John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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68. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if there are plans to review the security and safety of Irish troops serving in Lebanon following the death of a soldier (details supplied), particularly with growing geo-political tensions in the region, and the potential impact of events outside their area of operations on the Irish Defence Force Forces in southern Lebanon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5158/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 24 and 68 together.

The UNIFIL mission in Lebanon continues to represent Ireland's largest overseas deployment.  As of 1 January 2023, Ireland is contributing 349 personnel to this mission.  Ireland has contributed troops to UNIFIL since 1978.

UNIFIL and the Lebanese Armed Forces have a key role to play in Lebanese stability.  As a member of the United Nations Security Council, Ireland strongly supported the extension to UNIFIL’s temporary support to the Lebanese Armed Forces in the mission’s mandate renewal last August. We are conscious that peacekeepers in South Lebanon are most effective when they work in partnership with the Lebanese Armed Forces and we believe that UNIFIL continues to be a force for stability.

The Irish Government remains strongly committed to the maintenance of peace and security in Lebanon through our continued participation in UNIFIL.

On 17 May 2022 the Government approved the continued participation of the Defence Forces in UNIFIL for a further 12-month period up until 30 May 2023.Irish troops are currently serving as part of a joint Irish-Polish Battalion in UNIFIL, with smaller numbers of additional personnel provided by both Hungary and Malta. 

The safety and wellbeing of all Irish Defence Forces personnel serving on all overseas missions is of paramount concern when considering new or continued participation in any mission, including UNIFIL. 

It is the policy and practice to ensure that Defence Forces personnel serving overseas are appropriately trained and equipped with the most modern and effective equipment to carry out their mission, as well as providing the required level of force protection specific to the mission. 

Ongoing threat assessments are carried out in the mission area and personal equipment and force assets are continually reviewed, to ensure that Defence Forces personnel are appropriately equipped to fulfil their role. 

Unfortunately, and as we saw in Lebanon in December, no mission is without danger. Any lessons learned from this tragic incident that resulted in the death of Private Seán Rooney, and that can inform the safety of future missions, must be taken on board.

In the course of my recent visit to UNIFIL, I met with the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations and we both agreed that the safety and security of peacekeepers serving on UN missions is a priority for Ireland and the UN.

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.