Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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8. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the actions he will take against Israel in response to the Israeli military firing on UNIFIL positions in south Lebanon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42110/24]

Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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29. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the actions being taken to ensure, insofar as possible, the safety and security of members of the Defence Forces taking part in UNIFIL peacekeeping duties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42111/24]

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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31. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence for an update on the safety and well-being of Irish troops in Lebanon, given the ongoing evolving situation there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41634/24]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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Bogaimid ar aghaidh anois go dtí an chéad cheist eile, Uimh. 8 in ainm an Teachta Gino Kenny. It is grouped with Questions Nos. 29 and 31. Níl an Teachta anseo mar sin glaoim ar an Teachta Pauline Tully.

Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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What actions are being taken to ensure, insofar as possible, the safety and security of members of the Defence Forces taking part in UNIFIL peacekeeping duties?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 29 and 31 together.

I reiterate that the safety and security of Ireland’s Defence Forces personnel stationed in Lebanon remain of paramount concern to me and the Government. I pay tribute to all our Defence Force personnel in Lebanon for their exceptional work, professionalism and resilience. I am also conscious of their families here at home who are very anxious and concerned at the situation in Lebanon, which is very understandable. The House can be reassured that I have made, and will continue to make, the Government's concern on IDF activity in Lebanon clear, both bilaterally to Israel and to UN headquarters, as well as via the European Union and other channels.

IDF actions over the last number of weeks towards UNIFIL peacekeepers have caused deep concern and outrage to me and the Government and I have been very clear that it is reprehensible and unacceptable to injure peacekeepers and put them in harm's way. The Government condemns these incidents in the strongest possible terms. I have been in direct contact with the United Nations on this issue. I have spoken directly with the UN Under-Secretary-General responsible for UN peacekeeping, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, on a number of occasions. During the calls, I took the opportunity to raise my serious concern about the deteriorating situation in southern Lebanon and to emphasise the Government’s expectation that UNIFIL’s role and mandate, and the safety of peacekeepers, should be fully respected by all parties.

Two specific diplomatic protests have been made to UN headquarters and Israel in the last ten days regarding an IDF presence - now departed - beside an Irish UNIFIL outpost. Similar action will be taken at diplomatic level in the future in the event of further incidents of this nature. I have also reminded Israel of its obligation to protect peacekeepers. I have highlighted that the IDF’s actions are in breach of international humanitarian law and that there is a need for full accountability for any actions taken. On Monday, the Taoiseach spoke by phone with Israeli President Herzog to relay the Government’s serious concerns and emphasise its expectation that UNIFIL's role and mandate will be fully respected at all times. The deliberate firing at UNIFIL posts is an outrageous and totally unacceptable breach of international law. Yesterday, we had a meeting of all defence ministers of the 16 EU contributing countries.

All made it very clear that such attacks represent a violation of international humanitarian law. At the European Union Foreign Affairs Council earlier in the week, we issued a statement again condemning this action. Prior to that, over the last weekend, 34 UNIFIL contributing countries, including Ireland, issued a statement condemning the recent incidents and calling for Israel to respect UNIFIL’s mission and ensure the safety of peacekeepers. The Taoiseach has also spoken to the UN Secretary General, António Guterres.

In terms of the safety and security of personnel, I have been advised that all Irish personnel remain in place in UNIFIL positions and that all are accounted for and well. All Defence Forces personnel continue to comply with UN security precautions, including taking shelter in protected positions as and when required. I also wish to reassure the Deputy that ongoing risk assessments are carried out in the mission area and personal equipment and force assets are continually reviewed in order that Defence Forces personnel are appropriately equipped to fulfil their role and support their safety. Unfortunately, no mission is without danger but, based on the military advice I have received, I am satisfied that all appropriate security measures are in place to provide for the safety of all Defence Forces personnel serving with UNIFIL.

Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I too pay tribute to all members of the Defence Forces serving in Lebanon and their families at this extremely worrying time. It is important that all of the different European states affected come together and call out the actions but further action is needed because Israel is ignoring any words calling out what it has been doing. There were incidents in the 1980s where troops were actually kidnapped. We do not want to see any of our troops coming to harm. I am particularly worried about the troops in the outposts. I was informed that some troops returned to Ireland on scheduled leave recently. Were all of them able to return? Is the unit there at full strength? Is there pressure on those who remain in carrying out their duties? With regard to the rations going to the outposts rather than to Camp Shamrock, there is concern that the supply of fresh water and fresh food is not getting in. The dried variant is okay for a day or two but not on a long-term basis.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Defence Forces have advised that there are sufficient supplies of both water and food in Camp Shamrock, as well as the availability of contingency food packs, and that further deliveries were made to Camp Shamrock over the last weekend. This is in addition to a contingency supply chain to allow all of UNIFIL to remain in place for up to 30 days. During the summer, in advance of all of this, the Defence Forces had shipped out supplies or secured them locally. This provides up to 30 days of contingency supply in the event of something like this happening, so that was good, proactive planning by our military leadership, particularly during the summer period.

In terms of the rotation of those on leave, UNIFIL has suspended all movements for the moment but that is constantly under review. We have fewer than 300 in theatre at the moment and I can get the Deputy the precise figure for those who are out of theatre, given that 20% would be on leave at different times.

Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I know leave has been suspended from now on but I want to know if those on leave will get to return.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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They have not done so yet.

Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Therefore, the unit could be under pressure and under-resourced, which would be a concern. I know supplies are going to Camp Shamrock but are they getting to the people in the outposts? That is the concern. We saw the footage of Israeli tanks surrounding the outposts, which was very scary. It is a question of ensuring they are safe and looked after. I presume that, as the Tánaiste said, there is constant monitoring of what is happening and plans in place to take action, if need be, to move them out of there. We just want to ensure they are safe.

From what I can see, Israel is not listening to anybody or anything. Some action needs to be taken against Israel to ensure it stops this genocide in Gaza and Lebanon and stops the breaches of international humanitarian law.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As I said, leave into and out of the mission area is currently restricted due to the security issues, which is understandable. Likewise, planning continues for the November rotation. UNP 6-52 is one of the outposts where we lead, and at UNP 6-50, which is manned by Polish soldiers, we also lead in terms of the Irish PolBatt scenario. That will be a matter for the force commander. They still have supplies for close to three weeks in the outpost. It is an issue that will have to be negotiated with regard to safe passage for further supplies to that outpost. That is something the force commander on the ground will engage in with others. We have to do it in a way that is safe and secure.