Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 December 2011
344 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to any further requirements in the terms of Defence Forces deployment on peace-keeping or peace enforcement issues; if he will outline the locations requiring such ongoing attention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39483/11]
Amharc ar fhreagra346 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the number and location of overseas deployment of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39485/11]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 344 and 346 together.
Ireland is currently contributing 529 Defence Forces personnel to 11 different missions throughout the world. Full details of all personnel currently serving overseas are listed in the tabular statement below.
The main overseas missions, in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed, are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 455 personnel, the NATO-led International Security presence (KFOR) in Kosovo with 12 personnel, the EU Training Mission (EUTM) Somalia with 7 personnel, the EU-led operation ALTHEA in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with 7 personnel, and the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan with 7 personnel. Participation by the Defence Forces in these missions is subject to annual review by the Government and ongoing review by the Minister for Defence. As regards participation in UNIFIL, which is our largest mission, Ireland's participation is expected to continue for 3 to 4 years.
Ireland receives requests, from time to time, in relation to participation in various missions and these are considered on a case-by-case basis. When considering any particular request, the existence of realistic objectives and a clear mandate, which has the potential to contribute to a political solution, consideration of how the mission relates to the priorities of Irish foreign policy and the degree of risk involved are amongst the factors considered.
Apart from the recent deployment of a battalion to UNIFIL and the appointment of Colonel Michael Beary in August 2011 to the post of Mission Commander for EUTM Somalia, no other requests have been received at this time.
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Members of the Permanent Defence Force Serving Overseasas of 1st December 2011 |
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1 |
UN Missions |
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(i) UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) HQUNIFIL 105 Infantry BattalionSector West HQ |
104378 |
|
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(ii) UNTSO (United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation) — Israel, Syria and Lebanon |
12 |
|
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(iii) MINURSO (United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara) |
3 |
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(iv) MONUSCO (United Nations Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo) |
3 |
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(v) UNOCI (United Nations Mission in Ivory Coast) |
2 |
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Total |
475 |
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UN Mandated Missions |
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(vi) EUFOR (EU-led Operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina) |
7 |
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(vii) EUTM Somalia (EU-led Training Mission in Uganda) |
7 |
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(viii) KFOR (International Security Presence in Kosovo) — HQ |
12 |
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(ix) ISAF (International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan) |
7 |
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Total Number of Personnel Serving with UN Missions |
508 |
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2 |
Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) |
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(i) OSCE Mission to Bosnia & Herzegovina |
2 |
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(ii) OSCE Mission in Belgrade — Serbia |
1 |
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(iii) Staff Officer, High Level Planning Group, Vienna |
1 |
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Total Number of Personnel Serving OSCE |
4 |
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3 |
EU Military Staff |
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Brussels |
7 |
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4 |
Military Representatives/Advisers/Staff |
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(i) Military Adviser, Permanent Mission to UN, New York |
1 |
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(ii) Military Adviser, Irish Delegation to OSCE, Vienna |
1 |
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(iii) Staff Appointments, Irish Delegation to OSCE, Vienna |
1 |
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(iv) Military Representative to EU (Brussels) |
4 |
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(v) Liaison Office of Ireland, NATO/PfP (Brussels) |
2 |
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(vi) Military Representative to NATO/PfP Co-ordination Cell/Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), Mons, Belgium |
1 |
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Total Number of Defence Forces Personnel Serving Overseas |
529 |
