Seán Connick (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Question 17: To ask the Minister for Defence if the Army Ranger Wing has been deployed overseas without a UN mandate, Government and Dáil Éireann approval; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34744/09]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin North, Fianna Fail)
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Question 33: To ask the Minister for Defence his views on reports in a newspaper (details supplied) concerning the deployment of members of the Army Ranger Wing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34743/09]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 and 33 together.

In the past, personnel of the Army Ranger Wing have been successfully deployed as part of Defence Forces contingents to overseas peace support operations, for example in Liberia, East Timor and Chad. In all cases, the conditions, known as the "triple lock" were satisfied, i.e. the operation was authorized/mandated by the United Nations and participation by the Defence Forces in the operation was approved by the Government and Dáil Éireann.

Having regard to the question, I assume that the Deputy is referring to an article in the Irish Mail on Sunday on 27 September 2009, which stated that members of the Army Ranger Wing were on the ground in Sudan as part of Government's efforts to secure the freedom of the GOAL aid worker, Ms Sharon Commins, who was kidnapped in Darfur on 3 July 2009.

I would like to point out that, on 25 September 2009, in response to queries received the previous day from a journalist representing the newspaper, the journalist was advised specifically and unambiguously by my Department that no members of the Army Ranger Wing were on the ground in Sudan in relation to the ongoing efforts to free the kidnapped aid worker. Despite this, the Irish Mail on Sunday ignored the information provided by my Department and printed a factually incorrect report that members of the Army Ranger Wing were on the ground in Sudan. The inaccuracy in relation to the Army Ranger Wing was brought to the attention of the newspaper following publication of the article. The newspaper concerned printed a correction in last Sunday's edition of the newspaper stating that the error was due to a misunderstanding. Personally I am at a loss to know how an answer consisting of the single word "no" could be misunderstood by anyone.

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 18: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of military personnel currently participating in overseas missions; the number and location of the missions; the scheduled duration of the missions; the cost of these missions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34758/09]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 55: To ask the Minister for Defence the strength and location of overseas deployments of the Defence Force on peace keeping or peace enforcement missions; the degree to which ongoing training, upskilling and equipment standards, including modern technology, is kept in line with ongoing requirements on such missions and best international practice; the degree to which changes are proposed in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34929/09]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 163: To ask the Minister for Defence the number and mandate under which Irish soldiers are operating in various locations around the world. [35032/09]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 167: To ask the Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to the need to maintain adequate Irish peace-keeping forces in the Western Balkans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35142/09]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 18, 46, 55, 163 and 167 together.

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.

Ireland is currently contributing 763 Defence Forces personnel to 13 different missions throughout the world. Full details of all personnel currently serving overseas are listed in the tabular statement set out below.

The main overseas missions, in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed, are the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT) with 422 personnel, the NATO-led International Security presence (KFOR) in Kosovo with 235 personnel and the EU-led operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, ALTHEA, with 44 personnel. Other personnel are serving as monitors and observers with the United Nations and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Staff are also deployed at the organisational headquarters of the EU, OSCE and NATO.

Ireland is currently committed to MINURCAT until mid-March 2010, to KFOR until April 2010 and to Operation ALTHEA until December 2009. The additional cost to the Defence Vote of participation in MINURCAT, net of UN reimbursements, is in the region of €7.6m. The additional cost to the Defence Vote of participation in KFOR and Operation ALTHEA is in the region of €10.5m and €2.4m respectively.

Planned expenditure levels for my Department will be considered as part of the Estimates and budgetary process for 2010. This will include consideration of the report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes. Decisions on all of the issues arising, including continued participation in Chad and in other overseas missions, will be a matter for the Government in the context of the Estimates.

It would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this stage pending the outcome of the estimate process.

I wish to assure the House that Defence Forces personnel serving on all overseas missions are equipped with the most modern and effective equipment. This equipment enables troops to carry out the mission assigned, as well as providing the required protection specific to the mission. Ongoing threat assessments are carried out in mission areas and we continually review both personal equipment and force assets, to ensure that Defence Forces personnel are appropriately equipped to fulfil their roles.

With regard to the upskilling of members of the Permanent Defence Force, all Defence Force personnel receive ongoing training to enable them to participate fully in UN, EU and other missions overseas. Troops selected for overseas service undergo a rigorous programme of training, designed to help them carry out their peacekeeping mission and to provide for their protection. Pre-deployment training is provided to members of the Permanent Defence Force and is updated on an ongoing basis in the light of any changes in the threat assessment or mission requirements. I am satisfied that Defence Forces personnel serving overseas will continue to receive the necessary training to enable them to carry out their duties in a professional manner.

Members of the Permanent Defence Force Serving Overseas as of 01 OCTOBER 2009