Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 14: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if Ireland's permanent mission to the UN is actively pursuing Ireland's participation in further UN peace keeping missions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20973/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland remains keenly committed to ongoing participation in UN-mandated peace support operations. Our involvement in overseas operations over more than 50 years has enabled the personnel of the Defence Forces to develop a broad range of skills and competencies which have given Ireland a strong and widely recognised reputation in the field of international peacekeeping. While the Government has reluctantly taken the decision to withdraw the bulk of our contingent from Chad, more than 100 members of the Permanent Defence Forces remain on active service with UN-mandated missions in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. In addition, members of the Garda Síochána and a number of civilian experts seconded by my Department are deployed in support of international crisis management operations.

My Department, the Department of Defence and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform continue to examine options for participation by Ireland in overseas operations. Most recently, the Government has despatched five members of the Defence Forces to serve with the EU mission to assist the training of Somali Security Forces (EUTM Somalia). This UN-mandated mission, which was launched on 7 April 2010, is being carried out in Uganda.

The Permanent Mission to the United Nations maintains active contact with the UN Secretariat, and in particular the Department of Peace Keeping Operations (DPKO), in connection with Ireland's ongoing contribution to UN-mandated crisis management. Requests received in relation to participation in peace support operations 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.