merrion street

Today, the Minister with Responsibility for Defence, Mr. Paul Kehoe, T.D., reviewed the members of the 109th Infantry Battalion who will travel shortly for service with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

Speaking during the Review, Minister Kehoe said “UNIFIL represents Ireland’s largest overseas deployment, with some 220 personnel currently serving in Lebanon as part of a Finnish/Irish Battalion. With the deployment of the 109th Infantry Battalion, Ireland will take over command from Finland of the joint Finnish/Ireland Battalion. This deployment has an additional Company of approximately 150 personnel and will bring Ireland’s contribution to UNIFIL to some 370 personnel.”

Addressing the troops directly, Minister Kehoe said “I commend, and thank each and every one of you on your decision to take on this mission. It is important to acknowledge that Ireland could not make such a substantial contribution to international peace support operations without the ongoing commitment of Defence Forces personnel to serve overseas in often difficult and dangerous circumstances. By your participation in this mission you have an opportunity to make a tangible difference to the lives of many disadvantaged and vulnerable people.”

During the ceremony Minister Kehoe extended his sympathies, and that of the Government, to the family and friends of Corporal Gavin Carey who tragically lost his life in a drowning incident in August while on pre-deployment training in Finner Camp in preparation for this mission.

Ends.

Note for Editor:
Ireland has a long association with UNIFIL since its establishment in 1978. The main Defence Forces battalion was withdrawn in 2001, following 23 years of service with UNIFIL. Ireland again deployed a contingent to Lebanon in 2006, for a period of 12 months, with a Finnish Engineering company, following on from an escalation of hostilities, when the UNIFIL Force was significantly expanded under a UN mandate. An Irish Battalion returned to the Lebanon in the summer of 2011. The 109th Infantry Battalion replaces the 53rd Infantry Group which deployed to Lebanon in May 2016. With the deployment of the 109th Infantry Battalion, Ireland will take over command from Finland of the joint Finnish/Irish Battalion. This deployment has an additional Company of approximately 150 personnel and will bring Ireland’s contribution to UNIFIL to some 370 personnel.