Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

There are no plans to move our troops from the Irish area of operations in southern Lebanon. There is a discrete area of operations in which the Irish UNIFIL force locate, and that will continue. Fortunately, the position is still relatively quiet within our area of operations. There is continued vigilance to ensure that our troops are secure and are in a position to undertake the important work they are undertaking.

The position in Syria is extremely volatile. It is a matter of continuing concern. There have been recent incidents in Syria involving some of the UN monitors who are there, not involving our troops but troops from other countries, which are a cause of very serious concern. None of the Irish monitors or observers was involved in incidents that occurred in recent days but there is continued vigilance of what is happening within Syria. There is a regular review by the UN of the mission in Syria and its capacity to fulfil its objectives, and we will continue to review the position as well.

The hope is that the plan to bring about a cessation of violence in Syria will prove successful. Unfortunately, so far there is continuing violence both from the forces of President Assad and also from those engaged in opposition to him. Those forces are somewhat fragmented and appear to have various and differing allegiances in the context of the conflict still sadly taking place there.

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