Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 October 2023
89. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of members of the Defence Forces who are currently serving on peacekeeping missions overseas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42530/23]
View answerAs of 1 September 2023, Ireland is contributing 540 personnel to 7 different missions throughout the world. The main overseas missions in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 342 personnel and the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Syria with 132 personnel. A further 12 personnel are deployed with the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO).
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). In the course of 2023, the Defence Forces had personnel deployed with the EU Training Mission in Mali. Their participation in that mission concluded last month. In addition to the four personnel currently deployed at the Operation Irini HQ in Rome, the Naval Service deployed the the LÉ William Butler Yeats to participate in the mission during the summer, where they contributed to the core task of the mission by stemming the flow of weapons into Libya. There are also four Defence Forces' personnel currently deployed with Operation Althea, the EU-led Operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Department of Defence constantly reviews the deployment of Defence Forces Personnel overseas. The changing nature of demands and potential future mission profiles need to be considered in the context of assets and capabilities which can be made available by the Defence Forces for overseas deployment, given existing operational demands at home and overseas.
I am arranging to provide the Deputy with full details in tabular form of all Defence Forces' personnel currently serving overseas.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51.
I refer to the above referenced Parliamentary Question in which I advised that I would provide you with full details in tabular form of all Defence Forces' personnel currently serving overseas.
In this regard, please find full details of all personnel currently serving in missions overseas are listed in the tabular statement below.
MEMBERS OF THE PERMANENT DEFENCE FORCE SERVING OVERSEAS
As of 01 October 2023
|
UN MISSIONS |
|
|
UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) HQUNIFIL 122nd Infantry BattalionUNIFIL Sector West HQ |
83194 |
|
UNTSO (United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation) Israel & Syria |
13 |
|
UNDOF (COS Staff/FHQ Staff - Camp Faouar - Bravo side)UNDOF 64th Infantry Group (Camp Faouar - Bravo side) |
6126 |
|
TOTAL |
476 |
|
UN MANDATED MISSIONS |
|
|
EUFOR (EU-led Operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina) |
4 |
|
KFOR (International Security Presence in Kosovo) HQ |
13 |
|
Naval Service EU Mission (Op Irini HQ) |
4 |
|
TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONNEL SERVING WITH UN MISSIONS |
497 |
|
|
|
|
ORGANISATION FOR SECURITY AND CO-OPERATION IN EUROPE (OSCE) |
|
|
Staff Officer, High Level Planning Group, Vienna |
1 |
|
EU MILITARY STAFF |
|
|
Brussels |
8 |
|
MILITARY REPRESENTATIVES/ADVISERS/STAFF |
|
|
Military Adviser, Permanent Mission to UN, New York |
2 |
|
Military Adviser, Irish Delegation to OSCE, Vienna |
1 |
|
Military Representative to EU (Brussels) |
4 |
|
Liaison Office 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, UN Training Entebbe |
1 |
|
EUMAM UA |
4 |
|
TOTAL NUMBER OF DEFENCE FORCES PERSONNEL SERVING OVERSEAS |
523 |
