Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy knows, Finnish personnel pulled out of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, at the end of 2018. Our military management proposed to me that they would fill that gap for a period of 12 months. We have increased our personnel in that force by approximately 106 or 110 for a period of 12 months from the end of 2018. I was assured by military management at the time that they would be able to fill that gap. I would not have allowed it to happen if we were not able to fill that gap.

I do not believe a gun is put to anybody's head to make them go on overseas service. To judge from the people I have spoken to, a significant number of people want to serve overseas. I am happy to say that the Polish and Hungarians will join us in Lebanon at the end of this year, which will decrease the number of people going overseas next year.

See this speech in context