Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 58: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of members of the Defence Force serving in Afghanistan; the person under whose command they are serving; the international mandate under which they are serving; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34874/09]

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 64: To ask the Minister for Defence the role or mission of each member of the Defence Forces currently serving in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34735/09]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 58 and 64 together.

Ireland has participated in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan since 5 July 2002, following the Government Decision of 2 July 2002, authorising the provision of seven members of the Permanent Defence Force for service with the force. Since then, the Government has reviewed and approved, on an annual basis, the continued participation by seven members of the Permanent Defence Force in ISAF.

On 20 December 2001, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1386 under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, authorising the establishment of an International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan for six months. The role of the force is to assist the Interim Afghanistan Authority in the maintenance of security in Kabul and the surrounding areas. NATO assumed the lead in ISAF on 11 August 2003. In October 2003 the UN Security Council extended the authorisation of ISAF to cover all of Afghanistan. On 22 September 2008 the UN Security Council extended the current mandate until 12 October 2009 under Resolution 1833.

The seven Irish personnel, comprising four Officers and three Non Commissioned Officers, currently serving with the force are located in ISAF HQ, Kabul and work in staff appointments in planning and administrative roles. Irish personnel serving with ISAF come under the operational control of the Force Commander.