Written answers
Wednesday, 21 November 2018
Department of Defence
Defence Forces Operations
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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93. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the extent to which participation in international peacekeeping and enforcement is anticipated in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48351/18]
Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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As of 01 November 2018, Ireland is contributing 565 personnel to 9 different missions throughout the world and also to a range of international organisations and National representations. The main overseas missions in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed is the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 347 personnel and the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Syria with 138 personnel.
Full details of all personnel currently serving overseas are shown in the tabular statement beneath.
The UNIFIL mission in Lebanon continues to represent Ireland's largest overseas deployment with 347 personnel and on 22 May 2018, the Government approved the continued participation of the Defence Forces in UNIFIL for a further 12 month period.
Until recently, Irish troops served as part of a joint Irish-Finnish Battalion in UNIFIL. The Finnish contingent also included an Estonian Platoon comprising some 36 personnel. Due to other National commitments both Finland and Estonia announced earlier this year their intention to withdraw from the Irish-Finnish Battalion in UNIFIL by the end of 2018.
Efforts are on-going to source a partner country to replace the Finnish contingent but, in the interim, I have approved the additional deployment of approximately 106 Defence Forces Personnel to the UNIFIL mission to cover the backfilling of the Finnish contingent for a 12 month period.On 15 November, Ireland assumed full duties and responsibilities of IRISHBATT for the next 12 months until November 2019.
The Department of Defence constantly reviews the deployment of Defence Forces personnel 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.
MEMBERS OF THE PERMANENT DEFENCE FORCE SERVING OVERSEAS AS OF 01 NOVEMBER 2018
| UN MISSIONS | |
|---|---|
| UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) HQ UNIFIL 112th Infantry Battalion UNIFIL Sector West HQ | 10 329 8 |
| UNTSO (United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation) Israel & Syria | 12 |
| MINURSO (United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara) | 3 |
| MONUSCO (United Nations Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic of the Congo) | 4 |
| UNDOF (COS Staff/FHQ Staff - Camp Faouar - Bravo side) UNDOF 58th Infantry Group (Camp Faouar - Bravo side) | 8 130 |
| TOTAL | 504 |
| UN MANDATED MISSIONS | |
| EUFOR (EU-led Operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina) | 5 |
| EUTM Mali (EU-led Training Mission) | 20 |
| KFOR (International Security Presence in Kosovo) HQ | 12 |
| Naval Service EU Mission (Op Sophia) Operational HQ/Floating HQ (Operation Sophia HQ - 3 in OHQ & 2 in FHQ) | 5 |
| TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONNEL SERVING WITH UN MISSIONS | 546 |
| ORGANISATION FOR SECURITY AND CO-OPERATION IN EUROPE (OSCE) | |
| Staff Officer, High Level Planning Group, Vienna | 1 |
| TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONNEL SERVING WITH OSCE | 1 |
| EU MILITARY STAFF | |
| Brussels | 5 |
| 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 Officer of Ireland, NATO/PfP (Brussels) | 2 |
| EU OHQ Operation Althea, Mons, Belgium | 1 |
| Irish Liaison Officer to SHAPE & Military Co-Op Division, Mons, Belgium | 3 |
| Joint Technical Group for Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (JTGDDR) in Mozambique (part time basis) | 1 |
| TOTAL NUMBER OF DEFENCE FORCES PERSONNEL SERVING OVERSEAS | 565 |
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