Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Following the significant events in August 2014 in the area of separation, troops on the UNDOF mission temporarily relocated to Camp Ziouani from a number of positions. Pending the full return of UNDOF to the area of separation, the mission has continued to maintain a credible presence in the Golan Heights in line with its mandate. The Deputy Chief of Staff of Operations, Major General Kieran Brennan, has visited the Syrian side of the UNDOF operation. With the completion of phase 3 , which included medevac and providing safety in the camp, ensuring we have the correct facilities in the Camp Faouar, we agreed to return. I expect that this will happen in September but that depends on ensuring that everything goes okay.

In the context of UNIFIL, the Defence Forces were serving as a joint battalion with the Finns and Estonians, who have pulled back for their own reasons and who are reducing their numbers on the mission. I hope that we will backfill for 12 months and that we will then get a new partner. I anticipate that this will be the Czech Republic and I have spoken to its Prime Minister and Chief of Staff in that regard.

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