Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 149: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will report on the activities of the Irish Defence Forces deployed in Afghanistan. [17749/05]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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On 20 December 2001, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1386 under Chapter VII of the UN charter authorising the deployment of an international security assistance force, ISAF, in Afghanistan for six months. The role of the force is to assist in the maintenance of security in Kabul and the surrounding areas. The mandate of the force has been extended by subsequent Security Council resolutions.

On 2 July 2002, the Government authorised the despatch of seven members of the Permanent Defence Forces for service with ISAF for a period of one year from July 2002. On 27 May 2003, the Government approved continued participation by seven members of the Permanent Defence Force in ISAF and again on 22 June 2004, the Government approved the continued participation in ISAF for a further period beyond July 2004.

These personnel are deployed in liaison, planning and administrative type roles at the ISAF force headquarters in Kabul and as part of the Kabul multinational brigade. The personnel are rotated on a four monthly basis with the current rotation due to be completed in July 2005.