Overseas Missions

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 April 2019

Thursday, 11 April 2019

Ceisteanna (26)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

26. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to the security advice for UN soldiers and associated personnel attached to the UN mission in the Golan Heights not to use UN vehicles with the UN's livery when travelling in the region; if so, if his group flouted that advice during his visit to the region in March 2019; and the person or body that made the decision to ignore the security advice. [16971/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Defence

I would like to clarify that in March 2019, as part of the Governments planned St. Patrick's day schedule of events, I visited Cyprus, Lebanon and Jordan.  I did not visit the Golan Heights in March and I have not visited the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) on the Golan Heights this year to date. 

I am further advised by the Defence Forces that they have not been given any security advice to indicate that they should not use UN vehicles with the livery of the UN when travelling in the region.