Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 63: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will report on the Irish mission in Liberia and Sierra Leone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17425/06]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Ireland has participated in UNMIL since December 2003, following a decision of the Government on 24 June 2003 and the subsequent approval by Dáil Éireann of the necessary enabling motion. Since then, the UN Security Council has authorised the continuation of UNMIL for successive periods and the Government has approved continued Irish participation. Ireland, together with an infantry company group from Sweden, provides the quick reaction force to the UNMIL force commander. The Irish contingent currently comprises 422 personnel. The role of the quick reaction force is to respond rapidly to any crises that arise within the area of operations and to support other UNMIL deployed contingents, including long range patrols into the countryside. While it has been a difficult mission, particularly in terms of the operating environment, it is working very well for the Defence Forces.

In December 2005, Ireland agreed to a request from the UN for support in expanding the area of operations of UNMIL to include Sierra Leone, as authorised under UN Security Council Resolution 1626 of 19 September 2005, and to allow Irish troops be made available for extraction operations should it become necessary to evacuate the staff and detainees of the Special Court for Sierra Leone in Freetown. The Irish contingent assumed its additional responsibilities in late December 2005 following Dáil approval on 15 December 2005. UNMIL is currently providing a permanent guard of 250 personnel from the Mongolian contingent at the special court.

In addition to conducting normal patrolling and security operations in Liberia, the Irish contingent currently conducts limited operations in Freetown, Sierra Leone, in support of the Special Court for Sierra Leone. Since 30 March 2006, a small detachment of the quick reaction force, including Irish and Swedish troops, have been deployed to Freetown as preparation for supporting the security of the special court, if necessary.

The current Irish commitment to UNMIL continues until November 2006, when we are due to withdraw from the mission together with our Swedish partners. In a letter to the Taoiseach dated 3 March 2006, the UN Secretary General requested Ireland to consider postponing the withdrawal of its troops from UNMIL for a period of at least six months to give the UN time to find a suitable replacement for the quick reaction force capability. Our current assessment is that the security situation in Liberia, while continuing to be fragile, is stable and improving. We are also of the view that the remaining forces should be capable in general of handling security. However, I assure the House that Ireland remains committed to peace support operations in Africa under a UN flag. Detailed consultations have taken place with the UN, including a high level meeting at UN headquarters in New York on 24 April involving representatives of my Department, the Defence Forces and our ambassador to the UN. We are now in the process of finalising our consideration of the matter in light of these discussions. I am confident we will be able to respond positively to the Secretary General's request for one further six month extension to May 2007, whereupon we will withdraw the contingent. I am advised that the UN is actively engaged in efforts to find a suitable replacement for the capability provided by the Irish-Swedish contingent and that the period to May 2007 will enable it to complete this process.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I welcome the decision by the Minister to extend Irish involvement in UNMIL until May 2007 but can he confirm that the deployment will not continue beyond that date, regardless of whether further requests are received? Is he satisfied that the mission has sufficient manpower, in light of its extension? If I understood the Minister correctly, elements of the quick reaction force now have to deploy in Freetown. I commend Irish Defence Forces personnel on their involvement in the security arrangements for the upcoming trial of Mr. Charles Taylor.

A report was recently published which outlined abuses by UN personnel in Liberia. Can the Minister confirm that Irish personnel are not involved in these abuses and can he enlighten me further on any aspect of the matter?

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The current quick reaction force comprises Irish and Swedish troops. The Liberian authorities and the UN have asked us to continue our involvement for a further six months to enable the UN to develop an alternative quick reaction force. The Swedish Government has declined but we are disposed to accept the request, although I have not yet recommended such a course to the Government. I understand that the replacement for the Swedish element of the contingent will be trained to take over the duties of the entire Irish-Swedish contingent.

On Deputy Timmons's second question, even if the Government accepts my recommendation to deploy for a further six months, we made it clear at the 24 April meeting in New York that we will end our involvement by May 2007.

I am aware of the disturbing reports of sexual abuse raised by the Deputy. While UNMIL has established a unit to investigate the reports, I am glad to confirm that no Irish personnel are involved.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I welcome the Minister's assurances. In view of his certainty that our involvement with UNMIL will cease in May 2007, are any other potential missions on the horizon? I am aware that the approach of the Minister and the Department is not to get involved in prolonged missions as in the past but that the troops stay for a few years and then move on. Peacekeeping makes up a great part of the work of the Defence Forces. It is good for them and for the country and I would like to know if there is a potential mission on the horizon.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Deputy Timmins will be interested to know that today the Cabinet accepted my recommendation to commit ten personnel to Congo to assist MONAC to oversee the election in July. While we have no requests to deploy troops in May 2007, unfortunately with the state of the world there will be no shortage of such requests and we will consider them as sympathetically as possible, taking account of the criteria we examine before we deploy troops.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

If the environment was right and the Sudanese Government asked for UN assistance, would we be amenable to participating in the force there?

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

If the Sudanese Government requests UN assistance, the Security Council passes a resolution that troops should be deployed to Sudan and a request comes to the Irish Government, we will examine it in the same way as we would examine any other request.