MINISTER FOR DEFENCE WELCOMES TAOISEACH’S ANNOUNCEMENT ON DEFENCE FORCES CONTINGENT FOR LIBERIA
Further to the Taoiseach’s announcement to the United Nations General Assembly earlier today, the Minister for Defence, Mr. Michael Smith, T.D., wishes to state that, subject to Dáil approval, a contingent of the Permanent Defence Force will serve with the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL). UNMIL was established on 19 September, 2003, under UN Security Council Resolution 1509.
The proposed Irish contingent will comprise a motorized infantry battalion, of some 430 personnel, including the deployment of a small number of personnel at Force Headquarters, Monrovia and as Military Observers. It will be the largest deployment of Irish troops on a UN mission since UNIFIL.
At the request of the UN, a small number of Irish personnel will be deployed to the Force Headquarters next month and a Defence Forces team will undertake a fact-finding visit to the mission area during the coming weeks.
Deployment to UNMIL will take place in November/December 2003 and the Irish contingent is expected to be fully operational in theatre by mid December 2003. The initial deployment will be for 1 year, subject to renewal of the UN mandate and a satisfactory review of the mission at that time.
The Minister for Defence plans to submit the necessary enabling Resolution to the Dáil, early next month.
“Irish people are very proud of the exceptional peacekeeping record of our troops in troubled parts of the world over more than forty years” observed Minister Smith. “Our Defence Forces have an unrivalled reputation for this work and are widely considered to be the best peacekeepers in the world. The unfortunate people of Liberia have endured enormous deprivation and hardship over the past number of years and I am delighted that Ireland will be to the fore in bringing peace to that troubled country.”
Ends 25 September 2003
|
|  | |
| Related Press Releases |
No documents found |
Contact Us
Department of Defence
Parkgate
Infirmary Road
Dublin 7
Tel 00 353 1 8042000
Fax 00 353 1 8045000
* loCall 1890 251890
emailinfo@defence.irlgov.ie
* Note that the rates charged for the use of 1890 (LoCall) numbers may vary among different service providers |
|
|