Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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253. To ask the Minister for Defence if it is appropriate that Irish soldiers are being used as human shields on the Golan Heights to protect the annexation of Syrian territory and oil supplies by Israel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2953/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) was established on 31 May 1974 by the United Nations Security Council Resolution 350 (1974), following the agreed disengagement of the Israeli and Syrian forces in the Golan Heights in May 1974. Since 1974, the mandate of UNDOF has been renewed every six months, most recently renewed in June 2015 until 30 June 2016 under UNSCR 2257 (2015).

A contingent of the Permanent Defence Force, comprising 131 personnel, has been deployed to the UNDOF on the Golan Heights since 2013. Eight (8) other Defence Forces personnel are also deployed in UNDOF Headquarters, including the Deputy Force Commander, Brigadier General Anthony Hanlon.

The current Irish contingent, the 50th Infantry Group, is based in UNDOF Headquarters in Camp Ziouani on the Israeli side of the area of separation. It operates in the role of a Quick Reaction Force, which is on standby to assist with on-going operations within the UNDOF Area of Responsibility.

Irish personnel are not being used as human shields in any form on the Golan Heights. UNDOF’s mandate is to maintain credible presence in the Golan and use its best efforts to maintain the ceasefire between Israel and the Syrian Arab Republic. The continued presence of UNDOF in the area remains essential and both Israel and the Syrian Arab Republic have stated their continued commitment to the Disengagement of Forces Agreement and the presence of UNDOF. UNDOF continues to engage with the parties on practical arrangements to allow the Force to continue to maintain the ceasefire from the Israeli occupied side of the Golan Heights.