Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

There is constant reassessment of security issues in the area where our troops are based. Everyone is very conscious of what is happening across the border in Syria and the crimes against humanity that are being committed there. There is a great need to bring an end to the barbarity and destruction in Syria, where it appears the Government has turned on its own people in a manner that is completely unacceptable and which may result in some individuals at a future time being brought before the International Criminal Court for the manner in which they have conducted themselves.

Southern Lebanon remains reasonably calm, as I stated. Our Defence Forces have a great deal of knowledge of that region. The general conditions are under constant assessment by the United Nations and our own forces. I hope the current calm will continue to obtain.

The House may be interested to know that Brigadier General Patrick Phelan was appointed deputy force commander of UNIFIL on 28 April 2012, for an initial period of one year. His appointment to the position is in due recognition of the very substantial role we play in the area and the professionalism of our Defence Forces.

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