Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 December 2025
243. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Defence the plans that are in place to keep members of the Defence Forces operationally ready once peacekeepers are withdrawn from Lebanon; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72287/25]
View answerIreland has always been, and continues to be, 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 through Ireland's long-standing tradition of participating in UN peacekeeping operations as well as our engagement with the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP).
Ireland’s overseas commitments in that regard form an important part of our support to multilateralism and the maintenance of international peace and security.
Currently Ireland contributes personnel to a number of UN, EU and other international peace keeping and crisis management operations. Our participation in UNIFIL has been a central element of this engagement for many years and plays a central role in supporting peace and security in Lebanon and in the wider region. The current mandate for UNIFIL runs until the end of 2026, with the winddown and drawdown to be completed by end 2027, and both the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces will continue to assess operational implications arising from this timeline. The period of transition for any mission is a challenging one. Ireland recognises that careful planning will be needed over the coming period.
I am informed by the Defence Forces that a primary activity of it, when not engaged in overseas operations is continuous preparation and training. This training ensures that the Defence Forces remain operationally ready, at all times, to respond to all tasks assigned to the Defence Forces by Government. The Defence Forces also has a rigorous evaluation system based on best international military practice to ensure that units comply with and meet the Defence Forces training standards, quality assurance and governance requirements. This process actively evaluates the operational readiness of units to meet its assigned tasks by identifying strengths as well as areas for improvement, and where deficiencies are identified, appropriate action plans are developed and implemented.
Training and education within the Defence Forces is coordinated and managed under a Training and Education Directive which sets out a detailed landscape of training and education activities that are required. It outlines training priorities and indicates how these are to be achieved through the conduct of training and education activities, and deliver military capability necessary to meet Defence Forces assigned roles into the future.
Finally, I wish to reassure the Deputy that the Defence Forces will continue to maintain the operational readiness of personnel following any redeployment or changes in overseas commitments, including following the withdrawal of the peacekeeping contingent from Lebanon in UNIFIL, once that Mission mandate ends.
