Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 February 2008
167 Deputy Rory O’Hanlon asked the Minister for Defence the number of UN peace support operations worldwide in which the Irish Defence Forces participated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8216/08]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland has a long and honourable history in providing personnel to support peacekeeping operations throughout the world. This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of Ireland's first participation in a United Nations peacekeeping mission.
A central tenet of Irish foreign policy is support for the multilateral system of collective security represented by the United Nations. In this regard, Ireland has worked to uphold the primary role of the Security Council in the maintenance of international peace and security. This commitment has found expression in Ireland's longstanding tradition of participation in UN peacekeeping operations. Ireland has participated continuously in UN peacekeeping operations since 1958, a service which has comprised more than 56,000 individual tours of duty and involved 54 missions. The Defence Forces have served all over the world in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the Far East and South America with UN or UN authorised missions. Currently, Ireland has a total of 474 Defence Forces personnel serving overseas with 14 different missions.
