Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

I thank the House for its recognition of the importance of the contribution of Ireland's Defence Forces to international peace and security. I am grateful for the kind words, support and compliments from Deputies regarding the manner in which the Defence Forces have discharged themselves on overseas missions, in Lebanon and elsewhere. I had the privilege of visiting southern Lebanon in 2001 during the course of one of our missions there and seeing what was then Camp Shamrock, as well as local towns. It was clear in meeting with local mayors that the Defence Forces were held in very high esteem. Their humanitarian involvement locally did a great deal of good in southern Lebanon and enhanced the international reputation of this country.

This debate reflects the high regard in which the Defence Forces are held internationally as peacekeepers. It also reflects the recognition Irish people have given to the importance of the role the forces have played abroad. No decision to return to Lebanon could be taken lightly. The previous Government made the decision and the new Government, having discussed the matter at Cabinet, reconfirmed that decision. In considering any mission, our ability to protect the health and safety of our personnel is of paramount importance. However, all missions involve some element of risk. It is fitting to recall the 47 members of the Defence Forces who have lost their lives in Lebanon over the years, some in particularly tragic circumstances. A full assessment of the UNIFIL operation has been engaged in, including a comprehensive and detailed reconnaissance by an experienced Defence Forces team, before the final decision was made. Members raised a number of issues. Essentially, this is a peacekeeping mission to seek to ensure that conflict that has occurred in the past between Israel and Lebanon does not recur and the Defence Forces have played an extremely important role in that area. No Member should simplify the nature of the difficulties that exist within that region or indeed within that area. It is important to address and consider those difficulties in this State on the basis of the complex realities on the ground, instead of through some sort of ideological straitjacket. Deputy Finian McGrath made reference to the importance of a two-state solution in a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The present Government and its predecessors have favoured fully a two-state solution and on a personal level, it is something I have advocated for many years. The difficulty is to get to a point at which such a solution may be effected. There is a range of difficulties and complexities in that regard, most of which were ignored in the speech delivered by Deputy Boyd Barrett, which perhaps may be addressed in this House on another day as it is not appropriate to deal with it in the context of this debate. It of course would be everyone's wish that this region be settled, that the difficulties that exist be resolved and in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that ultimately a position is achieved in which there are two states living side by side in peace and harmony, each in security and focusing its efforts on economic development and co-operation to the benefit of the entire region.

I was particularly taken by Deputy Clare Daly's detailed description of events in Lebanon. The politics of Lebanon are particularly complex and to achieve stability, for decades the political system in Lebanon was designed around the sectarian realities of Lebanon as it then was. The nature of Lebanese society has changed over the years and in recent weeks there have been some events in the Lebanon which are reflected in other parts of the Middle East. Happily, however, the events in Lebanon have not produced violence in recent weeks and no deaths have occurred as result of them. These are matters pertaining to the internal politics of Lebanon and are not matters in which our troops will be involved or engaged in any particular way. The sending of troops, as part again of the UNIFIL mission, is not connected with those events in Lebanon but with trying to ensure that peace is maintained in southern Lebanon and in the context of the borders between Israel and Lebanon. I believe and hope that our troops will be successful in this mission and have no doubt but that they will again re-establish relationships with the local community and will enhance the reputation they previously developed when there.

I again thank Members for their contributions and for their support for the Defence Forces. I know the Defence Forces will continue to acquit themselves well and will make a vital and important contribution to the success of the UNIFIL mission as they have done on so many occasions in the past. A mixed mission between Irish and Finnish troops is a continuity with what has occurred on occasions and I greatly welcome the future involvement of Finnish troops, who I expect will join the Irish contingent towards the end of 2011 or by January 2012 as the very latest. The requisite steps must be taken in Finland in the context of putting into place the appropriate arrangements in that regard.

I will conclude by commending the individual members of the Permanent Defence Force, who have served and who continue to serve on overseas missions, together with their family and loved ones. Ireland's substantial contribution to international peace support operations depends on the ongoing commitment of Defence Forces personnel to serve overseas in often difficult and dangerous circumstances. Their commitment, service and loyalty to the traditions of the Defence Forces on overseas service contributes extensively to the high regard in which Ireland is held within the international community. I believe the deployment that will now take place will add to that high regard and will continue to play in important role in attempting to ensure that peace is maintained in what is a very difficult and troubled region.

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