DEFENCE FORCES MEETING:HEAD OF the Defence Forces Lieut Gen Sean McCann has said Irish troops could again be serving in large numbers overseas by the middle of next year, possibly in Lebanon.
He said the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces were in negotiations with senior United Nations officials in New York to determine what international mission the Irish might join next. While those negotiations had not been concluded, Irish involvement in Lebanon was being explored.
“Currently we have 150 personnel on 12 different missions but we would be keen to have a more major troop element overseas,” Lieut Gen McCann said.
The discussions with the UN should be completed in coming months and the Defence Forces would then bring recommendations to Minister for Defence Tony Killeen on suitable locations to deploy.
The Defence Forces chief said Irish troops had been involved in the UN’s mission in Lebanon, Unifil, since 1978 and there had been a full deployment of Irish troops there as recently as 2001.
“It’s an area [with which] we’re very familiar, we have a very good corporate memory. The skills and capabilities that we have, allied to the experience, would certainly feature in UN deliberations.”
It was possible Irish troops would be overseas again on a major mission by the middle of next year.
Lieut Gen McCann was speaking at the annual delegate conference in Trim, Co Meath, of PDforra, the representative association for soldiers, aircrew and sailors.
The Irish have not been deployed in large numbers overseas since the UN mission in Chad came to an end earlier this year. The Irish Times understands French and Italian troops may assume a minor role in Lebanon next year, possibly leaving the Irish with the option of sending 500 to 600 troops.