Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 58: To ask the Minister for Defence the payments Ireland has made and has received from the United Nations in connection with peacekeeping operations on behalf of the United Nations in each of the past 15 years. [35168/08]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Payments made by Ireland to the United Nations are a matter for the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Currently, the only mission for which Ireland is entitled to reimbursement of troop costs by the UN is the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). Details of the amounts the UN has paid to my Department since 1 January 1993 in respect of contributions towards troop and other costs associated with the participation of Defence Force personnel in UN missions are set out in the table.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 59: To ask the Minister for Defence the expenditure to date arising from our participation in EU battlegroup operations in Chad and elsewhere; and if any of this money can be recouped from the EU or other bodies. [35169/08]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Battlegroups have been on standby in the European Union since 1 January 2007. To date no Battlegroup has been deployed to Chad or elsewhere. However, the Defence Forces are currently deployed with the UN mandated EU-led military operation in the Republic of Chad and the Central African Republic, EUFOR TCHAD/RCA. All costs associated with deployment of personnel and equipment to this mission are borne by the troop contributing countries. All EU Member States, irrespective of participation, are contributing to the common costs of the operation. The estimated cost to the Defence Vote arising from the Defence Forces participation in this mission will amount to approximately €57m.

Ireland participated in the Nordic Battlegroup (NBG), which was on standby from 1st January 2008 to 30th June 2008. The other members of the Nordic Battlegroup were Sweden, acting as Framework Nation, Finland, Norway and Estonia. The Defence Forces contribution to the NBG was an Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Improvised Explosive Device Disposal (EOD/IEDD) contingent with its own security detail. Although the Nordic Battlegroup did not deploy, Ireland incurred expenditure of €6.77m, which covered the costs associated with training and the purchase of new equipment to fulfil our particular obligations to the NBG.

The expenditure on equipment covered the purchase of vehicles and spare part, ammunition, engineering equipment, etc. This equipment has subsequently been re-allocated within the Defence Forces, addressing equipment requirements as they arose.

Training costs related to deployment of Defence Forces personnel and equipment to Sweden for specific training exercises. These training exercises were primarily focused on testing the interoperability and strategic movement of the Defence Forces within the NBG and were designed to enhance the skills required for a real life Battlegroup deployment. None of the costs incurred by Ireland resulting from our participation in the Nordic Battlegroup or in the EUFOR operation in Chad are recoupable from the EU or elsewhere.