Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 February 2017
312. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the extent to which Irish troops currently serve overseas or are likely to so do in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7759/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs of 1 February 2017, Ireland is contributing 587 Defence Forces personnel to 10 different missions throughout the world. In addition, personnel are deployed to a range of international organisations and National Representations.
The main overseas mission in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed is the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 379 personnel. Since 22 November 2016, when Ireland assumed the lead of the joint Battalion in UNIFIL from Finland, Ireland's contribution to UNIFIL was increased by some 150 personnel. Ireland is also contributing 136 personnel to the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in the Golan Heights.
Full details of all personnel currently serving overseas are shown in the table.
The Department of Defence constantly reviews the deployment of Defence Forces personnel overseas. 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.
The question of a deployment of further Naval Service vessels to the Mediterranean in 2017 is currently under consideration.
Members of the Permanent Defence Force Serving Overseas
As of 1 st February 2017
1. UN MISSIONS
(i) UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) HQ - 30
UNIFIL 109th Infantry Battalion - 341
UNIFIL Sector West HQ - 8
(ii) UNTSO (United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation) Israel & Syria - 12
(iii) MINURSO (United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara) - 3
(iv) MONUSCO (United Nations Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo) - 4
(v) UNOCI (United Nations Mission in Ivory Coast - 1
(vi) UNDOF (United Nations Disengagement Observer Force) HQ - 1
UNDOF Staff Appointments (Camp Ziouani) - 5
UNDOF 54th Infantry Group (Camp Ziouani) -130
TOTAL - 535
UN MANDATED MISSIONS
(vii) EUFOR (EU-led Operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina) - 6
(viii) EUTM Mali (EU-Led Training Mission) - 18
(ix) KFOR (International Security Presence in Kosovo ) HQ - 12
TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONNEL SERVING WITH UN MISSIONS - 571
2. ORGANISATION FOR SECURITY AND CO-OPERATION IN EUROPE (OSCE)
(i) OSCE Mission to Bosnia & Herzegovina - 1
(ii) Staff Officer, High Level Planning Group, Vienna - 1
TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONNEL SERVING WITH OSCE - 2
3. EU MILITARY STAFF
Brussels - 4
4. MILITARY REPRESENTATIVES/ADVISERS/STAFF
(i) Military Adviser, Permanent Mission to UN, New York - 1
(ii) Military Adviser, Irish Delegation to OSCE, Vienna - 1
(iii) Military Representative to EU (Brussels) - 4
(iv) Liaison Officer of Ireland, NATO /PfP (Brussels) - 2
(v) EU OHQ Operation Althea, Mons, Belgium - 1
(vi) Irish Liaison Officer to SHAPE & Military Co-Op Division, Mons, Belgium - 1
TOTAL NUMBER OF DEFENCE FORCES PERSONNEL SERVING OVERSEAS - 587
