Update: Irish Troop Deployment Overseas, 26th June 2015

QUESTION NO: 129  
 
* To ask the Minister for Defence the extent to which he expects Irish troop deployment overseas to be of sufficient strength to ensure their viability at all times in particularly hostile environments; and if he will make a statement on the matter.  

 
Ref No: 25603/15 Proof: 142
 
 

Minister for Defence, (Mr. Simon Coveney, T.D.):  

 
 
As of 01 June 2015, Ireland is contributing approximately 497 Defence Forces personnel to 13 missions throughout the world. Full details of all personnel currently serving overseas including the lead organisation for each mission are listed in the tabular statement attached.
 
The decision by Government to send troops overseas is never taken lightly. The safety of all Irish Defence Forces personnel serving on all overseas missions is always a concern to me, my Government colleagues and to the military authorities. Troops selected for overseas service undergo a rigorous programme of mission specific training. Such training, which is updated on an ongoing basis in the light of increased threat, has been designed to allow Defence Forces personnel to carry out their tasks and to provide for their protection.
Defence Forces personnel serving on all overseas missions are equipped with the most modern and effective equipment to carry out their mission. This equipment enables troops to fulfill the roles assigned to them, as well as providing the required protection specific to the mission. In addition to training and equipment,       ongoing threat assessments are carried out in mission areas and both equipment and force assets are continually reviewed to ensure that Defence Forces personnel are appropriately equipped to fulfill their roles.
The reality is that no peacekeeping mission is without danger. I am confident, however that all appropriate security measures are in place to ensure the safety of all Defence Forces personnel currently serving overseas.
 
I am satisfied that the numbers serving within the Defence Forces overseas is of sufficient strength to ensure their viability at all times.

MEMBERS OF THE PERMANENT DEFENCE FORCE SERVING OVERSEAS

AS OF 01 JUNE 2015

1.

UN MISSIONS

UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) HQ

UNIFIL 49 ^th  Infantry Group

UNIFIL Sector West HQ

  4

UNTSO (United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation) Israel and Syria

MINURSO (United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara)

MONUSCO (United Nations Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo)

UNOCI (United Nations Mission in Ivory Coast)

UNDOF (United Nations Disengagement Observer Force) HQ, Golan Heights Syria

UNDOF 48 ^th  Infantry Group

TOTAL

UN MANDATED MISSIONS

EUFOR (EU led Operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina)

EUTM Mali (EU led Training Mission)

KFOR (International Security Presence in Kosovo) HQ

RSM (Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan)

TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONNEL SERVING WITH UN MISSIONS

2.

OTHER DEPLOYMENTS

UK EBOLA TREATMENT CENTRE (Sierra Leone)

Naval Service Humanitarian Mission in Mediterranean (L.E. Eithne)

TOTAL NUMBERS OF PERSONNEL OTHER DEPLOYMENTS

3.

ORGANISATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE (OSCE)

OSCE Mission to Bosnia & Herzegovina

Staff Officer, High Level Planning Group Vienna

TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONNEL SERVING OSCE

4.

EU MILITARY STAFF

Brussels

5.

NORDIC BATTLE GROUP 2015

FHQ Sweden

6.

MILITARY REPRESENTATIVES/ADVISERS/STAFF

Military Adviser, Permanent Mission to UN, New York

Military Adviser Irish delegation to OSCE, Vienna

Military Representative to EU (Brussels)

Liaison Office of Ireland, NATO/PfP (Brussels)

EU OHQ Operation Althea, Mons, Belgium

Irish Liaison Officer to SHAPE & Military Co-Op Division, Mons, Belgium

TOTAL NUMBER OF DEFENCE FORCES PERSONNEL SERVING OVERSEAS