Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Question 39: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of Irish troops currently on service on missions in Liberia, Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina; the nature of their duties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31886/05]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland is currently contributing 730 Defence Forces personnel to 19 different missions throughout the world. The main commitments are to the United Nations Mission in Liberia, UNMIL, with 403 personnel, to the NATO-led International Security presence, KFOR, in Kosovo, with 202 personnel, and to EUFOR, the EU-led operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with 54 personnel.

Ireland, together with an infantry company group from Sweden, provides the quick reaction force, QRF, to the UNMIL force commander. The Irish contingent currently comprises of 403 personnel. When it was deployed in late 2003 the initial focus of the unit was to help secure the Monrovia area and to support the disarmament process. However, in recent times the focus of the unit has altered to framework operations in support of the election process. Parliamentary and presidential elections in Liberia took place on 11 October 2005. These elections marked the return of Liberia to a constitutional democracy after 14 years of civil war. The United Nations Mission in Liberia, UNMIL, is playing an extremely positive role in ensuring a secure environment for the holding of elections and in the run-up to the installation of the new Government next January. The Secretary General of the UN has indicated that there will be a review of the UNMIL mission in March 2006, and dependent on the political and security situation in Liberia at that time, a downsizing schedule for the UNMIL mission will be agreed at that time.

The Irish Infantry Group in Kosovo operates as part of a multi-national grouping within the Czech-led multi-national task force centre. It comprises a Mowag APC mounted company together with support and logistic elements. The main tasks of the Irish infantry group include the following: provision of general security to all ethnic groups, institutions and cultural sites; provision of support to UNMIK police and other agencies with security tasks; identification of and reporting on extremist groups and activities; vehicle and foot patrols; vehicle checkpoints; and operation of observation posts.

The role of the Defence Forces personnel serving in EUFOR within the task force, north, is to provide personnel for the headquarters, the military police unit, verification teams and a national support element. Ireland currently acts as the framework nation for the military police unit and verification teams.

The role of the verification teams, established under the Dayton agreement, is to monitor arms caches and arms movements by the two forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The teams are advised as to weapons purchases and movements and they inspect the arms holdings of the two forces and monitor movements to ensure that both sides comply with their obligations under the Dayton accord.