Written answers

Tuesday, 28 March 2006

Department of Defence

Overseas Missions

11:00 pm

Photo of Barry AndrewsBarry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Question 50: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of Irish troops currently on service overseas on missions in Liberia, Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina; the nature of their duties there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11658/06]

Photo of Seán CroweSeán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 57: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of Irish soldiers in Afghanistan; and the role they are undertaking there. [11813/06]

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 92: To ask the Minister for Defence if he has received requests from the UN for further deployment of Irish troops on peacekeeping missions overseas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11797/06]

Photo of Pat BreenPat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 97: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of members of the Defence Forces which will serve in Sierra Leone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11832/06]

Photo of Michael NoonanMichael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 103: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of Defence Force personnel currently on service overseas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11842/06]

Photo of Dinny McGinleyDinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 107: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of Defence Force personnel serving in Liberia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11840/06]

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 512: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of Irish troops currently serving on the various UN missions abroad; his projections in respect of future requirements in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12261/06]

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 521: To ask the Minister for Defence if he expects Irish troops to be asked to participate in peacekeeping missions requiring a deployment in excess of the numbers of Defence Forces currently serving overseas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12270/06]

Photo of Willie O'DeaWillie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 50, 57, 92, 97, 103, 107, 512 and 521 together.

Ireland is currently contributing approximately 764 Defence Forces personnel to 19 different missions throughout the world. Full details of all personnel currently serving overseas are listed in the following tabular statement.

The main commitments are to the United Nations Mission in Liberia, UNMIL, with 427 personnel, to the NATO-led international security presence, KFOR, in Kosovo, with 211 personnel and to EUFOR, the EU-led operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with 57 personnel. Other personnel are serving as monitors and observers with the United Nations, the European Union and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, OSCE. Staff are also deployed at the organisational headquarters of the UN, the EU and NATO.

Ireland has participated in UNMIL since December 2003. 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 427 personnel. The QRF acts as the rapid response element within UNMIL, responding to any crises that arise within the area of operations and supporting deployed contingents through 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 September 2005 the mandate for UNMIL was expanded to include responsibility for the security of the special court for Sierra Leone in Freetown. Ireland and Sweden agreed to expand the area of operations of QRF from 1 December 2005, thus allowing Irish and Swedish troops to be made available for extraction operations should there be a requirement to evacuate the staff and detainees from the special court.

On 11 November 2005, the UN Security Council further extended UNMIL's mandate to include the apprehension, detention and transfer to the special court for Sierra Leone of the former Liberian President, Charles Taylor, in the event of his return to Liberia.

In his recent report on the UNMIL mission to the UN Security Council, the UN Secretary General has recommended that, following an initial reduction in force levels by one infantry battalion in mid-2006 and another in early 2007, a downsizing of the mission begin in early 2007, depending on the political and security situation in Liberia at that time. The Irish commitment to UNMIL is until November 2006 when we are due to withdraw from the mission together with our Swedish partners. It is intended to commence downsizing in June 2006. The UN has been advised accordingly.

The Irish infantry group in KFOR operates as part of a multinational 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.

Seven members of the Permanent Defence Force are serving with the international security assistance force, ISAF, in Afghanistan. Three of these personnel hold appointments at the force headquarters in Kabul. The remaining four personnel are based at the multi-national brigade headquarters in Kabul, where they serve as members of liaison teams with the Afghan national directorate of security.

Ireland's commitment under the United Nations stand-by arrangements system, UNSAS, is 850, which represents 10% of the total Army strength. This is the figure set in the White Paper on Defence and is the maximum sustainable commitment that Ireland can make to overseas operations. There are no plans at this time to increase the level of our commitment to UNSAS and any contribution to EU or UN missions will be met within the context of the 850 ceiling.

Ireland receives requests from time to time in relation to participation in various missions and these are considered on a case-by-case basis. To date in 2006, no such requests have been received from the United Nations. In reply to an earlier question, I informed the House that last week Ireland indicated that it would make available up to ten Defence Forces personnel for the headquarters of a supporting operation, under a EU flag, for MONUC, the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the planning for which mission is currently in the initial stages.

Photo of Paul KehoePaul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 51: To ask the Minister for Defence his plans to expand the role of the Naval Service to increase its involvement in humanitarian tasks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11862/06]

Photo of Willie O'DeaWillie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The role of the Defence Forces is set out in the White Paper on Defence. The Naval Service provides the maritime element of the Defence Forces and has a general responsibility to meet contingent and actual maritime defence requirements. Arising from the White Paper, the primary role of the Naval Service is to provide a fishery protection service in accordance with the State's obligations as a member of the EU. Fishery protection accounts for over 90% of operations.

There are no plans to expand the role of the Naval Service or for the involvement of Naval Service assets in overseas missions, although individual members of the Naval Service may be deployed on overseas peace support operations, as they have been in the past, within the ceiling of 850 personnel serving overseas at any one time.

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