Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I do not have the figures for 2019 immediately to hand. I will get them for the Deputy shortly. A figure of 1,509 personnel served during 2023. That has people coming between the two six-month rotations. As of 5 June 2024, Ireland contributes 430 Defence Forces personnel to overseas missions and locations, which reflects the Government's continued commitment to our responsibilities in the area of international peace and security. The main mission is UNIFIL, with 344 personnel. Every six months, a new group of 344 comes out. We had 130 in UNDOF for the first half of 2023. That is about 470. We have 13 in KFOR and six in IRINI and five in EUFOR-Althea. I will come back to the Deputy on the figures for 2019. We are sending a further 33 out. The difference, once UNDOF ceases, 30 more will go to UNIFIL, which is a net 100 fewer, but 185 are joining the battle group. We will end up with more deployed, albeit not on peacekeeping missions.

Many members of the battle group will be stationed domestically for much of the first phase of that endeavour.