Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Our participation in a particular mission is always a matter for continuing review. The most recent deployment of our forces in large numbers was on the UNDOF mission to the Golan Heights in Syria where we now have approximately 125 personnel. We were specifically requested by the United Nations to take part in that mission because of the understanding our troops had of the region, our engagement there and the skills set we could bring to it at a time when troops from other states, including Austria, had decided to disengage from it. It is a time of great difficulty in the area in the context of the civil war taking place, the dreadful humanitarian disaster and the dreadful atrocities being committed by all sides. Some 130,000 people have died in the civil war, over 10,000 of whom were children. Approximately 40 journalists have been kidnapped or abducted by extreme organisations. With regard to UNDOF, we were asked if we could provide our niche skills and we are now doing this.

As Minister I must be conscious as to the number of missions in which we can engage. As I stated, we have engagements in 14 missions across the globe and I believe, but I am open to correction, this is the largest number of missions in which we have ever been engaged. In some locations there is a small number of Defence Forces members and in others there is a very large number such as in southern Lebanon. Decisions must be made in this regard. I do not think our EU colleagues, because of our commitments in the Golan Heights, southern Lebanon and elsewhere, expected we would contribute to this mission at this stage, but it is a matter of ongoing consideration and review and should it at some stage seem appropriate or should we conclude there is an engagement we should have it will be a matter for decision by the Government and the House under the triple lock mechanism? This is a UN-sanctioned mission so it is a mission in which we could participate with the agreement of the House and the Government, but as at this time the decision is we will not be participating in it.

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