Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 809: To ask the Minister for Defence the nature of the interface between serving Irish officers and the Afghan intelligence services; and if the Irish are facilitating the US Afghan intelligence war against the Taliban. [25572/06]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Seven Irish Defence Forces personnel are currently serving with the UN authorised International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. All personnel are stationed in the Kabul area. Three (3) personnel are employed at ISAF HQ while the remaining four (4) personnel are working with the Kabul Multinational Brigade (KMNB).

The three (3) personnel at ISAF HQ hold staff appointments in the information/operations sections and are deployed in planning and administrative type roles. These personnel do not interface with the Afghan intelligence services. The four (4) Defence Forces personnel employed with KMNB are solely engaged in liaison duties between KMNB, the Afghan National Directorate of Security, the Kabul city police and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and their liaison remit is strictly confined to information exchange concerning security issues directly related to the ISAF mission.