Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 58: To ask the Minister for Defence if the Defence Forces are likely to be redeployed to Chad in the foreseeable future; and if there are any requests from the United Nations for their deployment elsewhere. [15598/10]

Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 69: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of contracts received by his Department or other Departments requesting Ireland to maintain its membership of MINURCAT beyond the withdrawal timetable announced; the number of requests suggesting a stay on the decision to withdraw; the nature and frequency of the contacts by the United Nations and or its office holders and personnel requesting either a maintenance of the mission or a stay on the decision to withdraw; if, within those contacts, criticisms were made of the manner and or timing of the announcement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15676/10]

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 82: To ask the Minister for Defence if he is liasing with the United Nations and or the European Union to enable participation at battalion level in peace support missions; if his attention has been drawn to the importance of such missions for the maintenance and development of the Defence Forces and its experience and skillsets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15698/10]

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 91: To ask the Minister for Defence his plans for the deployment of Irish troops to overseas missions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15594/10]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 180: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of overseas locations to which Irish peacekeeping troops are currently deployed; the extent to which such deployments continue to remain of sufficient strength to enable such deployments to be independent, self-supporting and self-sufficient in all eventualities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16092/10]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 181: To ask the Minister for Defence the extent, if any, to which further requests have been received through the EU and UN for Irish troop deployments and peacekeeping or other missions overseas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16093/10]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 58, 69, 82, 91, 180 and 181 together.

In reply to earlier Priority Questions, I have dealt comprehensively with the decision by the Government on 30 March 2010 to withdraw the Irish contingent from the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT) and the reasons for that decision. I can assure the House that it was not a decision the Government wanted to have to make and I personally regret that the situation for MINURCAT in Chad has come to this. Ireland has a long and well-regarded history of participation in UN Peacekeeping missions and we continue to fully support the UN in its peacekeeping efforts. Ireland's absolute preference would have been to continue to fully participate with the MINURCAT mission. However, the current lack of certainty regarding the continuation of the mission mandate, and the approach of the rainy season forced the decision on Government to withdraw the Irish contingent.

Following the withdrawal of the MINURCAT contingent, the Defence Forces will undertake the essential and extensive maintenance of equipment. We will also start the process of examining further options for Defence Forces overseas operations. I would like to assure the House that I am aware that participation in overseas operations over the years has given Defence Forces personnel the opportunity to develop skills and competencies through practice in actual operational situations. Indeed, over the years Ireland has built up a fine reputation in the field of international peacekeeping and a considerable volume of international goodwill has resulted.

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 (as of 01 April 2010) contributing 754 Defence Forces personnel to 11 different missions throughout the world. Full details of all personnel currently serving overseas are listed in the tabular statement below.

As outlined in the budget in December 2009, it had been decided that the Defence Forces commitments to overseas peace support operations would be scaled back in 2010 as one of the budgetary expenditure reductions. This month sees the draw-down of Irish personnel from NATO-led International Security presence (KFOR) in Kosovo from the current 232 personnel to 40 (approximately) in line with the budgetary expenditure reductions in 2010. However, I have decided, at the request of the Operation Commander and in the light of the early and unexpected withdrawal from MINURCAT, to defer until the end of 2010 the drawdown of the Defence Forces contingent serving with Operation ALTHEA, which had been scheduled for July 2010.

The strength of all overseas deployments are assessed in line with the prevailing security situation in the mission area. The Defence Forces conduct a threat assessment on mission areas and all deployments meet the requirements of security and force protection for all personnel.

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. When considering any particular request, the existence of realistic objectives and a clear mandate, which has the potential to contribute to a political solution, consideration of how the mission relates to the priorities of Irish foreign policy and the degree of risk involved are amongst the factors considered.

Apart from a recent EU request to despatch members of the Permanent Defence Force for service with the EU Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) military mission to contribute to the training of Somali Security Forces (EUTM Somalia) being carried out in Uganda, no other deployments are planned or envisaged at this time. In response to the EU request, the Government decided, on 23 February 2010, to despatch five (5) members of the Permanent Defence Force for service with the EU training mission, which was launched on 7 April 2010. The Irish personnel are due to take up duty shortly with the mission. No requests have been received from the UN for deployment of personnel to other UN missions.

Members of the Permanent Defence Force Serving Overseas

as of 1st April 2010