James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 57: To ask the Minister for Defence the progress that has been made on securing a new overseas mission for the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23522/10]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 58: To ask the Minister for Defence the role he sees for the Irish Defence Forces in future EU and UN sponsored peace keeping, peace enforcement, crisis control, humanitarian or other missions or emergencies; the EU or UN or national mechanisms likely to apply; the extent of any future training arrangements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23409/10]

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 59: To ask the Minister for Defence if there are plans for Ireland's participation in further UN peace keeping missions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23447/10]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 66: To ask the Minister for Defence the discussions he has had with the Department of Foreign Affairs regarding the resumption of the United Nations military element of the mission to Chad being resumed. [23360/10]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 82: To ask the Minister for Defence the plans there are for Irish troops to serve abroad, having regard to the ending of the MINURCAT mission in Chad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23367/10]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 149: To ask the Minister for Defence if any requests have been received for future deployments of Irish troops on overseas peacekeeping missions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23756/10]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 57 to 59, inclusive, 66, 82 and 149 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.

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. Five (5) Irish personnel took up duty with the mission at the end of April 2010. No requests have been received from the UN for deployment of personnel to other UN missions.

On 30 March 2010 the Government decided to withdraw the Irish contingent from the United Nations Mission in Chad and the Central African Republic (MINURCAT) for logistical reasons and lack of clarity regarding the renewal and nature of the mandate beyond mid-May 2010. Personnel of the 102nd Infantry Battalion were withdrawn from the mission last month. On 25 May 2010, the United Nations Security Council decided to terminate the MINURCAT mission by the end of the year. Under the new mandate, the Government of Chad assumes full responsibility for the protection of civilians, a responsibility that was originally assigned to the military component of the MINURCAT mission. Consequently, no discussions have taken place with the Department of Foreign Affairs on the resumption of the military element of the mission's mandate. A small number of Irish personnel are currently being retained at the Force Headquarters bringing the current total of Defence Forces personnel serving overseas to 167.

Following the return later this month of the Irish contingent-owned equipment from Chad, the Defence Forces will undertake the essential and extensive maintenance of equipment. We have also begun 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. Personnel of the Permanent Defence Force will continue to receive ongoing training to enable them to participate fully in UN, EU and other missions overseas. 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.