Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am pleased to report to the select committee on Irish Defence Forces participation in United Nations missions in 2015. The report for 2015 was laid before Dáil Éireann on 21 September 2016 and the following motion has been placed on the Order Paper for Dáil Éireann:

That Dáil Éireann approves the report by the Minister for Defence regarding service by the Defence Forces with the United Nations in 2015, copies of which were laid before Dáil Éireann on 21 September 2016, in accordance with section 13 of the Defence (Amendment) Act, 2006.

In commending the motion, I will outline some of the key aspects of Ireland's involvement with the UN over the past couple of years. A central tenet of Irish foreign policy is support for the multilateral system of collective security represented by the United Nations. In this regard, Ireland has worked to uphold the primary role of the Security Council in the maintenance of international peace and security. Ireland reaffirmed this commitment in the Government's most recent White Paper on Defence, which was published in August 2015. The White Paper on Defence sets out the policy framework for the defence organisation until 2025 and beyond.

Ireland's commitment to the United Nations has found expression in its longstanding tradition of participation in UN peacekeeping operations. Ireland has participated continuously in UN peacekeeping operations since 1958, a service which has comprised over 65,000 individual tours of duty. Participation in overseas peacekeeping missions is a key element of Ireland's foreign policy and has been an important dimension in meeting Ireland's international obligations as a member of the UN and the EU. During 2015, the Defence Forces continued to make a major contribution to international peacekeeping through their participation in UN led and UN authorised missions. Personnel were deployed on nine different missions throughout the world, in Africa, Europe and the Middle East. In addition, members of the Permanent Defence Force were also deployed on humanitarian missions in Sierra Leone and in the Mediterranean in 2015. Ireland's main commitments during 2015 were to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, and the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, UNDOF, on the Golan Heights. The UNIFIL mission continues to represent Ireland's largest overseas deployment.

Following a request from the United Nations, a contingent of Defence Forces personnel was deployed to UNIFIL in mid-2011. Between June 2012 and November 2013, Ireland served as part of a joint Irish-Finnish battalion when a contingent of the Finnish Armed Forces began serving alongside Irish soldiers working to support UNIFIL's mission mandate. Also, Ireland held command of the joint Irish-Finnish battalion during that period. Finland, in accordance with agreements entered into on the deployment of the joint battalion, assumed command on 26 November 2013. Since May 2015, the Finnish battalion has included an Estonian platoon. Throughout 2015, a contingent comprising approximately 200 Defence Forces personnel was deployed to the UNIFIL mission. There were two rotations of Irish personnel to UNIFIL in 2015 comprising the 49th Infantry Group and the 51st Infantry Group, each with approximately 185 personnel. Also, a number of Defence Forces personnel served at UNIFIL sector west headquarters in Shama and at the force headquarters in Naqoura.

Partnership with like-minded states has become an increasing element of our overseas peacekeeping operations. The joint participation of Ireland, Finland and Estonia in the UNIFIL mission is but one example that demonstrates our joint contribution to international peace and security. In the absence of partners, the range and nature of overseas operations which Ireland could undertake in support of international peace and security would be notably curtailed. Such joint deployments further support interoperability, build experience, significantly contribute to the range and nature of operations we can undertake in support of the United Nations and further deepen the excellent relationship between our countries.

Ireland formally took over command of the Irish-Finnish battalion on 22 November 2016, at which time an additional company of approximately 150 personnel were deployed as part of the battalion. This brings the current number of Irish personnel serving with UNIFIL up to some 380. An Irish officer, Major General Michael Beary, took over as head of mission and force commander of UNIFIL in July 2016. At the request of the UN, his appointment has been extended until July 2018. It is a great honour for our country to have Major General Beary occupying this prestigious post and is an indication of the high regard in which Irish personnel are held internationally. It has been 30 years since an Irish person last held this post. The situation in Lebanon continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security. In this connection, the United Nations Security Council has extended the mandate of UNIFIL until 31 August 2017.

Ireland's second largest overseas deployment in 2015 was to the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, UNDOF, on the Golan Heights. The Defence Forces contribution to UNDOF in 2015 comprised the 48th Infantry Group and the 50th Infantry Group, each of which consists of approximately 130 personnel. The Infantry Group operated in the role of a quick reaction force on stand-by to assist with on-going operations within the UNDOF area of responsibility. There were eight Defence Forces personnel occupying staff appointments at UNDOF's Camp Ziouani on the Israeli side of the area of separation. At the request of the UN, Brigadier General Anthony Hanlon had his appointment as deputy force commander of UNDOF extended to 21 May 2016. I take this opportunity to thank Brigadier General Hanlon for his contribution to the success of the mission and wish him every success in the future.

The security situation in UNDOF's area of operations is continually reviewed by the UN and the Defence Forces. The continued presence of the UNDOF mission remains an important element in ensuring stability on the Golan Heights and in the Middle East region and is supported and welcomed by both Syria and Israel. Ireland continued to contribute military observers and staff to various United Nations missions such as the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation, UNTSO, throughout the year under review. The 13 Irish personnel deployed to that mission in 2015 included the head of mission and Chief of Staff of UNTSO, Major General Michael Finn. Major General Finn was appointed head of mission of UNTSO by the UN in July 2013 and had his appointment extended for a further period until the end of July 2015. I thank Major General Finn for his contribution to the success of the mission and wish him every success in the future. At the request of the United Nations, an Irish officer, Colonel Eamon Caulfield, was appointed as deputy chief of staff of UNTSO in September 2015.

I have just returned from a visit to the Middle East where I visited personnel serving with the UN missions in Lebanon and Israel.

I also attended St Patrick's Day events in the region as part of Ireland's overall economic, political and security engagement in the region. It was a valuable opportunity to be briefed on the position and the challenges facing the respective missions in the area.

During 2015, Defence Forces officers continued to serve with MINURSO, the UN mission for the referendum in western Sahara; MONUSCO, the UN stabilisation mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and UNOCl, the UN operation in Côte d'Ivoire. Ireland contributed ten personnel to the EU training mission in Mali in 2015. The objective of the mission is to improve the capacity of the Malian armed forces to maintain security in Mali and restore the authority of the Malian Government and the territorial integrity of the Malian state. In October 2016, I had an opportunity to meet Irish personnel serving with the mission. Currently, 18 Irish Defence Forces personnel are deployed with the mission. Other missions in which Defence Forces personnel were deployed in 2015 were the EUFOR mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with seven personnel; the NATO-led international security presence, KFOR, in Kosovo, with 12 personnel; and the resolute support mission, RSM, in Afghanistan, with seven personnel. The personnel serving with RSM completed their service on 10 March 2016, when Ireland withdrew from the mission.

Turning to the deployment of Defence Forces personnel to humanitarian missions in 2015, three Naval Service vessels were deployed to the Mediterranean between May and November of that year to assist the Italian authorities with the migrant crisis. Irish participation in the humanitarian mission resulted in the rescue of more than 8,500 migrants, which clearly demonstrates the value of Ireland's involvement in this important humanitarian response. I had the opportunity to travel to Sardinia in September 2016 to meet Naval Service personnel crewing LE James Joyceand be briefed on the mission. I commend all involved in 2015 and 2016 on the outstanding role they played in saving the lives of so many men, women and children, many of whom were fleeing desperate circumstances. Five Defence Forces personnel were also deployed to Sierra Leone in January 2015 where they served as part of a UK-led joint inter-agency task force tackling Ebola in west Africa. The Defence Forces completed their service with that mission on 15 September 2015.

The current contribution of 585 personnel to overseas missions is a very significant contribution in the context of the resources available for defence. It reflects the Government's continued commitment to our responsibilities in the area of international peace and security. It is important for Ireland to continue to build on our long tradition of service to the founding principles of the United Nations by making practical commitments of personnel to peace support operations. Relative to our size and our available resources and capabilities, both financial and military, Ireland is proportionately a very large peacekeeping contributor within the international community. Overseas service has become a core activity of the Defence Forces. Ireland's record of service in UN-authorised peace support operations is second to none. The Defence Forces have made and continue to make a significant contribution to such operations throughout the world. The Government places high importance on the valuable work being done by members of the Defence Forces throughout the world. During my visit to the UNIFIL, UNDOF and UNTSO missions last week and my visit to Sardinia in September 2016 and to EUTM Mali in October 2016, I had the honour to see at first hand the dedication and professionalism of our Defence Forces personnel serving overseas. I fully recognise the importance of operational experience in peace support operations for the ongoing development of the Defence Forces. I assure the committee that the Government is committed to ensuring the Defence Forces continue to contribute in a meaningful way to overseas operations.

I acknowledge the significant demands placed on personnel who serve overseas and specifically on their families. Without their loyal and continuing support, Ireland's strong tradition of service overseas under the auspices of the United Nations would not be possible. Their committed and dedicated service in overseas missions reflects well, not alone on the Defence Forces but on the nation as a whole, and contributes to the excellent reputation that Ireland holds among peacekeepers throughout the world. I commend the motion to the committee.