Overseas Missions

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 May 2012

Thursday, 17 May 2012

Ceisteanna (3, 4)

Maureen O'Sullivan

Ceist:

3Deputy Maureen O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Defence the role he envisages for Irish troops sent abroad on peacekeeping missions in relation to the current situation in Syria; if the deployment of the 106th Infantry Battalion to UNIFIL in Lebanon this month will be part of a larger peacekeeping initiative in relation to Syria and if it will contribute to the prevention of further escalation of violence from Syria into the Lebanon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24816/12]

Dara Calleary

Ceist:

4Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Defence the role that the Defence Forces will play in the UN mission in Syria; the number of personnel involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24648/12]

Freagraí ó Béal (8 píosaí cainte)

Deputy Alan Shatter

I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 and 4 together. On 21 April 2012, unanimously adopting resolution 2043 (2012), the United Nations Security Council authorised the establishment, for an initial period of 90 days, of a supervision mission, known as the United Nations Supervision Mission in Syria, UNSMIS. The purpose of the mission is to monitor a cessation of armed violence "in all its forms by all parties" in Syria. The new mission is also tasked with monitoring the full implementation of the six-point plan proposed by joint special envoy for the United Nations and the League of Arab States, Mr. Kofi Annan.

On 24 April 2012, the Government approved the deployment of up to six members of the Permanent Defence Force as unarmed military observers to UNSMIS, in response to a request from the United Nations. Six Defence Forces personnel were deployed to the mission area on 11 May 2012. The role of the Irish personnel is to observe and report on the security situation and any transgressions of the ceasefire agreement and the implementation of the six-point plan.

The UN mission will comprise an initial deployment of up to 300 military observers under the command of a chief military observer with an appropriate civilian component as required by the mission to fulfil its mandate. It is estimated that all 300 observers will be on the ground by the end of this month.

The mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, mission, acting in support of the Government of Lebanon, is, inter alia, to ensure that its area of operations in southern Lebanon is not utilised for hostile activities of any kind and to resist attempts by forceful means to prevent it from discharging its duties under the mandate of the UN Security Council.

I am advised that there has been no reported security spillover from the Syrian situation into the UNIFIL area of operations. The Irish battalion serving with UNIFIL, currently the 106th, conducts operations solely within the UNIFIL area of operations in southern Lebanon. While I understand that there have been a number of recent security incidents along the northern Lebanese Syrian Border, this is a considerable distance from the UNIFIL area of operations and, as such, does not involve UNIFIL and is a matter essentially for the Lebanese authorities.

Deputy Maureen O’Sullivan

I compliment the reputation of our troops on foreign missions. It has been positive compared with troops from other countries. Troops from other countries have been involved in certain situations which have done them no credit. However, the Irish missions have been excellent.

Is the Minister planning on any of the troops in Lebanon moving out of that UNIFIL area because there was violence recently 45 miles north of Beirut between a small group which was supportive of President Assad and the Sunni majority? Is there any possibility of our troops being used in that way within Lebanon? Also, have there been requests or are discussions going on to redeploy our troops in other conflict areas?

Deputy Alan Shatter

There are no plans to move our troops from the Irish area of operations in southern Lebanon. There is a discrete area of operations in which the Irish UNIFIL force locate, and that will continue. Fortunately, the position is still relatively quiet within our area of operations. There is continued vigilance to ensure that our troops are secure and are in a position to undertake the important work they are undertaking.

The position in Syria is extremely volatile. It is a matter of continuing concern. There have been recent incidents in Syria involving some of the UN monitors who are there, not involving our troops but troops from other countries, which are a cause of very serious concern. None of the Irish monitors or observers was involved in incidents that occurred in recent days but there is continued vigilance of what is happening within Syria. There is a regular review by the UN of the mission in Syria and its capacity to fulfil its objectives, and we will continue to review the position as well.

The hope is that the plan to bring about a cessation of violence in Syria will prove successful. Unfortunately, so far there is continuing violence both from the forces of President Assad and also from those engaged in opposition to him. Those forces are somewhat fragmented and appear to have various and differing allegiances in the context of the conflict still sadly taking place there.

Deputy Dara Calleary

We wish our troops well, particularly those in Syria. As the Minister stated, the position is extremely volatile even though the international media appears to have moved away from it. Is the Minister in receipt of daily or weekly reports in terms of threat assessment? I presume that is an evolving situation given the events of recent days. Are there any plans to send any more Irish troops to Syria in an observation capacity? Will the mission in Syria end when Mr. Annan's work ends there or does the Minister see a long-term role for Irish troops in Syria?

Deputy Alan Shatter

The initial mission for the monitors is a 90 day mission. The Deputy might be interested in incidents involving the observers that have occurred in recent days and are a cause of concern.

UN reports indicate that the UN supervision mission in Syria had advised the UN that shortly after 2 p.m. local time on 15 May a convoy of four vehicles was struck by an explosion from an improvised explosive device at Khan Cheikhoun, near Hama. There have been substantial difficulties and substantial loss of life in Hama. Three UN vehicles were damaged but no UN personnel were hurt in the explosion. The mission sent a patrol team to the area to help extract those UN military observers. As I said, no Irish observers were involved. The mission reported yesterday, 16 May 2012, that it picked up the six UN military observers who had to stay overnight in Khan Cheikhoun after vehicles in their convoy were damaged following the explosion. They are now back at their team site in Hama.

Last Tuesday, 15 May, the UN reported from the United Nations supervision mission in Syria that heavy fighting took place on 14 May in Talbisa, in Rastan, and United Nations military observers witnessed that a highway in the area had been blocked by Government forces. A United Nations military observer patrol helped to de-escalate the situation and got the highway opened after interaction with Government forces.

The reality, unfortunately, is that there are continuing incidents and concerns with regard to the area. There are uncertainties about the likelihood of the six-point plan for Syria proposed by UN-Arab League joint special envoy, Kofi Annan, being implemented. The mission is under ongoing review by the United Nations. The UN Security Council Resolution 2043 requests the UN Secretary General to report to the Council on the implementation of its resolution every 15 days and also to submit as necessary to the Council proposals for possible adjustments to the mandate.

The current UN mandate expires on 20 July 2012. Whether the mandate will be renewed remains to be seen and much depends on what happens with regard to the ongoing conflict and the likelihood of the implementation of the six-point plan. As matters stand there are no plans to send any additional troops from our Defence Forces other than to maintain in situ the six monitors who are there. Obviously, we will keep a watchful eye on how matters develop with regard to the capacity of the monitors to fulfil a useful function and to meet a mandate in circumstances in which violence appears to be continuing.

Deputy Maureen O’Sullivan

I have a general question on the deployment of our troops abroad. I wonder about the usefulness of the seven personnel in Afghanistan, for example, whereas we have two on the OSCE mission in Bosnia, and there is a danger of escalating problems arising in Bosnia. I ask about the criteria used in those two situations.

Deputy Dara Calleary

I am sure the Minister is doing this but now that UN troops have become a target in Syria, which is a serious development, is he getting daily updates from UN authorities on the security position in the country?

Deputy Alan Shatter

I receive any updates required, bearing in mind circumstances as they evolve. I am maintaining a continuing interest and closely monitoring what is happening.

In reply to Deputy O'Sullivan, we have small numbers of members of the Deafens Forces located in different parts of the world engaged in UN authorised missions and they are performing important and useful functions. In parts of the world where we have very small numbers it is members of the Irish Defence forces who are in important command positions with regard to missions involving troops from other countries.

We have seven members of the Defence Forces in Afghanistan. Their work is substantially in the administrative areas but our forces there have done important work with regard to improvised explosive devices. We have substantial expertise in this country in that area. They have been engaged in training other troops as to how improvised explosive devises can be neutralised. It is work directly focused on saving lives. It is very important work, and I know the members of our Defence Forces in Afghanistan are held in high regard. The work they do is a genuine contribution to trying to end conflict and to protect innocent individuals from the dangers posed by those sort of advices.