Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 344: To ask the Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to any further requirements in the terms of Defence Forces deployment on peace-keeping or peace enforcement issues; if he will outline the locations requiring such ongoing attention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39483/11]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 346: To ask the Minister for Defence the number and location of overseas deployment of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39485/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 344 and 346 together.

Ireland is currently contributing 529 Defence Forces personnel to 11 different missions throughout the world. 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 United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 455 personnel, the NATO-led International Security presence (KFOR) in Kosovo with 12 personnel, the EU Training Mission (EUTM) Somalia with 7 personnel, the EU-led operation ALTHEA in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with 7 personnel, and the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan with 7 personnel. Participation by the Defence Forces in these missions is subject to annual review by the Government and ongoing review by the Minister for Defence. As regards participation in UNIFIL, which is our largest mission, Ireland's participation is expected to continue for 3 to 4 years.

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 the recent deployment of a battalion to UNIFIL and the appointment of Colonel Michael Beary in August 2011 to the post of Mission Commander for EUTM Somalia, no other requests have been received at this time.