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

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I am in a position to report to the House that a statement will issue shortly from our Defence Forces, stating that all Irish troops in Lebanon are accounted for and well. This is a relief to us after the reports that had been circulating prior to this session of leader's questions starting. I also want to pay tribute to our soldiers in Lebanon and all of the peace-keepers in UNIFIL from 50 contributing countries, totalling some 10,000 in theatre, at the moment. They are doing the most noble activity of all, endeavouring to keep peace between warring parties. Our soldiers are professional, resilient and operating in a very challenging environment. I thank their families and loved ones who, far from the field, are understandably extremely anxious about the situation. We owe them a very significant degree of gratitude for their resilience in holding up in what is a very worrying time for them.

Regarding the mandate, both Israel and Lebanon sought the intervention of UNIFIL. There is a need in any post-war scenario that the mandate be respected by both sides in the future. The fulfilment of the mandate has to be an unrestricted one. The Deputy is correct to say that there have been imperfections, not so much in UNIFIL really because it is a chapter 6 mission. There are limitations to chapter 6 missions which are peace-keeping missions. Hezbollah has built up activity over the past year. It has fired about 10,000 rockets into Israel. That is a breach of UN Security Resolution 1701. Israel's incursion into Lebanon is a breach. The Deputy is correct. Our troops are there as the eyes and ears of the world-----

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