Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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85. To ask the Minister for Defence the number of Defence Forces personnel currently deployed throughout the world; and the number of countries. [21288/13]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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316. To ask the Minister for Defence the degree to which further overseas, EU or UN associated troop deployments are likely to emerge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21557/13]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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318. To ask the Minister for Defence the number and location of Army, Navy and Air Corps personnel deployed overseas on foot of EU or UN deployment missions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21559/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 85, 316 and 318 together.

Full details of all personnel currently serving overseas are listed in the tabular statement attached. Of the 439 personnel serving overseas, 427 are Army, 2 are Naval Service and 10 are Air Corps personnel.

The main overseas missions in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed are UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 357 personnel, including the Deputy Force Commander; the EU Training Mission (EUTM) Somalia with 10 personnel, including the Mission Commander; the EU Training Mission in Mali (EUTM Mali) with 8 personnel; the EUFOR mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina with 7 personnel; the NATO-led international security presence (KFOR) in Kosovo with 12 personnel; and the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan with 7 personnel. Ireland also contributes 23 observers and staff to various United Nations and OSCE missions and 15 other personnel to staff appointments at UN, EU and OSCE headquarters.

The current contribution of some 439 personnel to overseas missions reflects the Government’s continued commitment to our responsibilities in the area of international peace and security.

As regards future deployments of Defence Forces personnel overseas, 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.

Last month, Ireland received requests from the UN to deploy a small number of additional observers to the UN Truce Supervision Organisation in the Middle East to the Headquarters of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Syria. These requests are currently receiving consideration and a decision will be made shortly.

No other formal request has been received from the UN for Defence Forces participation in additional missions. However, the UN regularly advises member States of deficiencies in existing or new missions. In this regard, my Department is also currently considering whether there is the potential for the Defence Forces to contribute to the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA).