Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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62. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if there are contingency plans in place to ensure the safety of Irish Defence Forces deployed with UNIFIL in Lebanon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38768/24]

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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67. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will report in relation to the current situation in south Lebanon; the activities of Defence Forces personnel deployed on mission with UNIFIL in light of escalating kinetic activity in those regions; the measures taken to best ensure the safety and readiness of personnel, to reassure that they are adequately supplied should they be unable to resupply for a period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39052/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 62 and 67 together.

At the outset, I wish to assure the Deputy that the safety and security of Ireland’s Defence Forces’ personnel is of paramount concern to the Government.

Over the last week, there has been a significant escalation of violence across Lebanon, in terms of Israeli air strikes and Hezbollah rocket fire. The Defence Forces has advised that this escalation has led to an increased level of kinetic activity in the UNIFIL Area of Operations including in the IRISHPOLBATT area of operations. This has led to the Irish personnel taking shelter in their bunker positions (termed a ‘GROUNDHOG’) on a number of occasions for varying periods of duration.

The Defence Forces HQ remains in ongoing contact with Irish personnel in the three UN missions (UNIFIL, UNTSO and UNDOF) in the region throughout the current unrest, and advise that all Irish personnel are all accounted for and are safe and well. The safety of troops remains paramount in terms of every activity undertaken, and personnel continue to take every precaution in terms of force protection.

I wish to reassure the Deputy that ongoing threat assessments are carried out in the mission area and personal equipment and force assets are continually reviewed so that Defence Forces personnel are appropriately equipped to fulfil their role. Unfortunately, no mission is without danger, but I am satisfied based on the military advice that I have received, that all appropriate security measures are in place to provide for the safety of all Defence Forces personnel serving overseas. It is important to be aware also that all our people are highly trained, professional, and have undergone rigorous preparation to effectively handle the challenges that come with peacekeeping in this volatile region.

I also remain in regular contact with the UN and with the Chief of Staff with regard to the ongoing situation. The Department of Defence is also regularly kept appraised of all developments in those areas where Defence Forces personnel are deployed. Last week, while in New York at the UN High Level Week, I also took the opportunity to meet with UN Under Secretary General Lacroix, who is responsible for Peacekeeping, to discuss the ongoing situation in Lebanon and highlight the importance of peacekeeper supply, safety, security and contingency planning.

As regards supply, I wish to assure the Deputy that the personnel in UNIFIL are adequately supplied for current eventualities. Throughout the last year, the Defence Forces have ensured that additional supplies have been deployed for sustainment purposes and supplies and equipment surplus to requirements have been recovered and repatriated. The Defence Forces HQ in close coordination with IRISHPOLBATT continues to monitor the situation in this regard, and UN deliveries of supplies to personnel continue as and when conditions allow. This is in addition to a contingency supply chain in place to allow all of UNIFIL to remain in place unsupplied for up to 30 days.

Finally, with regard to contingency, though it is not the practice to ordinarily comment on operational matters, planning in this regard is part and parcel of the planning in operational deployments, including in UNIFIL. Given the ongoing security issues in South Lebanon, contingency planning is ongoing on the ground and with partners should the need for evacuation arise. It should be underlined however that the Government remains committed to our missions in the Middle-East, including UNIFIL, and the Government has no plans to evacuate our personnel currently.