Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chair and members. I am pleased to report to the committee on the participation of the Irish Defence Forces in United Nations missions in 2020 and 2021. These reports were laid before the Dáil on 21 June 2021 and on 30 March 2022, respectively. The following motion were placed on the Order Paper for Dáil Éireann and have been referred to this committee. The first one is that Dáil Éireann approves the report by the Minister of Defence regarding service of the Defence Forces in the United Nations in 2020, a copy of which was laid before the Dáil on the 21 June 2021 in accordance with section 13 of the Defence (Amendment) Act 2006. The second one is that Dáil Éireann approves the report by the Minister for Defence regarding services of the Defence Forces with the United Nations in 2021, a copy of which was laid before the Dáil on 30 March 2022 in accordance with section 13 of the Defence (Amendment) Act 2006.

In commending the motions, I want to briefly outline some of the key aspects of Ireland's involvement with the UN in 2020 and 2021. There are currently some 546 Defence Forces personnel serving overseas in nine different missions around the world. During 2021 and 2020, notwithstanding the significant challenges presented by Covid-19, our Defence Forces personnel deployed as usual to UN-led and UN authorised missions. The exceptional circumstances of the pandemic required rotating troops to quarantine in military installations for a two week period immediately prior to their departure and again on arrival in the mission area.

I will start with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL. The UNIFIL mission in southern Lebanon, where Ireland as lead nation partners with Polish, Hungarian and Maltese troops, represents Ireland's largest overseas peace support deployment. I have had the opportunity to visit our troops in the Lebanon twice in the last six months. Most recently, just last month I accompanied the Taoiseach on a visit to the UNIFIL mission to mark the International Day of UN Peacekeepers. The valuable contribution the mission and our troops are making to international peace and security in the Middle East was, and is, very evident.

The United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, UNDOF, is Ireland's second largest overseas deployment and is on the Golan Heights. A contingent of the Permanent Defence Forces has been deployed to UNDOF since 2013 and the presence of the mission remains an important element in ensuring the continued ceasefire between Israel and Syria and in the wider Middle East region.

The next is the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali, or MINUSMA as it will be known to most members. Last year the Government approved the continued provision of up to 14 Defence Forces personnel to participate in MINUSMA, drawn primarily from the Army ranger wing. The United Nations led operation in Mali will be until 30 September 2022. All deployed personnel are embedded with a larger German company and are carrying out assigned tasks in accordance with the mission's mandate. Having originally deployed for a period of two years, which was subsequently extended for a third year, our participation in this mission will conclude in September this year.

The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, MONUSCO, and the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara, MINURSO, are primarily staff or military observer missions with Ireland's personnel providing a valuable role in monitoring ceasefires and avoiding any escalation in these important but volatile regions. Following a review of overseas deployments in 2021, a decision was taken to withdraw the two Defence Forces personnel deployed to MINURSO, in western Sahara, and end Ireland's involvement in this mission. The withdrawal of these personnel arose from a need to consolidate operational deployments in the context of additional commitments to peacekeeping entered into by Ireland in recent years. It certainly does not represent a change in policy towards Western Sahara.

Other UN mandated missions in which Defence Forces personnel were deployed in 2020 and 2021 include the EU mission to train the armed forces in Mali, known as European Union Training Mission, the EUTM; EU-led mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, or EUFOR as it is known; and the NATO-led international security presence in Kosovo or KFOR, as it is known.

Ireland is in its second year on the UN Security Council and while membership of the Security Council is an honour, it also brings with it great responsibility. Since January 2021, we have engaged actively across the Council's broad agenda and played a constructive role in bringing pragmatism and principle to the Council table, not least during our Presidency of the Council last September. In September 2021, I presided over the unanimous adoption of a UN Security Council resolution, spearheaded by Ireland, on peacekeeping. For the record, it is only the second ever Irish-led resolution that has been passed in the Security Council, which is interesting. UN Security Council Resolution 2594 was the first UN Security Council resolution devoted to the transition from peacekeeping to peace-building in countries - in other words, how you manage your exit while supporting and maintaining stability in a former conflict zone. It is an area where Ireland is developing quite a lot of credibility working in partnership with other UN members. Between now and the end of our term, we will continue to play a constructive and thoughtful role and support the vital work of promoting peace and international security.

In conclusion, I commend the members of the Defence Forces on their commitment to overseas service. I thank them for their significant contribution to UN peacekeeping. In many ways, they are Irish ambassadors in uniform in parts of the world that are volatile and sometimes dangerous. They are protecting and supporting people who they have never met and, in some cases, they never will meet, in parts of the world that need a UN peacekeeping presence which Ireland has been involved in every day for 60 years. I know the committee members will agree with me when I say that our Defence Forces personnel serving in missions to date, have built up an outstanding reputation as committed, conscientious professional and humane peacekeepers.

Without their loyal and continuing support, Ireland's strong tradition of service overseas under the auspices of the UN simply would not be possible. I commend the motions to the committee and I am happy to take any questions that members might have.