164. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Defence if there are plans for a public commemoration ceremony to mark the end of the UNIFIL mission given its pre-eminence in terms of Irish involvement with UN peacekeeping due to the number of personnel who have served in Lebanon since Ireland’s first involvement almost a half century ago; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53954/26]

UNIFIL holds a unique and special place in the history of the Defence Forces and in Ireland's contribution to international peacekeeping. Since our first deployment to Lebanon in 1978, many thousands of Irish servicewomen and men have served with great distinction under the UN flag, earning an international reputation for professionalism, courage and dedication in what has often been a challenging and complex operational environment. In addition, we cannot forget the sacrifice of those who gave up their lives in the pursuit of peace - 47 Defence Forces personnel lost their lives while serving with the Mission.

At present there are no current plans for a public commemoration ceremony to mark the end of the UNIFIL mission. Given that UNIFIL remains an active mission, that the Government's focus at this current time, together with that of the Defence Forces, is on continuing to fulfil our responsibilities under the mission mandate and on supporting the safe, orderly and effective completion of the mission in 2027.

As the Deputy will be aware, on 28 August 2025, the United Nations Security Council renewed the UNIFIL mandate until the end of 2026. A drawdown and withdrawal process is expected to take place during 2027, and there remains a significant degree of planning and coordination to be undertaken before the mission concludes.

Defence Forces planning is currently underway for the deployment of the next battalion rotation in November 2026. The composition and duration of that deployment will be assessed once UNIFIL issues its operational orders outlining the drawdown arrangements and withdrawal timelines for troop-contributing countries.

The withdrawal of a mission that has been in place for decades is a substantial undertaking. Detailed contingency planning is underway involving the United Nations, troop-contributing countries and the Lebanese authorities. Key priorities include maintaining operational stability throughout the drawdown period, mitigating security and logistical risks, ensuring the responsible management of assets and infrastructure, and safeguarding all personnel involved.

The Force Commander of UNIFIL has been tasked with developing the detailed sequencing and timing of the drawdown and withdrawal process, and troop-contributing countries expect to receive further information on those arrangements in the autumn.

Accordingly, the Government's immediate priority remains supporting the successful completion of UNIFIL and ensuring the safe return of Defence Forces personnel involved in the mission. Once the mission has formally concluded and Ireland's participation has come to an end, it may be then more appropriate to consider how best to recognise and commemorate Ireland's long and distinguished service with UNIFIL.