Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 May 2014
164. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the extent to which further overseas deployment of the Defence Forces with the UN are envisaged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20810/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra165. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the degree to which the Naval Service and Air Corps have been involved in overseas deployment on foot of EU-UN missions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20811/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 164 and 165 together.
As of 04 May 2014, Ireland is contributing approximately 410 Defence Forces personnel to 13 different missions throughout the world. Full details of all personnel currently serving overseas are listed in the tabular statement. The main overseas missions in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 192 personnel, and the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) with 135 Defence Forces personnel. With regard to any future deployments of Defence Forces personnel overseas, 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. Due to Ireland’s own current level of commitment in overseas peacekeeping operations, notably to the United Nations Disengagement Force in Syria and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, we are not in a position to make any significant commitment to other missions at this time. The current contribution of some 410 personnel to overseas missions reflects the Government’s continued commitment to our responsibilities in the area of international peace and security. Details of the Naval Service and Air Corps personnel who have served overseas since 01 July 2013 are listed in the following table. The Department does not deploy Naval Service or Air Corps assets overseas.
AS OF 04 MAY 2014
|
1. |
UN MISSIONS |
- |
|
- |
UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) HQ |
12 |
|
- |
UNIFIL 42nd Infantry Group |
176 |
|
- |
UNIFIL Sector West HQ |
4 |
|
- |
UNTSO (United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation ) Israel & Syria |
13 |
|
- |
MINURSO (United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara) |
3 |
|
- |
MONUSCO (United Nations Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo) |
4 |
|
- |
UNOCI (United Nations Mission in Ivory Coast) |
2 |
|
- |
UNDOF (United Nations Disengagement Observer Force) Golan Heights Syria |
135 |
|
- |
UNMAS (United Nations Mine Action Service ) South Sudan |
5 |
|
- |
TOTAL |
354 |
|
- |
UN MANDATED MISSIONS |
- |
|
- |
EUFOR (EU led Operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina) |
7 |
|
-- |
EUTM Mali (EU led Training Mission) |
8 |
|
KFOR (International Security Presence in Kosovo) HQ |
12 |
|
|
- |
ISAF (International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan) |
7 |
|
- |
TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONNEL SERVING WITH UN MISSIONS |
388 |
|
2. |
ORGANISATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE (OSCE) |
- |
|
- |
OSCE Mission to Bosnia & Herzegovina |
2 |
|
- |
OSCE Mission in Belgrade – Serbia |
1 |
|
- |
Staff Officer, High Level Planning Group Vienna |
1 |
|
- |
TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONNEL SERVING OSCE |
4 |
|
3. |
EU MILITARY STAFF |
|
|
- |
Brussels |
5 |
|
4. |
NORDIC BATTLE GROUP 2015 |
|
|
- |
FHQ Sweden |
3 |
|
5. |
MILITARY REPRESENTATIVES/ADVISERS/STAFF |
- |
|
- |
Military Adviser, Permanent Mission to UN, New York |
1 |
|
- |
Military Adviser Irish delegation to OSCE, Vienna |
1 |
|
- |
Military Representative to EU (Brussels) |
4 |
|
- |
Liaison Office of Ireland, NATO/PfP (Brussels) |
2 |
|
- |
EU OHQ Operation Althea, Mons, Belgium |
1 |
|
- |
Irish Liaison Officer to SHAPE & Military Co-Op Division, Mons, Belgium |
1 |
|
- |
TOTAL NUMBER OF DEFENCE FORCES PERSONNEL SERVING OVERSEAS |
410 |
NAVAL SERVICE AND AIR CORPS PERSONNEL SERVING OVERSEAS SINCE 01 JULY 2013
|
- |
ENLISTED PERSONNEL |
OFFICERS |
TOTAL |
|
Naval Service |
4 |
1 |
5 |
|
Air Corps |
11 |
6 |
17 |
|
TOTAL |
15 |
7 |
22 |
