Written answers
Wednesday, 22 July 2020
Department of Defence
Overseas Missions
Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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146. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will provide a breakdown of peacekeeping defence missions over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17567/20]
Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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As of 8 July 2020, Ireland is contributing 541 personnel to 10 different missions throughout the world. The main overseas missions in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 321 personnel and the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Syria with 134 personnel.
Ireland has always been a strong supporter of the United Nations and UN Peacekeeping. Our commitment and support for the primary role of the United Nations, in the maintenance of international peace and security, is expressed in Ireland's long-standing tradition of participating in UN peacekeeping operations. This commitment is also expressed in our engagement in the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP).
Details of overseas Missions where Defence Forces personnel have served over the past five years (2015 to date) are set out below.
| YEAR | MISSION (all abbreviations outlined at end of document) |
|---|---|
| 2020 | UNIFIL UNTSO MINURSO MONUSCO MINUSMA UNDOF EUFOR BiH EUTM Mali KFOR OP Sophia (Mission closed on 31 March 2020) OP IRINI |
| 2019 | UNIFIL UNTSO MINURSO MONUSCO MINUSMA UNDOF EUFOR BiH EUTM Mali KFOR Op Sophia |
| 2018 | UNIFIL UNTSO MINURSO MONUSCO UNDOF EUFOR BiH EUTM Mali KFOR Op Sophia |
| 2017 | UNIFIL UNTSO MINURSO MONUSCO UNOCI UNDOF EUFOR BiH EUTM Mali KFOR Op Pontus (Deployed May to Oct 17) Op Sophia (Deployed Oct to Dec 17) |
| 2016 | UNIFIL UNTSO MINURSO MONUSCO UNOCI UNDOF EUFOR BiH EUTM Mali KFOR RSM Op Pontus (Deployed May to Dec 16) |
| 2015 | UNIFIL UNTSO MINURSO MONUSCO UNOCI UNDOF EUFOR BiH EUTM Mali KFOR RSM Op Pontus (Deployed May to Nov 15) |
Abbreviation (Explanation)
EUFOR BiH (EU-led Operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina)
EUTM Mali (EU-led Training Mission Mali)]
KFOR (International Security Presence in Kosovo)
MINURSO (United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara)
MINUSMA (United Nations Mission in Mali)
MONUSCO (United Nations Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo)
Op Pontus (Naval Service Humanitarian Mission in Mediterranean)
Op Sophia (EU Naval Mission)
Op Irini (EU Naval Mission)
RSM (Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan)
UNDOF (United Nations Disengagement Observer Force)
UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon)
UNOCI (United Nations Mission in Democratic Republic of the Congo)
UNTSO (United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation).
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