Dail approves the sending of 150 troops to Lebanon

The Dáil has approved a motion to send 150 troops to serve in Lebanon by the end of the month.

Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea said that following consultations with Finnish colleagues, Unifil and other parties, it was assessed that there was no direct threat to Unifil personnel.

"That said, the uncertain and volatile situation means that incidents, misunderstandings, or wider political developments all have the potential to impact negatively on the peacekeeping operation, while the large quantity of cluster-bomblets and other unexploded ordnance also present a risk."

Mr O'Dea said that following the August 14th ceasefire, the Government had been monitoring the situation with a view to determining how best Ireland might contribute to the expanded Unifil mission.

While the Defence Forces had limited resources, an option was identified whereby Ireland might partner Finnish troops and provide a protection detail to a planned Finnish engineering company.

The Defence Forces had operated alongside Finnish troops in various UN missions and were familiar with Finnish operations. In addition, Finland was also one of the participants in the Nordic battle group.

"Detailed discussions have taken place between the Defence Forces and their Finnish counterparts, including a joint reconnaissance mission to Lebanon.

"A Defence Forces team also travelled to Finland to finalise details of a possible joint contribution. The current plan envisages the deployment of a Finnish engineering unit with an Irish protection detail in the eastern sector area of Lebanon."

The unit would carry out tasks in support of Unifil and be available for protection details, escorts and security duties.

Fine Gael spokesman Billy Timmins said while his party supported the involvement of members of the Defence Forces in the expanded UN force, the safety of any Irish personnel serving in Lebanon was of paramount importance.

"It is for this reason that I have repeatedly called for an expanded remit of the Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Security and Defence in this matter."

Labour spokesman Joe Costello said there was a role for Irish troops which would allow their strengths, talents and experience to be employed more meaningfully than as bodyguards for other troops.

Sinn Féin spokesman Aengus Ó Snodaigh said the Minister had failed to recognise the serious threat posed to Irish troops by Israeli forces. His party's hope that the UN mandate would extend to the Israeli side of the border had not been borne out.

"While Ireland has a very proud record in terms of its involvement in peacekeeping overseas, including in Lebanon where Irish members have been stationed since 1978, it is important that we recognise the mistakes of the past in order that we do not repeat them."

Green Party spokesman John Gormley said the mission carried risks and could turn out to be our most dangerous one. "It is at times like this that the families of those brave men and women who will serve in Lebanon ought to be foremost on our minds."