Irish troops ready for Lebanon mission

The first Irish troops leave next week to help rebuild Lebanon, which was ravaged by a month-long summer offensive between Hizbollah fighters and Israel.

Defence Minister Willie O’Dea tonight told the Dáil that there should be no direct threat to Irish personnel, who will have a more robust role than during previous postings between 1978-2001.

The Irish contingent will provide protection to a Finnish reconstruction team of engineers.

As he sought official approval from the Dáil, the minister said tonight that Ireland will commit Unifil troops for a maximum of three years.

Four specialist personnel travel on October 14 to make the contacts at ports and airports for the transfer of the 150-strong contingent and equipment.

A second party of 35 troops will deploy to Beirut on October 24 to rendezvous with the ship transporting Irish equipment to the city.

The remaining contingent will be deployed at the end of the month.

Equipment being deployed includes 11 Mowag vehicles, one Mowag ambulance and six armoured reconnaissance vehicles equipped with 20 and 90 millimetre cannon. A range of transport vehicles is also being scrambled for the mission.

He added: “It is assessed that there is 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.”

The deployment will cost €10.2m for the first 12 months which will cover transportation, start up and sustainment costs and overseas allowances.

The UN will reimburse the Exchequer by up to €3m over this period.

Mr O’Dea said: “We return to Lebanon in unfortunate circumstances and against the backdrop of massive destruction of infrastructure and of the communities whom we served for over 23 years from 1978 to 2001.

“However, I am confident that there is a real and substantive role for the Defence Forces in supporting the rebuilding of Lebanon and that we will play that role with the same courage and commitment as before.”

Labour Party defence spokesman Joe Costello called for Irish troops to be given a more meaningful role rather than being ’bodyguards’ for other UN personnel.

There are five Irish personnel currently based at the UN mission headquarters at Nakoura.