Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the House and thank him for his contribution. I fully share the admiration and respect of the Minister of State and Senators Mooney, Whelan, Quinn and Ó Clochartaigh for our Defence Forces and the very difficult work they have been doing for quite some time. As we know there are a number of different warring factions in the regions who, as has been outlined, have caused great upset at times to our forces who are trying to keep the peace in that area. In more recent times the group known as ISIS or ISIL has advanced into the area. I understand, following a recent incident in the region which endangered our peacekeeping mission, the withdrawal of our forces to the Israeli side took place.

The participation of members of the Irish Defence Forces in UN peacekeeping missions across the globe for over 50 years has enhanced this nation's image abroad. Members of the Irish Defence Forces on peacekeeping duties in trouble spots around the world have saved countless lives. I am sure I speak for every Member of the House when I pay tribute to the thousands of men and women of the Irish Defence Forces who have served as UN peacekeepers over decades and mention those Irish soldiers who have lost their lives serving our country on UN duty and the families they left behind.

For 40 years UNDOF has supervised the implementation of the engagement agreement with Israel and Syria along the Golan Heights. It has helped to maintain peace and stability, not only along the volatile border but also in the entire Middle East region. Any armed conflict in the Golan Heights between Israel and Syria has always had the potential to spark a wider regional conflict and, as we know, because of the advancement of ISIS or ISIL and the dangerous situation which is developing on the Turkish and Syrian border, the mission in which we have engaged is all the more important. Thankfully, we are not involved on the Turkish and Syrian side.

Since September 2013, members of the Irish Defence Forces have been deployed on the UNDOF mission and have excelled in the role of a quick reaction force. The ongoing civil war in Syria has had a profound effect on UNDOF. The breakdown of law and order across Syria and the emergence of a number of different armed rebel groups, many with very different objectives, now fighting against Syrian Government troops has made a volatile region very unstable. UN peacekeeping forces in the region have been drawn into incidents as a result of the ongoing conflict.

Members of the Defence Forces played a key role in securing the safe extraction of fellow peacekeepers in August.

Given the ongoing civil war in Syria, the Minister for Defence, Deputy Simon Coveney, recently requested that the UN fundamentally reviews the capacity of the mission. Accordingly, he has been involved in discussions with the UN on this and the UN Security Council was briefed on the mission in detail on 17 September by the UN Secretary General. There has now been a fundamental realignment of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force mission, UNDOF, on the Golan Heights to reflect the changing situation. UNDOF’s headquarters, including the Irish contingent, has been relocated to the Israeli side of the zone of operation, a practical and understandable move. The Government has confirmed the Defence Forces will continue to participate in the mission. Accordingly, the 46th Infantry Group has been deployed to it.

Ireland has established a worldwide reputation for its commitment to UN peacekeeping of which we can all be proud. It is important to recognise, however, that this role involves Irish men and women, serving the State, being sent to dangerous and hostile areas. I congratulate the Ministers, Deputies Coveney and Kehoe, for their actions on this and their willingness to delay the deployment of the next contingent until the UN Security Council examined the mission and started the process of adopting its operations on the ground to take account of incidents over the summer. I thank the troops now returning from their mission for their service and wish those replacing them all the best for a safe and successful six months.