Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

579. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he had discussions regarding discontinuing the Irish participation in the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force mission in the Golan Heights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17203/16]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

A contingent of the Permanent Defence Force has been deployed to the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) on the Golan Heights since 2013. The current Irish contingent, the 52nd Infantry Group, comprising 129 personnel, is based in UNDOF Headquarters in Camp Ziouani. 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. Seven (7) other Defence Forces personnel are also deployed in UNDOF Headquarters.

The Department of Defence constantly reviews the deployment of Defence Forces personnel overseas and these missions are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. On the margins of an informal meeting of Defence Ministers in Luxembourg on the 3rd September 2015, the then Minister for Defence, Mr. Simon Coveney, had discussions regarding the Defence Forces participation in UN peacekeeping operations including the UNDOF mission, with the UN Under Secretary-General, Mr Hervé Ladsous. He confirmed Ireland’s commitment to UN operations, and in relation to UNDOF, he pointed out that if Ireland was not required in UNDOF in the future, then consideration would be given to other options for deployments on behalf of the UN. At this point in time, however, the presence of the UNDOF mission remains an important element in ensuring stability on the Golan Heights and in the Middle East region and, today, the Government approved continued participation by the Defence Forces in UNDOF for a further twelve months.