Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 95: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will provide an update on the activities of Irish troops participating in the Unifil mission; the length of time the troops are expected to remain in the Lebanon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8762/07]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 97: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will report on his recent three day visit to the Irish troops serving in the Lebanon; the purpose of his visit; the circumstances in which the troops are living and working; the duties in which the troops are engaged; if he had talks with the Lebanese or Israeli authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8766/07]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 99: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will report on his recent official visit to the Lebanon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8921/07]

Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 104: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will report on his recent visit to the Lebanon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8852/07]

John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 106: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will report on his most recent visit to Irish troops serving overseas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8915/07]

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 108: To ask the Minister for Defence the progress made regarding the clearing of unexploded ordinance in Lebanon; the role of the Defence Forces on this task; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8701/07]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 117: To ask the Minister for Defence the discussions he had with his counterpart in the Lebanon, Elias Murr, over the level of threat to Irish troops in the Lebanon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8922/07]

Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 134: To ask the Minister for Defence the plans in place for Irish troops if a resumption of hostilities occurs in the Lebanon; the operational norms set down for Unifil troops in such a situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8923/07]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 143: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will report on his recent visit to the Lebanon; the persons he met with there; the current security assessment there; if he will report on the duties Irish troops are doing there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8638/07]

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 146: To ask the Minister for Defence the security situation in Lebanon; the number of members of the Defence Forces serving in the Lebanon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8684/07]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 155: To ask the Minister for Defence his views on the wide variation in the assessment of the level of the military threat in Lebanon to UNIFIL troops between himself and a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8880/07]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 298: To ask the Minister for Defence the position regarding his visit to the Lebanon; and if he will report on the security risks to Irish soldiers. [9112/07]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 95, 97, 99, 104, 106, 108, 117, 134, 143, 146, 155 and 298 together.

During the period 28 February, 2007, to 1 March, 2007, I took the opportunity to visit Lebanon where I met with the Irish personnel of the 34th Infantry Group serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

The primary purpose of my visit was to see at first hand the work of the Irish Defence Forces personnel serving with UNIFIL and to convey to them, on behalf of the Government and the people of Ireland, the deep appreciation felt regarding the outstanding manner in which they perform their duties in this challenging mission. On my visit, I was accompanied by one of the Assistant Secretary Generals of the Department, the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces and Ireland's Ambassador to Egypt, who is accredited to Lebanon.

During the course of my visit, I met with the Lebanese Minister of Defence, Mr. Elias Murr and the Force Commander of UNIFIL, Major-General Claudio Graziano. I also paid a courtesy call on the Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces, General Michel Sulaiman.

During the course of my meeting with the Lebanese Minister of Defence, he expressed his gratitude to the Irish Government for the Defence Forces contribution to UNIFIL and the vital role played by them in maintaining the peace. We discussed the general security situation in Lebanon. Mr. Murr indicated that extremists posed a potential risk to the state of Lebanon and, indirectly, to UNIFIL. He assured me that the Lebanese authorities are monitoring the situation closely in order to avert any potential terrorist threat.

During the meeting, I sought the assistance of the Lebanese authorities in pursuing the case of the killing of Privates Thomas Barrett and Derek Smallhorne, while serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in 1980 and the efforts to bring the alleged perpetrator of the crime to justice. Mr. Murr assured me that the Lebanese authorities would assist in every possible way should the alleged perpetrator be denaturalised and deported from the US (where the person now resides) to Lebanon.

I also raised with Mr. Murr the case of Private Kevin Joyce, who disappeared on 27 April 1981, when an observation post at Dayr Ntar, which was manned by Private Joyce and Private Hugh Doherty, came under attack. Private Doherty was later found dead from gunshot wounds and Private Joyce was missing. I urged the Lebanese Government to redouble its efforts to find the body of Private Joyce, who is the only Irish soldier to go missing in action in Lebanon.

In Tibnin, I laid a wreath at the Permanent Memorial to Irish personnel who died on service with UNIFIL.

The main Irish contribution to UNIFIL, amounting to some 158 troops, is part of a joint Finnish/Irish Engineering Battalion, which conducts construction and maintenance tasks in support of UNIFIL. The primary role of the Irish Mechanised Company is to provide protection and security for personnel of the Finnish Engineer Company who undertake the clearance of designated sites prior to the commencement of engineering works. In addition, the Irish Company may be tasked through the battalion headquarters to conduct independent security operations, such as guaranteeing freedom of movement, escorts and patrols, at the request of the UNIFIL Force Commander. A further seven personnel are deployed in UNIFIL staff posts.

A key aspect and the primary concern in relation to participation in any mission is the safety and security of Defence Forces personnel. Prior to deployment, the Defence Forces undertook a joint reconnaissance mission with Finland. Following consultation with our Finnish colleagues, UNIFIL and other parties, it determined that there is no direct threat to UNIFIL personnel. That said, the uncertain and volatile situation means that incidents, misunderstandings or wider political developments all have the potential to impact negatively on the peacekeeping operation. The large quantity of cluster-bomblets and other unexploded ordnance also present a risk. While there have been political difficulties and some civil unrest in the country, the ceasefire in Southern Lebanon seems to be holding and the Defence Forces have currently assessed the overall threat as "CALM but VOLATILE".

I am satisfied that all appropriate security measures are in place to ensure the safety of the Defence Forces personnel serving in Lebanon. UNIFIL Force Headquarters has developed a series of Operational Plans to deal with a number of possible scenarios, including a resumption of hostilities in South Lebanon. The Finnish /Irish Battalion has pre-determined tasks arising from these operational plans. These will include the necessary force protection measures.

The Finnish/Irish Battalion is located in Sector East of the UNIFIL area of operations, at a newly constructed camp, known as Camp IDA, near the village of Ebel Es Saqi in the general area of Blate. While Irish personnel have not served in this precise area before, it is well known to Finnish personnel. In early February personnel were moved into new hard wall accommodation in the Camp.

During my visit to Camp IDA, I found morale of the personnel serving with UNIFIL to be high. Personnel of the Irish contingent, who deployed to the mission four months ago, have settled in well as part of the integrated Finnish/Irish Engineering Battalion. Initial deployment will be for 1 year subject to renewal of the mandate and a satisfactory review of the mission at that time.