Jack Chambers
Ceist:59. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if changes are planned to the Defence Forces current overseas missions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27758/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 26 June 2018
Ceisteanna (59)
Freagraí scríofa
As of 30 May 2018, Ireland is contributing 643 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 376 personnel and the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Syria with 137 personnel.
The Government recently approved the continued participation of the Defence Forces in UNDOF. Approximately 130 Defence Forces personnel are currently based in Camp Ziouani on the Israeli side of the area of separation. An additional 8 personnel are based in UNDOF Headquarters in Camp Faouar on the Syrian side of the area of separation. In line with the UN's planned redeployment of the mission back to the Syrian side of the area of separation, and incremental return of the UNDOF mission to Camp Faouar has been ongoing since November 2016. The planned Phase III involves a full return of military personnel, including the Irish contingent comprising Force Reserve Company, to Camp Faouar. It is anticipated that Defence Forces personnel will have fully relocated to Camp Faouar by September 2018.
The UNIFIL mission in Lebanon continues to represent Ireland's largest overseas deployment and on 22 May 2018 the Government approved the continued participation of the Defence Forces in UNIFIL for a further 12 month period. Irish troops are currently serving as part of a joint Irish-Finnish Battalion in UNIFIL. Since May 2015 the Finnish contingent has included an Estonian Platoon comprising some 36 personnel.
Finland has advised the United Nations that, for operational reasons linked to national commitments, it will end its participation in the Irish-Finnish Battalion in UNIFIL on 31 December 2018. In the absence of the Finnish contingent, the Estonian contingent has also advised that it will withdraw from the UNIFIL Battalion. I am currently considering the option to temporarily replace the Finnish contingent by increasing Ireland's contribution to UNIFIL for a 12 period up to November 2019. It is anticipated that a suitable partner country will be sourced to allow Ireland to reduce its contribution to UNIFIL at that time.
At the Government meeting on 27 February 2018, I secured approval for the deployment in 2018 of a contingent of the Permanent Defence Force to serve once again as part of the EU Common Security and Defence Policy naval mission in the Mediterranean. The Naval Service vessel, L.É. Samuel Beckett is currently in the area of operations and will be replaced by L.É. James Joyce in July. The Naval Service will deploy for a period of approximately 30 weeks in total to this mission in 2018.
Other missions in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed are the EU Training Mission in Mali (EUTM Mali) with 20 personnel; the EUFOR mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina with five (5) personnel and the NATO-led international security presence (KFOR) in Kosovo with 12 personnel. Ireland also contributes observers and staff to various United Nations and OSCE missions and personnel to staff appointments at UN, EU and OSCE headquarters. There are no planned changes to our continued participation in our major missions at this time.