Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 514: To ask the Minister for Defence the point of a token military presence in Afghanistan regardless of UN approval; the work being done by this group; and the extent of our financial output on same to date. [18525/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Defence Forces are primarily deployed on overseas missions in support of international peace and security under UN mandates. 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. 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 28 June 2011, the Government agreed to continue to provide seven members of the Permanent Defence Force for service with ISAF for a further period from July 2011, subject to ongoing review by the Minister for Defence. Throughout the years, Ireland has and continues to contribute highly qualified Defence Forces personnel to UN mandated missions in small numbers or for short durations. This is a tangible and visible expression of Ireland's continued support for organisations such as the United Nations and the European Union. Examples of such contributions include the Defence Forces contribution to the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) and to the United Nations Mission in Ivory Coast (UNOCI), with three (3) and two (2) personnel respectively. Also, five personnel were deployed last year to EUTM Somalia, the EU mission to contribute to the training of Somali security forces.

In the case of the seven Defence Forces personnel currently participating in ISAF, I am satisfied that the work carried out by these personnel at ISAF headquarters, particularly by those in the Counter Improvised Explosive Device (C-IED) cell, represents an important contribution to this UN mandated mission.

The annual additional cost to the Defence Vote arising from participation by the Defence Forces in ISAF is approximately €320,000.