Written answers
Thursday, 25 June 2015
Department of Defence
Defence Forces Deployment
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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129. To ask the Minister for Defence the extent to which he expects Irish troop deployment overseas to be of sufficient strength to ensure their viability at all times in particularly hostile environments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25603/15]
Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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As of 01 June 2015, Ireland is contributing approximately 497 Defence Forces personnel to 13 missions throughout the world. Full details of all personnel currently serving overseas including the lead organisation for each mission are listed in the tabular statement attached. The decision by Government to send troops overseas is never taken lightly. The safety of all Irish Defence Forces personnel serving on all overseas missions is always a concern to me, my Government colleagues and to the military authorities. Troops selected for overseas service undergo a rigorous programme of mission specific training. Such training, which is updated on an ongoing basis in the light of increased threat, has been designed to allow Defence Forces personnel to carry out their tasks and to provide for their protection.
Defence Forces personnel serving on all overseas missions are equipped with the most modern and effective equipment to carry out their mission. This equipment enables troops to fulfil the roles assigned to them, as well as providing the required protection specific to the mission. In addition to training and equipment, ongoing threat assessments are carried out in mission areas and both equipment and force assets are continually reviewed to ensure that Defence Forces personnel are appropriately equipped to fulfil their roles.
The reality is that no peacekeeping mission is without danger. I am confident, however that all appropriate security measures are in place to ensure the safety of all Defence Forces personnel currently serving overseas.
I am satisfied that the numbers serving within the Defence Forces overseas is of sufficient strength to ensure their viability at all times.
MEMBERS OF THE PERMANENT DEFENCE FORCE SERVING OVERSEAS AS OF 01 JUNE 2015
| 1. | UN MISSIONS | |
|---|---|---|
| UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) HQ | 9 | |
| UNIFIL 49th Infantry Group | 184 | |
| UNIFIL Sector West HQ | 4 | |
| UNTSO (United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation) Israel and Syria | 13 | |
| MINURSO (United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara) | 3 | |
| MONUSCO (United Nations Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo) | 4 | |
| UNOCI (United Nations Mission in Ivory Coast) | 2 | |
| UNDOF (United Nations Disengagement Observer Force) HQ, Golan Heights Syria | 8 | |
| UNDOF 48th Infantry Group | 130 | |
| TOTAL | 357 | |
| UN MANDATED MISSIONS | ||
| EUFOR (EU led Operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina) | 7 | |
| EUTM Mali (EU led Training Mission) | 9 | |
| KFOR (International Security Presence in Kosovo) HQ | 12 | |
| RSM (Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan) | 7 | |
| TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONNEL SERVING WITH UN MISSIONS | 392 | |
| 2. | OTHER DEPLOYMENTS | |
| UK EBOLA TREATMENT CENTRE (Sierra Leone) | 4 | |
| Naval Service Humanitarian Mission in Mediterranean (L.É. Eithne) | 69 | |
| TOTAL NUMBERS OF PERSONNEL OTHER DEPLOYMENTS | 73 | |
| 3. | ORGANISATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE (OSCE) | |
| OSCE Mission to Bosnia & Herzegovina | 2 | |
| Staff Officer, High Level Planning Group Vienna | 1 | |
| TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONNEL SERVING OSCE | 3 | |
| 4. | EU MILITARY STAFF | |
| Brussels | 5 | |
| 5. | NORDIC BATTLE GROUP 2015 | |
| FHQ Sweden | 14 | |
| 6. | MILITARY REPRESENTATIVES/ADVISERS/STAFF | |
| Military Adviser, Permanent Mission to UN, New York | 1 | |
| Military Adviser Irish delegation to OSCE, Vienna | 1 | |
| Military Representative to EU (Brussels) | 4 | |
| Liaison Office of Ireland, NATO/PfP (Brussels) | 2 | |
| EU OHQ Operation Althea, Mons, Belgium | 1 | |
| Irish Liaison Officer to SHAPE & Military Co-Op Division, Mons, Belgium | 1 | |
| TOTAL NUMBER OF DEFENCE FORCES PERSONNEL SERVING OVERSEAS | 497 |
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