Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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294. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the extent to which further overseas deployment of the Defence Forces with the UN is envisaged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23438/17]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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As of 04 May 2017, Ireland is contributing 575 Defence Forces personnel to 9 different missions throughout the world and also to a range of international organisations and National representations.

The main UN missions in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 369 personnel and the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Syria with 136 personnel.

Ireland has a long and continuous record of contributing to peacekeeping missions, both UN led and UN mandated. Participation in these missions demonstrates Ireland’s strong support for the role of the United Nations in international peacekeeping. The current contribution of some 575 personnel to overseas missions reflects the Government’s continued commitment to our responsibilities in this area.

The Department of Defence constantly reviews the deployment of Defence Forces personnel overseas. As the Deputy will be aware, the Naval Service vessel, LÉ Eithne with a crew of 72 personnel, will soon deploy to the Mediterranean to undertake humanitarian search and rescue operations, which will further increase the numbers serving overseas.

With regard to any future deployments of Defence Forces personnel overseas, Ireland receives requests, from time to time, in relation to participation in various missions and these are considered on a case-by-case basis. My Department, on an ongoing basis also reviews in consultation with the military authorities, existing deployments and also other UN mandated missions. Following recent government approval, the number of Irish personnel deployed to EUTM Mali will increase from 18 to 20 personnel in the near future. At this point in time, however, deployment of Defence Forces personnel to new missions is not currently envisaged.

Full details of all personnel currently serving overseas are listed as follows.

Members of the Permanent Defence Force Serving OverseasAs of 4^thMay 2017

1. UN MISSIONS

(i) UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) HQ - 30

UNIFIL109^thInfantry Battalion - 331

UNIFILSector West HQ - 8

(ii) UNTSO (United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation) Israel & Syria - 12

(iii) MINURSO(United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara) - 3

(iv) MONUSCO(United Nations Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo)- 4

(v) UNDOF (United Nations Disengagement Observer Force) HQ (Yafour Damascus) - 1

UNDOFStaff Appointments (Camp Ziouani) - 5

UNDOF55^thInfantry Group (Camp Ziouani) - 130

TOTAL - 524

UN MANDATED MISSIONS

(vi) EUFOR(EU-led Operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina) - 5

(vii) EUTM Mali(EU-Led Training Mission) - 18

(viii) KFOR(International Security Presence in Kosovo ) HQ - 12

TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONNEL SERVING WITH UN MISSIONS - 559

2. ORGANISATION FOR SECURITY AND CO-OPERATION IN EUROPE (OSCE)

(i) OSCE Mission to Bosnia & Herzegovina- 1

(ii) Staff Officer, High Level Planning Group, Vienna - 1

TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONNEL SERVING WITH OSCE - 2

3. EU MILITARY STAFF

Brussels - 4

4. MILITARY REPRESENTATIVES/ADVISERS/STAFF

(i) Military Adviser, Permanent Mission to UN, New York - 1

(ii) Military Adviser, Irish Delegation to OSCE, Vienna - 1

(iii) Military Representative to EU (Brussels) - 4

(iv) Liaison Officer of Ireland, NATO /PfP (Brussels) - 2

(v) EU OHQ Operation Althea, Mons, Belgium - 1

(vi) Irish Liaison Officer to SHAPE & Military Co-Op Division, Mons, Belgium - 1

TOTAL NUMBER OF DEFENCE FORCES PERSONNEL SERVING OVERSEAS - 575.