Mr. Conor King:

From experience and having served on several overseas missions, I would say the senior Irish officer is the commander of Irish troops. Irish troops are under operational command. They can be under the operational control of other nations’ commanders but, when it comes to rules of engagement, we can actually put caveats in place in relation to the conduct of Irish troops overseas on international missions as part of an international force.

With respect, the Deputy’s second question is quite hypothetical. I do not know of any situation where a refusal has occurred but, as I stated, the operational command of the senior Irish officer remains extant and any Irish member of an international force would be under the command of that officer, and actually under the command of the Defence Forces Chief of Staff and the Minister.