Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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35. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of overseas missions on which Irish soldiers are serving; the number of these that only involve troops from European Union States or North Atlantic Treaty Organisation States; the number that involve soldiers from States that are neither in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation or the European Union; the names of these countries and the countries in which the missions are located; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16891/16]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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As of 1 June 2016, Ireland is contributing 474 personnel to 11 different missions throughout the world. The main overseas missions, in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed, are:

1. the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 199 personnel,

2. the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) with 136 personnel and

3. the Naval Service Humanitarian mission in the Mediterranean with 57 personnel.

Ten of the eleven missions in which the Defence Forces include both European Union member States, North Atlantic Treaty Organisation members, and States who are members of neither organisation. Operation Pontus only involves Irish Personnel operating in co-ordination with the Italian authorities. Details of the contributors to all these missions are set out in the following table.

Contributors of personnel to the eleven missions in which the Defence Forces are participating