Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 134: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of Irish troops serving overseas and their locations; the nature of their duties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25890/08]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 231: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of military personnel by rank that expected to be deployed overseas for the foreseeable future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26326/08]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 232: To ask the Minister for Defence if further requests have been received for the deployment of more Irish troops on various EU or UN peacekeeping or peace enforcement missions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26327/08]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 235: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of locations at which the Defence Forces are serving overseas; the number of personnel involved; the expected numbers required in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26330/08]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 134, 231, 232 and 235 together.

Ireland is currently contributing 816 Defence Forces personnel to 13 different missions throughout the world. Full details, including ranks, of all personnel currently serving overseas are listed in the tabular statement.

The main overseas missions, in which Defence Forces personnel are deployed, are the UN Mandated EU multi-national mission to Chad and the Central African Republic — EUFOR TCHAD/RCA — with 411 personnel, the NATO-led International Security presence (KFOR) in Kosovo with 286 personnel and EUFOR, the EU-led operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with 47 personnel. Other personnel are serving as monitors and observers with the United Nations, the European Union and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Staff are also deployed at the organisational headquarters of the UN, EU, OSCE and NATO. Members of the Irish Defence Forces serve on peacekeeping missions under Chapter VI and Chapter VII of the UN Charter. Peacekeeping operations mounted under Chapter VI of the UN Charter e.g. UNIFIL in Lebanon, are of the traditional type, where the UN acts as a monitoring, patrolling and observing force after peace has been established.

KFOR, EUFOR (Bosnia and Herzegovina), ISAF and EUFOR TCHAD/RCA operate under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, that is, they are entitled to use force to implement their mandates and to protect themselves and the international civil presence. Peacekeeping operations mounted under this Chapter are commonly known as peace enforcement operations where the consent of the parties is not required.

The European Union military mission to Chad and the Central African Republic, EUFOR TCHAD/RCA, established under the authority of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1778 (2007), was formally launched by the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 28 January 2008. The mission achieved Initial Operational Capability on 15 March 2008. This marked the start date for the 12-month duration of the Operation. The 97th Inf Battalion has been deployed to Chad and its headquarters are locared at Goz Beida in south east Chad. Ireland is the second largest contributor to the mission with 411 personnel. The aim of the mission is to protect civilians in danger, particularly refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs), facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid, and protect UN personnel.

KFOR was established in June 1999, to support the maintenance of civil law and order within Kosovo, so as to develop a climate of safety and security, which will enable the transfer of increased responsibility to the civil authorities. Ireland has participated in KFOR since August 1999. The Irish (38th) Infantry Group currently serves in the Multi-National Task Force (Centre). In addition to Ireland, the Task Force also comprises troops from the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic, Sweden, Finland and Latvia. The Task Force's area of responsibility is generally the Pristina region, covering 7 municipalities with a population of approximately 1 million.

The Irish contingent currently comprises an APC Mounted Infantry Group of some 214 personnel, including a number of personnel in staff posts at various KFOR Headquarters. Last August, Ireland assumed the role of Framework Nation for the Multinational Task Force (Centre) in Kosovo for a period of 12 months. An additional 61 Irish personnel are serving with KFOR in support of the Framework Nation role, bringing Ireland's current total deployment to the force to 286.

Ireland has participated in EUFOR in Bosnia and Herzegovina since December 2004, the successor mission to the Stabilisation force (SFOR) in Bosnia and Herzegovina with which Ireland had previously been serving since 1997. The Irish contingent with EUFOR currently comprises 47 personnel. The role of the Defence Forces personnel currently serving in EUFOR is to provide personnel for the headquarters, the Military Police Unit, Verification Teams and the National Support Element. All Irish personnel are located at Camp Butmir, Sarajevo.

Ireland has offered, through the UN Standby Arrangements System (UNSAS), to provide up to 850 military personnel 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.

With regard to future deployments, Ireland receives requests, from time to time, in relation to participation in various missions and these are considered on a case-by-case basis. However, we are currently fairly close to the limit of our sustainable commitments. It is appropriate that we keep some level of resources in reserve, should we need to reinforce existing missions or to take on additional missions at short notice. No other deployments are planned or envisaged at this time.