Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

No, there will not be. As of 11 January 2024, there are 134 Defence Forces personnel serving with the UNDOF. I got advice at the time I came into office to pull back and consolidate. We may consider additionality in UNIFIL or elsewhere but that depends on current events. We have a commitment to the EU battle group 2024-25. We have been part of the battle groups since 1999-2000. That is something we have committed to under the Common Security and Defence Policy, CSDP. It is important for interoperability. We are in UNIFIL with Poland at present. Interoperability is key so the battle groups are important.

Planning for the withdrawal of the current Defence Forces contingent, the 68th Infantry Group, and its replacement, is well advanced, involving the United Nations, the force headquarters, the current Irish contingent and the replacement troop contributing country to ensure a smooth handover that in no way compromises the mission. Notwithstanding the withdrawal of the infantry group, the Defence Forces intend to continue to occupy a small number of staff officer posts at the UNDOF mission headquarters. These numbers have not yet been determined and will depend on the take-up of these posts by those countries contributing troops to the mission.

As I said, there is no plan to review the decision to withdraw from the UNDOF this year. The replacement troop contributing country has been selected to take over the role of the force reserve company, following the scheduled Irish departure in April this year. That is the position. We must have the flexibility to contribute, pull back in certain areas if we wish, and then redeploy elsewhere. That is normal.

See this speech in context