Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 13: To ask the Minister for Defence the total number of personnel by rank currently serving overseas; the number, if any, requests for further deployments in hand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38064/10]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 23: To ask the Minister for Defence if the initial informal inquiries made by him, his Department, the Government or other agencies at UN level and among like-minded nations is likely to result in an overseas mission for Defence Forces in 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38075/10]

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 26: To ask the Minister for Defence if the Defence Forces will undertake a mission in Liberia in 2011; if it is intended that members of the Reserve Defence Forces will serve with the Permanent Defence Force members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38093/10]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 56: To ask the Minister for Defence his plans, if any, in relation to future Defence Forces overseas missions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38083/10]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 221: To ask the Minister for Defence the position regarding requests for deployment of Irish troops overseas for peacekeeping missions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38397/10]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 13, 23, 26, 56 and 221 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.

Ireland is currently contributing 148 Defence Forces personnel to 12 different missions throughout the world. Of the 148 personnel currently serving overseas, 90 are officers and 58 are drawn from other ranks. Full details of all personnel currently serving overseas are listed in the tabular statement below.

The main overseas missions, in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed, are the EU-led operation ALTHEA in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with 43 personnel and the NATO-led International Security presence (KFOR) in Kosovo with 19 personnel. Other personnel are serving as monitors and observers with the United Nations and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Staff are also deployed at the organisational headquarters of the EU, OSCE and NATO.

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.

Following the unexpected withdrawal of the Defence Forces battalion from Chad earlier this year, we are currently examining a number of options for future deployment, and in this regard we have been in contact with the UN in relation to its requirements for missions. In these difficult economic circumstances due regard will have to taken of available resources when considering options for contributing to international peacekeeping operations in support of the United Nations. A number of options are being developed by Civil and Military management in the Department, including a possible deployment to UNIFIL, and subject to their advice, I would expect to be in a position to consider the proposals and bring forward recommendations to Government as appropriate in the near future.

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.

There are no plans to deploy members of the Reserve Defence Force on overseas peace support operations.