Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 260: To ask the Minister for Defence his views on the continuation of the Defence Force mission in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36351/09]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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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. Continued participation in overseas missions is considered in the context of the viability of the operation, the threat assessment, existing Defence Forces commitments, the costs involved, the benefit of the operation to the Defence Forces and Ireland's strategic interests, in particular in relation to the maintenance of international peace and security. While there are no plans at this time to withdraw from the mission in Afghanistan, continued participation will be reviewed again in the context of the estimates and available resources.