Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)
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213. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if there are any recent requests by the UN DPO for explosive ordnance removal units; the units that are currently deployed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33435/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that the United Nations (UN) regularly makes general requests for additional personnel to be made available to their missions in the area of mine clearance, explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) and disposal of explosive remnants of war.

The Defence Forces has built up considerable experience and expertise in the field of EOD and Counter Improvised Explosive Device (C-IED), which is highly regarded and valued internationally and by the UN - which in the past requested Ireland's assistance.

The Defence Forces currently have EOD qualified personnel deployed in a role associated with their qualifications in two (2) mission areas: UNIFIL in Lebanon and the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) in Uganda. The primary role of the EOD Capability in UNIFIL is to provide force protection for Irish personnel and to support their mobility while conducting their mandated tasks. The EOD Officer in UNMAS acts in an advisory and training role and visits other UN Missions as part of this role. Additionally, in January 2025, the Defence Forces deployed a second officer to UNMAS in Uganda to deliver a two-week training course.

The most recent request received by the Defence Forces, from the UN, was in November 2024 and was for support to UNIFIL. When this request was examined and its scope clarified, it was assessed that the Defence Forces were not in a position to expand its current EOD capacity devoted to UNIFIL. It should be noted that EOD capabilities are not standalone and require engineer, medical, force protection, and command and control elements in order to deliver the EOD force package.