Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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22. To ask the Minister for Defence if he will confirm the number of Defence Forces personnel who may be sent to conflict zones abroad with the approval of only part of the three elements of the triple lock mechanism, Government approval, Dáil approval and a UN Security Council mandate; if he will provide the numbers of such personnel who are currently working overseas; the numbers in each year from 2000 to date in 2013; the destinations of these personnel in each case; the financial cost of committing these personnel overseas in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46791/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The statutory authority for the despatch of contingents of the Permanent Defence Force for service overseas as part of an International Force, is set out in Section 2 of the Defence (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1960, as amended by the Defence (Amendment) Act 2006. This provision is commonly referred to as the "triple lock" and comprises three requirements namely:

- the authorisation of the operation by the Security Council or General Assembly of the United Nations;

- a formal Government decision; and

- the approval of Dáil Éireann.

There is no requirement for Dáil approval for the despatch of contingents of the Permanent Defence Force for service overseas as part of an International Force where that Force is unarmed or where the size of the Permanent Defence Force contingent does not exceed twelve members.

Outside of such contingent deployments, members of the Permanent Defence Force may also be deployed outside the State on a range of other duties including training, humanitarian operations, fact finding missions, ceremonial duties etc. under the authority of the Government in accordance with the provisions of the Defence (Amendment) Act 2006, which formalised arrangements in this regard. Section 3 of the 2006 Act sets out the range of such duties.

Details of personnel serving overseas in conflict zones since 2000, where there is no requirement for Dáil approval or for authorisation of an operation by the Security Council under the Defence Acts, are not readily available. However, the tabular statement below provides full details of all such personnel serving overseas between 2008 and 2012. Also included in the tabular statement are the estimated costs to the Defence Vote of participation by the Defence Forces in the missions in question. These costings do not include common costs payable by EU Member States, including Ireland, for EU led missions, in accordance with EU Council Decision of 17 June, 2002.

It was not possible in the time available to compile the full information including costs in relation to 2013.However, my Department is currently compiling this information and I will provide it directly to the Deputy once it comes to hand.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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24. To ask the Minister for Defence the full extent of the deployment of Irish troops overseas; if further requests in this regard are pending; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46637/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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As of 1 November 2013, Ireland is contributing approximately 560 Defence Forces personnel to 14 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 356 personnel, including the Deputy Force Commander. The joint Irish/Finnish Battalion is tasked primarily with patrolling, reconnaissance and occupying static posts while operating in close co-ordination and co-operation with the Lebanese Armed Forces in Sector West of UNIFIL’s area of operations.

Other missions in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed are the EU Training Mission (EUTM) Somalia with eight (8) personnel, including the Mission Commander; the EU Training Mission in Mali (EUTM Mali) with eight (8) personnel; the EUFOR mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina with seven (7) personnel who are based at mission headquarters in Sarajevo; the NATO-led international security presence (KFOR) in Kosovo with twelve (12) personnel based in the mission Headquarters; and the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan with seven (7) personnel who are based in the mission Headquarters in Kabul. Ireland also contributes 24 observers and staff to various United Nations and OSCE missions and 16 other personnel to staff appointments at UN, EU and OSCE headquarters.

The most recent deployment overseas was in response to a United Nations request and resulted in the deployment of the 43^rd Infantry Group to United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) on the Golan Heights in Syria. This deployment was successfully completed on 28 September 2013. The 43^rd Infantry Group is tasked primarily to serve as the Force Mobile Reserve within the UNDOF Area of Responsibility. A total of 118 Defence Forces personnel are currently serving with UNDOF, including four (4) personnel who were deployed to UNDOF earlier this year for service at the Mission Headquarters.

Also, at the request of the United Nations and following Government approval, four (4) members of the Permanent Defence Force were deployed for service with the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) in South Sudan in August 2013. Their role is to provide a specialist training team on Conventional Munitions Disposal (CMD), mine and specialist search awareness to South Sudan Police personnel.

The current contribution of some 560 personnel to overseas missions reflects the Government's continued commitment to our responsibilities in the area of international peace and security.

My Department constantly reviews the deployment of Defence Forces personnel overseas. No further requests for overseas deployments are currently pending.

MEMBERS OF THE PERMANENT DEFENCE FORCE SERVING OVERSEAS

AS OF 01 NOVEMER 2013