Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Socialist Party)
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374. To ask the Minister for Defence the resources being deployed and the activities of Defence Forces personnel in Ukraine. [1467/15]

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Socialist Party)
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375. To ask the Minister for Defence the resources being deployed and the activities of Defence Forces personnel in Mali. [1468/15]

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Socialist Party)
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376. To ask the Minister for Defence the resources being deployed and the activities of Defence Forces personnel in Chad. [1469/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 374 to 376, inclusive, together.

As of 1 January 2015, Ireland is contributing 426 Defence Forces personnel to 11 different missions throughout the world. The main overseas missions, in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed, are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 199 personnel, the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) with 138 personnel, the NATO-led International Security presence (KFOR) in Kosovo with 12 personnel, the EU-led operation ALTHEA in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with 7 personnel, and the NATO-led Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan with 7 personnel. Other personnel are serving as monitors and observers with several United Nations missions.

There are no Irish Defence Forces personnel deployed to the Ukraine.

Defence Forces personnel have been serving with the EU training mission in Mali (EUTM Mali) since March 2013 following Government approval. On 25 February 2014, the Government approved the continued deployment of Defence Forces personnel for service with the training mission. A total of 10 Defence Forces personnel are currently serving with EUTM Mali. Six (6) personnel form part of a joint UK/Irish Infantry Training team while three (3) Irish personnel occupy staff appointments in the Mission Headquarters in Bamako. One officer, of Lieutenant Colonel Rank, is the Deputy Commander of the Training Task Force.

The purpose of the mission is to provide military training and advice to the Malian Armed Forces in order to improve their capacity to maintain security in Mali and restore the authority of the Malian Government and the territorial integrity of the Malian State.

Currently there are no Irish Defence Forces personnel deployed to Chad. Ireland contributed Defence Forces personnel to the EU led Military Operation in Chad and the Central African Republic (EUFOR Tchad/RCA) from October 2007 to March 2009, and to the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT) from March 2009 to December 2010.