Written answers
Thursday, 16 May 2024
Department of Defence
Defence Forces
Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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47. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of Irish Defence Forces personnel currently deployed on overseas missions; the location of each deployment; the further plans he has, if any, for future deployment overseas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21847/24]
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As of 7 May 2024, Ireland is contributing 400 Defence Forces personnel to overseas missions and locations, which reflects the Government's continued commitment to our responsibilities in the area of international peace and security.
The main mission in which personnel are currently deployed is the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 328 personnel.
Ireland also contributes personnel to two other UN missions located in the Middle East, the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO) Israel & Syria with 11 personnel, and the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Syria, with 5 personnel. Observers and staff are also deployed to various United Nations and OSCE missions and in addition, Defence Forces personnel hold staff appointments at UN, EU, NATO/PfP and OSCE headquarters.
Though there are currently no plans to increase our commitment to UN peacekeeping in terms of participation in further missions, from this July, I can inform the Deputy that a further 33 personnel will be sent to UNIFIL as an additional force protection measure. The possibility of further deployments will not be ruled out in the future following the completion of the Defence Forces process of consolidation and planning.
Full details of all personnel currently serving in missions overseas are listed below.
MEMBERS OF THE PERMANENT DEFENCE FORCE SERVING OVERSEAS
As of 07 May 2024
| UN MISSIONS | |
|---|---|
| UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) HQUNIFIL 123rd Infantry BattalionUNIFIL Sector West HQ | 83164 |
| UNTSO (United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation) Israel & Syria | 11 |
| UNDOF (COS Staff/FHQ Staff - Camp Faouar - Bravo side) | 5 |
| TOTAL | 344 |
| UN MANDATED MISSIONS | |
| EUFOR (EU-led Operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina) | 5 |
| KFOR (International Security Presence in Kosovo) HQ | 13 |
| Naval Service EU Naval Mission (Op Irini) OHQ/FHQ (Op Irini HQ - 3 in OHQ)(1 in FHQ) | 4 |
| TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONNEL SERVING WITH UN MISSIONS | 366 |
| ORGANISATION FOR SECURITY AND CO-OPERATION IN EUROPE (OSCE) | |
| Staff Officer, High Level Planning Group, Vienna | 1 |
| EU MILITARY STAFF (EUMS) | |
| Brussels | 8 |
| EU BATTLE GROUP (EUBG) | |
| German Led Battle Group 2024-2,FHQ , Stadtallendorf | 9 |
| 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) | 3 |
| EU OHQ Operation Althea, Mons, Belgium | 1 |
| Irish Liaison Officer to SHAPE & Military Co-Op Division, Mons, Belgium | 1 |
| Military C-IED Expert, UNMAS, UN Training Entebbe | 1 |
| EUMAM UA | 4 |
| TOTAL NUMBER OF DEFENCE FORCES PERSONNEL SERVING OVERSEAS | 400 |
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