Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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29. To ask the Minister for Defence the work that has been undertaken by the 108th Infantry Battalion of the Irish Defence Forces that are currently deployed in Lebanon serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon since their arrival; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28710/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) mission is the main overseas mission in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed. The 108th Infantry Battalion, comprising some 337 personnel, was deployed to UNIFIL in May 2013 when it replaced personnel of the 107th Infantry Battalion. The Irish Battalion has been working alongside a contingent of 170 personnel of the Finnish Armed Forces as part of a joint Irish/Finnish Battalion. A further 16 Irish personnel are deployed to the Force Headquarters in Naquora and 8 personnel at the UNIFIL Sector West headquarters in Shama. The Irish/Finnish Battalion conducts operational tasks on a daily basis, which include the provision of security, vehicle and foot patrols, checkpoints, establishing and occupying temporary observation posts and liaison/engagement with local leaders. Joint operations are conducted with units of the Lebanese Armed Forces deployed in the UNIFIL area of operations. Irish and Finnish troops also occupy two forward static UN posts on the Blue Line separating Lebanon and Israel.

The security situation in the area in which the Irish/Finnish Battalion operates remains calm but increasingly unstable due to domestic and international factors largely stemming from the spillover effects of the Syrian crisis. The Battalion implements Force Protection measures appropriate to the prevailing operational and security developments in the region.

Ireland currently holds command of the joint Irish/Finnish Battalion. Finland, in accordance with agreements entered into on the deployment of the joint battalion, will assume command of the joint battalion in November 2013. At that stage, the Irish contribution to the Finnish/Irish Battalion will reduce from 337 to approximately 171 Defence Forces personnel.