Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 261: To ask the Minister for Defence the extent to which he has received requests from the EU or UN for participation in overseas peacekeeping missions by the Defence Forces; the likely number of personnel to be involved; the most likely locations; if any special training programmes are envisaged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8528/11]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 262: To ask the Minister for Defence the extent, if any, to which the Defence Forces are likely to be deployed overseas in the foreseeable future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8529/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 261 and 262 together.

Ireland has offered, through the United Nations 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 130 Defence Forces personnel to 11 different missions throughout the world. Full details of all personnel currently serving overseas are listed in the tabular statement.

The main overseas missions, in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed, are the EU-led operation ALTHEA in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with 44 personnel and the NATO-led International Security presence (KFOR) in Kosovo with 12 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.

Ireland has been requested to provide a contingent of the Permanent Defence Force for service with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). Later this week I will be moving a motion in the House seeking approval for the despatch of a Defence Forces contingent of some 440 personnel for service with UNIFIL. If the proposed deployment is approved by the House, the total number of personnel deployed overseas will amount to approximately 570 when the contingent is fully deployed in late June. This represents a significant contribution to international peacekeeping operations and the obligations Ireland has assumed through its membership of the UN. No special training programmes, over and above the requisite pre-deployment training for contingents being deployed overseas, are envisaged.

On 1 April 2011, the Council of the European Union adopted the decision, underpinning the mandates of UN Security Council Resolutions 1970 and 1973 (2011), to establish an operation called "EUFOR Libya" in order to stand ready to support humanitarian assistance in the region, if requested by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Ireland has been requested to deploy two Defence Forces personnel to the Operational Headquarters in Rome. This matter is currently under consideration in my Department and any such proposal will be subject to Government approval under the Defence Acts. Apart from the above requests, no other deployments are planned or envisaged at this time. Members of the Permanent Defence Force Serving Overseas as of 1st April 2011