Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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58. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of military personnel serving abroad at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36562/20]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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84. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of Defence Forces personnel on overseas service at the end of October 2020, by rank. [36619/20]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 58 and 84 together.

As of 04 November 2020, Ireland is contributing 569 Defence Forces personnel to 10 different missions throughout the world and also to a range of international organisations and National representations.

The main overseas missions in which the Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 340 personnel and the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Syria with 137 personnel.

Other missions in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed are MINUSMA,  the UN authorised operation in Mali with 14 personnel; the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO) in Israel and Syria with 12 personnel; the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) with two (2) personnel, the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) with three (3) personnel; the EU Training Mission in Mali (EUTM Mali) with 13 personnel; the EUFOR mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina with five (5) personnel, the NATO-led international security presence  in Kosovo (KFOR) with 13 personnel and the EU Naval mission (Operation Irini) with three (3) personnel. 

Ireland also contributes observers and staff to various United Nations and OSCE missions and personnel to staff appointments at UN, EU, NATO/PfP and OSCE headquarters. 

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).

The number of personnel serving overseas by rank is outlined in the following table.

There are also two chaplains serving overseas.