Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 January 2018
59. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of members of the Defence Forces serving overseas in various locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3679/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs of 1 January 2018, Ireland is contributing 589 Permanent Defence Force personnel to 9 different missions throughout the world. The main overseas missions in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 379 personnel, the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Syria with 136 personnel.
Ireland has, in addition, pledged to the United Nations Peacekeeping Capability Readiness System to make certain additional capabilities (troops and equipment) available to the United Nations on request. Also, at the United Nations Defence Ministerial summit held in Vancouver in November 2017, Ireland pledged certain training capabilities for delivery in Ireland and in partner countries overseas. Any additional deployments will be subject to the provision of the Defence Acts and the triple lock as appropriate.
The overall current contribution of some 589 personnel to overseas missions reflects the Government’s continued commitment to the United Nations and to our responsibilities in the area of international peace and security.
Details of all personnel currently serving overseas are listed below.
Members of the Permanent Defence Force Serving Overseas
As of 1 st January 2018
UN MISSIONS
(I) UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) HQ- 30
UNIFIL 111th Infantry Battalion- 341
UNIFIL Sector West HQ - 8
(ii) UNTSO (United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation) Israel and 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) UNDOF (United Nations Disengagement Observer Force) HQ (Yafour Damascus) - 1
UNDOF Staff Appointments (Camp Ziouani) - 5
UNDOF 56th Infantry Group (Camp Ziouani) -130
TOTAL - 534
UN MANDATED MISSIONS
(vi) EUFOR (EU-led Operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina) - 5
(vii) EUTM Mali (EU-Led Training Mission) - 20
(viii) KFOR (International Security Presence in Kosovo ) HQ - 12
(ix) OHQ/FHQ (Op Sophia HQ) - 3
TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONNEL SERVING WITH UN MISSIONS - 574
ORGANISATION FOR SECURITY AND CO-OPERATION IN EUROPE (OSCE)
(I) Staff Officer, High Level Planning Group, Vienna - 1
TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONNEL SERVING WITH OSCE - 1
EU MILITARY STAFF
Brussels - 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 - 589
