Written answers

Tuesday, 24 May 2011

Department of Justice, Equality and Defence

Defence Forces Deployment

6:00 pm

Photo of Jonathan O'BrienJonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 58: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will report on the cost to the State of the deployment of members of the Irish Defence Forces to Afghanistan since 2001 as part of the International Security Assistance Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12048/11]

Photo of Richard Boyd BarrettRichard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Question 308: To ask the Minister for Defence if he intends to continue the deployment of Irish military personnel in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12287/11]

Photo of Alan ShatterAlan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 58 and 308 together.

On 20 December 2001, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1386 under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, authorising the establishment of an International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. Ireland has participated in the NATO–led UN mandated mission since 5 July 2002, following the Government Decision of 2 July 2002, authorising the provision of seven (7) members of the Permanent Defence Force for service with the force. With the increasing use of more robust Chapter VII missions, the UN has turned to regional organisations such as the European Union, the African Union and NATO, to launch and manage operations on its behalf and under its authority.

Since 2002, the Government has reviewed and approved, on an annual basis, the continued participation by seven (7) members of the Permanent Defence Force in ISAF. On 29 June 2010, the Government approved continued participation by seven members of the Permanent Defence Force in ISAF for a further period from July 2010 subject to ongoing review by the Minister for Defence.

All seven (7) members of the Permanent Defence Force serving with ISAF are based at ISAF's headquarters in Kabul. Two of these personnel (an officer and a non-commissioned officer) are serving in the Counter Improvised Explosives Device (C-IED) Cell. The Irish officer in the cell acts as a technical adviser to ISAF headquarters and he is supported by a Company Sergeant who provides analysis on improvised explosive devices and related matters.

The annual additional cost to the Defence Vote arising from participation by the Defence Forces in ISAF is approximately €320,000. The main element of the cost is in respect of the payment of Overseas Allowance to the seven members of the Defence Forces serving in ISAF.

It is proposed that the Defence Forces will continue to serve with ISAF in the immediate future. In this regard, I will shortly bring a proposal to Government for continued participation by members of the Permanent Defence Force for a further period from July 2011 subject to ongoing review.

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