Today, the Minister Defence, Paul Kehoe, T.D., reviewed the members of the 45th Infantry Group who will leave later this month for service with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
Speaking during the Review, the Minister said “There is a long and proud tradition of Irish participation in the UNIFIL mission since its establishment in 1978. Ireland’s participation in the mission has illustrated the very positive and practical difference that small countries like Ireland can make in the world’s trouble spots.”
Addressing the troops directly, the Minister said “Ireland’s substantial contribution to international peace support operations depends on the ongoing commitment of Defence Forces personnel to serve overseas in often difficult and dangerous circumstances. Your commitment, service and loyalty to the traditions of the Defence Forces on overseas service contribute extensively to the high regard in which Ireland and indeed Irish peacekeepers are held throughout the world.” Referring to his most recent visit to the UNIFIL mission in March of this year Minister Kehoe said “I was able to witness, at first hand, the dedication and professionalism of our military personnel and the tremendous work done overseas by the Irish Defence Forces”.
The Minister went on to say “Finland assumed command of the joint Battalion in UNIFIL. This mission still continues to represent Ireland’s largest overseas deployment. ”
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 The main Defence Forces battalion was withdrawn in 2001, following 23 years of service with UNIFIL.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 45th Infantry Group replaces the 42nd Infantry Group which deployed to Lebanon in November 2013.
Léirbhreithníonn an tAire Stáit sa Roinn Cosanta, Paul Kehoe,T.D.
Trúpaí na hÉireann, a thabharfaidh aghaidh ar an Liobáin,
i gCampa an Churraigh, Co. Chill Dara an 9ú Bealtaine 2014.
Inniu, rinne Aire sa Roinn Cosanta, Paul Kehoe, T.D., léirbhreithniú ar chomhaltaí an 45ú Grúpa Coisithe a rachaidh níos déanaí an mhí seo ar sheal dualgais le Fórsa Eatramhach na Náisiún Aontaithe sa Liobáin (UNIFIL).
Le linn an léirbhreithnithe dúirt an tAire: “Tá Éire páirteach i misean UNIFIL le fada an lá anois ó bunaíodh é in 1978 agus táimid fíorbhródúil as sin. Léiríonn rannpháirteacht na hÉireann sa mhisean an difear dearfach agus praiticiúil atá tíortha beaga mar Éire ábalta a dhéanamh in áiteanna ar fud an domhain ina mbíonn trioblóid.”
Labhair an tAire go díreach leis na trúpaí: “Tá an obair mhór a dhéanann Éire in oibríochtaí tacaíochta síochána idirnáisiúnta ag brath ar phearsanra Óglaigh na hÉireann a bheith sásta dul ar fónamh thar lear i gcúinsí a bhíonn achrannach agus contúirteach go minic. Cuireann bhur ndíograis, bhur seirbhís agus bhur ndílseacht do thraidisiún Óglaigh na hÉireann fónamh thar lear go mór leis an ardmheas atá ar fud an domhain ar Éirinn agus go deimhin ar lucht coinneála síochána na hÉireann. Ag tagairt don chuairt is déanaí a thug sé ar mhisean UNIFIL i Márta na bliana seo dúirt an tAire Kehoe “Chonaic mé féin chomh tiomanta agus chomh gairmiúil is atá pearsanra míleata na hÉireann agus an obair mhór a dhéanann Óglaigh na hÉireann thar lear”.
Dúirt an tAire ina dhiaidh sin “Cé gur ghlac an Fhionlainn ceannas ar an gComh-Chathlán i UNIFIL is mar chuid den mhisean seo fós atá an t-imscaradh is mó de phearsanra na hÉireann thar lear.”
CRÍOCH
Nóta don Eagarthóir:
Tá ceangal ag Éire le UNIFIL ó bunaíodh é in 1978. Tar éis 23 bliain ar fónamh le UNIFIL, tarraingíodh amach príomhchathlán Óglaigh na hÉireann in 2001. Nuair a thosaigh achrann arís agus a leathnaíodh Fórsa UNIFIL faoi shainordú de chuid na Náisiún Aontaithe, rinne Éire meitheal a imscaradh arís chun na Liobáine in 2006 ar feadh tréimhse 12 mí i gcomhar le complacht Innealtóireachta as an bhFionlainn. D’fhill Cathlán as Éirinn chun na Liobáine i samhradh na bliana 2011. Tiocfaidh an 45ú Grúpa Coisithe in áit an 42ú Grúpa Coisithe a himscaradh chun na Liobáine i mí na Samhna 2013.