Vol. 561 No. 5
125 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Defence if the current Defence Acts will allow the Defence Forces to serve abroad without a UN mandate; if so, the part of the Defence Acts which inhibit such a deployment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4786/03]
The Defence Acts do not allow for the deployment of contingents of the Defence Forces overseas in the absence of a UN authorisation. The statutory authority for the dispatch of contingents of the Permanent Defence Force for service overseas is set out in section 2 of the Defence (Amendment) No. 2 Act 1960 as amended by the Defence (Amendment) Act 1993. Section 2, as amended, provides that a contingent of the Permanent Defence Force may be despatched for service outside the State as part of an international force or body established by the Security Council or the General Assembly of the United Nations. Where the despatch of 12 or more armed personnel of the Defence Forces is contemplated, prior Dáil approval is required under the provisions of the legislation. There is no other provision allowing for contingents of the Defence Forces being deployed overseas.
The question of Defence Forces participation in overseas missions is kept under regular review. Requests from the UN for Irish participation in new missions are considered on a case by case basis within the context of the United Nations stand-by arrangement system, UNSAS.
Question No. 126 answered with Question No. 114.
