Written answers

Tuesday, 9 May 2006

Department of Defence

Overseas Missions

9:00 pm

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 475: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of locations at which the Defence Forces are currently serving overseas; the number of personnel involved; the likely numbers required in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17422/06]

Photo of Willie O'DeaWillie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland is currently contributing approximately 765 Defence Forces personnel to 19 different missions throughout the world. Full details of all personnel currently serving overseas are listed in the tabular statement attached. The main commitments are to the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), with 422 personnel, to the NATO-led International Security presence (KFOR) in Kosovo, with 213 personnel and to EUFOR, the EU-led operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with 60 personnel. Other personnel are serving as monitors and observers with the United Nations (UN), the European Union (EU) and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Staff are also deployed at the organisational headquarters of the UN, the EU and NATO.

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.

Members of the Permanent Defence Force serving Overseas as of 01 May, 2006
1. UN Missions
(i)UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) 5
(ii) UNTSO (United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation) — Israel, Syria and Lebanon 13
(iii)MINURSO (United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara) 4
(iv)UNMIK (United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo) 4
(v)MONUC (United Nations Mission in Democratic Republic of the Congo) 3
(vi)UNOCI (United Nations Mission in Ivory Coast) 2
(vii)UNMIL (United Nations Mission in Liberia) FHQ 6
UNMIL 94th Inf Bn 416
TOTAL 453
UN Mandated Missions
(viii)EUFOR (EU-led Operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina) 60
(ix)KFOR (International Security Presence in Kosovo) 213
(x)ISAF (International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan) 7
Total number of personnel serving with UN missions 733
2. EU Missions
(i)European Union Monitor Mission (EUMM) to the former Yugoslavia 5
(ii)EU support to UN authorised African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) 3
(iii)ACEH Monitoring Mission (AMM) 1
TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONNEL SERVING WITH EU MISSIONS 9
3. Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)
(i)OSCE Mission to Bosnia & Herzegovina 1
(ii)OSCE Mission in Montenegro 1
(iii)OSCE Presence in Albania 2
(iv)OSCE Mission in FRY 2
(v)OSCE Mission in Georgia 1
(vi)Staff Officer, Higher Level Planning Group, Vienna 1
Total number of personnel serving OSCE 8
4. Head of Military Staff (Brussels) 1
5. EU Military Staff (Brussels) 4
6. EU Military Staff (New York) 1
7. Liaison Office of Ireland, PfP (Brussels) 2
8. Permanent Representative to EU (Brussels) 3
9. Military Representatives/ Advisers
(i)Military Adviser, Permanent Mission to UN, New York 1
(ii)Military Adviser, Irish Delegation to OSCE, Vienna 1
(iii)Military Representative to Partnership Co-ordination Cell/Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), Mons, Belgium 1
10. Appointments — UN HQ (New York)
Officer seconded to DPKO (Department of Peace Keeping Operations) 1
TOTAL NUMBER DEFENCE FORCES PERSONNEL SERVING OVERSEAS 765

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