Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 294: To ask the Minister for Defence the Government's policy with regard to the future development of the Defence Forces in overseas missions; if all such participation will have triple lock approval; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8541/07]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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In accordance with the provisions of the White Paper on Defence, the Government is committed to maintaining Ireland's contribution to international peace support operations through the deployment of Defence Forces personnel on UN mandated peace support operations. Ireland has offered, through the UN Standby Arrangements System (UNSAS), to provide up to 850 military personnel, configured as a light infantry mounted battalion, for overseas service at any one time. This figure equates to some 10% of Ireland's standing Army (excluding Reserves) and demonstrates Ireland's commitment to the cause of international peace. This is the maximum sustainable commitment that Ireland can make to overseas peacekeeping operations.

Ireland is currently contributing 808 Defence Forces personnel to 19 different missions throughout the world. As such the Defence Forces are very close to the sustainable limit of it overseas deployment.

Deployment on all peace support missions is subject to what is referred to as "the triple lock" — i.e. Government Dáil and UN approval. However, personnel may be deployed for training, for humanitarian operations and for other such reasons under the authority of the Government in accordance with the provisions of the Defence (Amendment) Act, 2006, which formalised arrangements in this regard.