Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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11. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence for an update on the Defence Forces participation in the UNIFIL mission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42004/24]

Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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23. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence to provide an update on his Department's engagement with Irish troops participating in UNFIL; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41452/24]

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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34. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if his Department is in constant contact with families of our Irish troops in Lebanon given the rising tensions and situation that is evolving there at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41631/24]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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39. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the status of the peacekeeping Defence Forces members on duty in Lebanon in light of the deteriorating situation between Israel and Lebanon and more widely in the region; the plans in place to ensure the safety of Irish troops deployed with UNIFIL; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41694/24]

Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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40. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will provide an update on the current situation in South Lebanon; the current activities of the Defence Forces on the UNIFIL mission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42038/24]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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I understand Deputy Smith is introducing this group of questions.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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As we all know, the situation in the Middle East is desperate. It has to be of the utmost concern to all of us. We have witnessed horrific scenes in Gaza, Lebanon and elsewhere. Unfortunately, the Israel Defense Forces again breached the blue line, including the Irish-Polish battalion area of operations. The situation is obviously very tense. I know the Tánaiste continues to monitor the situation closely with our partners in the UN. It is very important, in reassuring us as a country, that there is reassurance for the families who have members serving our country in those UNIFIL operations. We must ensure that those families are kept up to date with all developments and that their family members will remain safe.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 11, 23, 34, 39 and 40 together.

I reiterate my absolute gratitude and pay tribute to our Defence Forces personnel who are operating in Lebanon under very challenging, difficult and dangerous circumstances. I am particularly conscious of their families who are obviously very worried and anxious about what they are watching on the news and on social media, which can cause a lot of anxiety in respect of their loved ones. That is fully understood.

This is an additional group of questions again inquiring about the situation in Lebanon and asking about the safety of Irish troops participating in UNIFIL. It is evidence of the very valid concerns Members of this House hold about the situation in southern Lebanon and the challenges facing our peacekeepers currently serving there. I reiterate to Members that I welcome the inquiries and advise that every effort is being made to support all of the Defence Forces personnel who are serving in Lebanon during these very volatile times.

I have said this already in many forums but I do not think I can say it often enough: the safety and security of our personnel is the utmost priority both for me and for the Government. There is no doubt but that our troops are operating in a particularly challenging environment and there is a lot of unpredictability with regard to the actions of the parties to the conflict. However, I reassure the Deputies that robust force protection measures are in place to support the safety and security of all personnel, and these measures will be continually reviewed and enhanced to address any emerging threats. It is important to not forget that all our people are highly trained, well-equipped, professional, and have undergone rigorous preparation to effectively manage the challenges that come with peacekeeping in this volatile region.

The Government and I are deeply concerned about the surge of violence in Lebanon and the launch of Israeli ground incursions, especially in the vicinity of Irish positions. I have made these concerns clear both bilaterally to Israel and to UN headquarters at the highest levels in unequivocal terms. I have strongly condemned any IDF targeting and firing on UNIFIL positions. It is reprehensible and unacceptable to injure peacekeepers and to put them in harm's way. Israel has an obligation to protect peacekeepers and its actions are in breach of international humanitarian law. There needs to be full accountability for these actions.

I am very conscious of the well-being of troops who are in Lebanon and their families at home, as I said. They have all shown extraordinary resilience in a difficult situation. For concerned family members of personnel, I fully recognise that it is a difficult and challenging time for them and that they also require our support. In that regard, arrangements are in place that a family liaison officer is communicating regularly with families, as is the Defence Forces press office through various media. Additional liaison and contact has been made at my request with families of personnel over the past two weeks to reassure them, and this has been carried out. Support is also available for families of personnel through the Defence Forces personnel support service and through unit liaison officers, who can be contacted through their local barracks. There have been some issues with Wi-Fi, which for understandable reasons civilian contractors have not been able to remedy. Official military lines of communication are operating normally, as are phone landlines.

I will continue to remain in regular contact with the UN and with the Chief of Staff with regard to the ongoing situation. My Department is also being regularly kept informed of all developments in those areas where Defence Forces personnel are deployed. However, I reiterate that the Government remains committed to our missions in the Middle East, including UNIFIL. We will continue to do that.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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We will run out of time. There are a number of listed speakers on this question.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the Tánaiste's confirmation and reassurance with regard to liaison and contact with families, which is extremely important. I understand that the Tánaiste had a virtual meeting with his EU counterparts recently. Did they all agree that the attacks on UNIFIL peacekeepers by the IDF we have seen in recent days are completely unacceptable and reprehensible? Was there full agreement that all parties, including Israel, must respect their obligations regarding the protection of peacekeepers and avoid any activities that put them in harm's way? Was there agreement to work together and demonstrate cohesion as a group?

Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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It is absolutely necessary, and I have spoken with the Tánaiste on this previously, that communication is maintained with the families of our peacekeepers, who are doing absolutely necessary work. We have had huge worries. It is a disgrace, but it is just a continuity of disgraceful actions by the IDF in firing on UNIFIL positions. Will the Tánaiste give an update on his interactions with the UN as regards the mandate? A number of people have mentioned the difficulty that our Defence Forces and others have in maintaining the mandate on the basis that a huge number of local people who are in that vicinity have fled due to fear of the IDF. It is vitally important we make sure that we secure those who are doing this vital work, especially on the basis that we know what happened with Private Seán Rooney. That particular issue with the coroner needs to be followed up on.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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Two more Members are eager to get in, but we are out of time. I will give the last words to the Tánaiste.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I appreciate what has been said. At the virtual meeting of 16 EU defence ministers, there was unanimity in condemning the violation of international humanitarian law by the IDF in firing on peacekeepers. At the Foreign Affairs Council earlier in the week, it took 48 hours to get agreement on a statement because of one country objecting to some language, which we found very distressing and unacceptable. I made that point at the council, that there can be no equivocation or any caveats regarding any attacks or firing on UN positions, but the 16 contributing member states of the EU are at one in terms of ensuring that peacekeepers, and saying to the IDF and Hezbollah, that peacekeepers cannot come into harm's way.

I acknowledge what Deputy Ó Murchú has said in respect of the mandate. This mandate has been imperfect for quite some time. Hezbollah has fired 10,000 rockets into northern Israel, which resulted in its evacuation. In fact, when that mandate was reduced more than two years ago, hostility was created for peacekeepers in Hezbollah-controlled areas. Denial of access of movement began to happen. It was in one such circumstance that the killing of Private Seán Rooney occurred, who behaved very gallantly. He drove his colleagues out of harm's way and, unfortunately, he made the ultimate sacrifice in saving his colleagues. I acknowledge that and I am very conscious of it in the current context.