Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 January 2010
475 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Defence the remit and the duties carried out by Irish soldiers operating in Afghanistan with the international security assistance force; the number of soldiers that have served there to date in 2010; the cost of their secondment to such a force; the length of time involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3657/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 20 December 2001, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1386 under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, authorising the establishment of an International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. Ireland has participated in the NATO–led UN mandated mission since 5 July 2002, following the Government Decision of 2 July 2002, authorising the provision of seven (7) members of the Permanent Defence Force for service with the force. Over the past number of years the UN is increasingly relying on regional organisations such as the European Union, African Union and NATO to launch and manage operations on its behalf and under its authority.
Since 2002, the Government has reviewed and approved, on an annual basis, the continued participation by seven (7) members of the Permanent Defence Force in ISAF. On 30 June 2009, the Government approved continued participation by seven members of the Permanent Defence Force in ISAF for a further period from July 2009 subject to ongoing review by the Department of Defence.
The seven Irish personnel currently participating in ISAF, comprising 4 Officers and 3 Non Commissioned Officers, are located in the two ISAF Headquarters in Kabul. The Irish personnel work in staff appointments in planning and administrative roles. Irish personnel are rotated every 6 months.
Seven members of the Permanent Defence Force have served with the force to date in 2010. The additional cost to the Defence Vote arising out of Defence Force participation in ISAF is approximately €270,000 per annum.
476 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Defence the number of postings overseas of Irish soldiers in the past five years; the remit of the posting or operation; the length of time of the operation; the number of soldiers seconded to such posting to date in 2010; the cost to date of the posting or operation; if the State has been reimbursed for moneys expended on the posting or operations by an international body or by the States to which they are posted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3658/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland is currently contributing 758 Defence Forces personnel to 11 different missions throughout the world. Full details of all personnel currently serving overseas, including the dates from which the Defence Forces have participated in these missions, are listed in the tabular statement below.
The main overseas missions, in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed, are the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT) with 419 personnel, the NATO-led International Security presence (KFOR) in Kosovo with 236 personnel and the EU-led operation, ALTHEA, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with 44 personnel. Other personnel are serving as monitors and observers with the United Nations and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Staff are also deployed at the organisational headquarters of the EU, OSCE and NATO.
The taskings for the MINURCAT mission in Chad is similar to the former EUFOR mission in Chad but MINURCAT has two additional tasks, namely; to escort humanitarian aid convoys where and when necessary and to protect logistics distribution points and centres, including escorts. KFOR's mandate is to establish a safe and secure environment in Kosovo conducive to the implementation of refugee return and reconstruction. The EU-led operation, ALTHEA, in Bosnia and Herzegovina is tasked with the main peace stabilisation role under the military aspects of the General Framework for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Troops serving on the main overseas missions are rotated on a six-monthly basis except in the case of troops serving with MINURCAT in Chad who are rotated on four-monthly basis.
Details of the total number of Defence Forces personnel who served on overseas missions in the past five years are, as follows:
|
Year |
Defence Forces Personnel |
|
2005 |
1,440 |
|
2006 |
2,222 |
|
2007 |
1,652 |
|
2008 |
2,015 |
|
2009 |
1,881 |
In the case of UN-led missions e.g. MINURCAT (Chad), UNMIL (Liberia) and UNIFIL (Lebanon), the costs of deployment, repatriation, rotation, sustainment, accommodation, food and water, supply are all met by the UN.
As regards participation in UN mandated missions led by the EU and NATO e.g. EUFOR (Chad), KFOR (Kosovo), these missions operate on the basis of costs lie where they fall — i.e. contributing countries bear all costs incurred in the deployment and sustainment of their personnel. Additional costs incurred on the above missions are not reimbursed by the UN, EU and NATO. No reimbursement is received for Defence Forces personnel deployed as Military Observers on overseas missions.
Secondments of Defence Forces personnel to Irish Missions e.g. Military Adviser, Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations are funded by my Department. Secondments of Defence Forces personnel to international organizations e.g. UN are paid for by the organization.
The annual estimated additional cost to the Defence Vote of participation by the Defence Forces in KFOR (Kosovo) amounts to €10.5m approximately, and to €2.4m approximately for Operation ALTHEA (BiH). The annual estimated additional costs to the Defence Vote, net of annual UN reimbursement of €8.6m for troop and equipment costs, arising from participation in the MINURCAT mission in Chad amounts to some €7.6m. Participation by the Defence Forces in smaller overseas operations is not individually costed.
|
Number |
||
|
1. |
UN Missions |
|
|
(i) |
UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) HQ — May 1978 |
8 |
|
(ii) |
UNTSO (United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation) — Israel, Syria and Lebanon — Dec 1958 |
12 |
|
(iii) |
MINURSO (United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara) — Sep 1991 |
3 |
|
(iv) |
MONUC (United Nations Mission in Democratic Republic of Congo) — Jun 2001 |
3 |
|
(v) |
UNOCI (United Nations Mission in Ivory Coast) — Jun 2004 |
2 |
|
(vi) |
MINURCAT (United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad) — HQ 15 March 2009 |
13 |
|
MINURCAT (United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad) — 101st Inf Battalion 15 March 2009 |
406 |
|
|
TOTAL |
447 |
|
|
UN Mandated Missions |
||
|
(vii) |
EUFOR (EU-led Operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina) — Dec 2004 |
44 |
|
(viii) |
KFOR (International Security Presence in Kosovo) — HQ Jan 1999 |
20 |
|
KFOR (International Security Presence in Kosovo) 41st Inf Group — Jan 1999 |
216 |
|
|
(ix) |
ISAF (International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan) July 2002 |
7 |
|
TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONNEL SERVING WITH UN MISSIONS |
734 |
|
|
2. |
Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) |
|
|
(i) |
OSCE Mission to Bosnia & Herzegovina — 1995 |
2 |
|
(ii) |
OSCE Mission in Belgrade — Serbia — 1995 |
1 |
|
(iii) |
Staff Officer, Higher Level Planning Group, Vienna — 1994 |
1 |
|
TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONNEL SERVING OSCE |
4 |
|
|
3. |
EU Military Staff |
|
|
Brussels — 2001 |
7 |
|
|
4. |
Nordic Battlegroup HQ Staff — Sweden – (Aug 2009) |
4 |
|
5. |
Military Representatives/Advisers/Staff |
|
|
(i) |
Military Adviser, Permanent Mission to UN, New York (1978) |
1 |
|
(ii) |
Military Adviser, Irish Delegation to OSCE, Vienna (1994) |
1 |
|
(iii) |
Military Representative to EU (Brussels) (2001) |
4 |
|
(iv) |
Liaison Office of Ireland, NATO/PfP (Brussels) (1999) |
2 |
|
(v) |
Military Representative to NATO/PfP Co-ordination Cell/Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), Mons. Belgium (1997) |
1 |
|
TOTAL NUMBER OF DEFENCE FORCES PERSONNEL SERVING OVERSEAS |
758 |
