The European Union begins its biggest-ever military operation today when it takes over Nato's peacekeeping mission in Bosnia with 7,000 troops from 30 countries, including more than 50 from the Defence Forces.
"As of yesterday we have 53 personnel in Bosnia, a composite group drawn from the Defence Forces. Twelve are in Sarajevo and another 41 form part of a Finnish-led multi-national taskforce," army spokesman, Comdt Brian Clery told ireland.com.
The security situation in Bosnia has improved over the years, allowing Nato to decrease the number of peacekeepers from more than 60,000 in late 1995 to the current 7,000.
Dubbed EUFOR, the EU peacekeeping force will continue to enforce the US-brokered peace agreement that ended the 1992-95 Bosnian war among the country's Serbs, Muslims and Croats. An estimated 260,000 people were killed and 1.8 million became refugees in the fighting.
British Maj Gen. David Leakey, the commander of EUFOR, said his force was "capable" and had a mandate "as robust as" that of its predecessor.
As part of the transition, more than 1,000 US troops serving in the Balkan country will be replaced by EU personnel.
The EU peacekeepers will take an active role against war crimes suspects still on the run and uncooperative or corrupt politicians, Maj Gen Leakey said.
Mr Gay Mitchell, Fine Gael MEP
The operation is a major step in the EU's drive to develop a military arm, which was launched in the wake of the bloc's failure to halt the war that tore Bosnia apart in the early 1990s.
After the Nato mission ends, 150 alliance troops will stay on to help Bosnian officials build a single, multi-ethnic military and assist the government in hunting war-crimes suspects.
The United States also plans to keep about 150 of its troops in the country.
Fine Gael MEP for Dublin Mr Gay Mitchell said the force could prove a blueprint for future peace-keeping operations and welcomed Ireland's participation.
Mr Mitchell, a long-standing and vocal opponent of Irish neutrality, also called for Ireland's participation in the soon-to-be-formed EU Common Defence force.
"It is time for Ireland to participate in an EU Common Defence and if we act now we can shape the protocol, not yet published, which will set out the defence responsibilities of Member States to each other, to best suit Ireland's views," Mr Mitchell said.
Additional reporting AP