the mission is a tribute to the high regard in which the UN holds the Defence Forces. I welcome the participation of Sweden as part of the reserve. Such co-operation is reflective of the changing dynamics in peacekeeping. The range and diversity of arrangements in place for peacekeeping allows us to work in tandem with like-minded nations to contribute in an effective and meaningful manner in peace support operations throughout the world. Inter-operability with other forces has been a key factor in our involvement in PfP and our preparations over the past few years for the EU rapid reaction force. It is rewarding to see the effects of the hard work put in by the Defence Forces over the past number of years coming to fruition in such a positive manner, as part of the peace support role.
I have stated that our participation in the Liberia deployment would be for two to three years. The 90th infantry battalion, which recently returned home having successfully completed a six-month tour of duty, has been replaced by the 91st infantry battalion, which has just begun a six-month tour of duty.
We are looking forward to the take-over by the EU of the NATO-led mission in Bosnia Herzegovina in the next 12 months. Ireland has participated in its first EU mission, Operation Artemis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and it has a number of staff deployed at SFOR headquarters. Subject to the approval of the Government and Dáil Éireann and an appropriate UN mandate, I plan that Ireland will make a substantive contribution to the EU mission in SFOR, taking account of available resources and ongoing developments in the other peace support missions in which we are involved. At the request of the EU, I recently agreed to the appointment of an officer of the Permanent Defence Force to the new EU observer mission in Darfur, Sudan.
Question No. 113 answered with QuestionNo. 69.
Question No. 114 answered with QuestionNo. 80.