Irish peacekeepers in Lebanon 'paid €13m a year in tax-free allowances'

A report this evening (Tuesday) on TG4's current affairs programme, 7LÁ, will outline how €65.6 million in tax free allowances has been paid to Irish peacekeepers serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) over the past five years.

Figures which the programme obtained through the Freedom of Information Act showed that, last year, with two missions of approximately 360 Irish peacekeepers serving with UNIFIL, a sum of €13.7 million was paid in allowances.

TG4 found that an average of €13.1 million per year in Peace Support and Armed Peace Support Allowances was paid to both officers and enlisted personnel in Lebanon between 2021 and 2025.

The current group of 360 or so Irish peacekeepers in South Lebanon deployed in November and is being led by Ballymahon man Lt Col Mark Lennon.

In a statement to 7LÁ on TG4, PDFORRA (the representative body for enlisted personnel serving in the Defence Forces) said: "Payments of Armed Peace Support Allowances form an important part of the income of Defence Forces members and their families.

"Overseas service allows personnel to apply their training in an operational environment, validating skills and building confidence. Furthermore, overseas service contributes significantly to the assessment criteria for promotions."

The Irish involvement in peacekeeping operations in Lebanon is due to cease at the end of this calendar year. Commenting on this, PDFORRA General Secretary Gerard Guinan said: "The loss of this opportunity could negatively affect new cohorts compared to more experienced personnel.

"These factors could have a detrimental impact on our ability to retain and recruit personnel at a time when international security demands are increasing."

The peacekeeping mission in Lebanon is Ireland's largest deployment by far, with 30,000 Irish soldiers having served with UNIFIL since 1978.

The UN Security Council voted in August 2025 to end UNIFIL operations amid pressure from the United States and Israel. When UNIFIL concludes operations in Lebanon, only a handful of small overseas missions will remain available to Irish soldiers.

In response to 7LÁ on TG4, the Department of Defence said: "While overseas service is an important element of the Defence Forces’ recruitment appeal, it is not the sole factor. In addition to its international role, the Defence Forces also perform vital domestic functions.

"Any savings from reduced overseas missions will be reallocated to meet other Defence priorities. Potential deployments will be considered by the Government on a case-by-case basis."

Taoiseach Mícheál Martin has suggested that future deployments for Irish peacekeepers could possibly include Ukraine.

Responding to 7LÁ/TG4, Lieutenant Colonel Conor King of RACO, the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers, said: "The Defence Forces has served overseas on peacekeeping missions since 1958, almost 7 decades, and this is a record that we are rightly proud of.

"Overseas service provides soldiers with crucial operational experience in a multinational environment and is important for career development.

"It is disappointing that the UNIFIL mission is coming to an end, and we hope that a new mission will be found for the Defence Forces to participate in soon."

* The 7LÁ report on the Irish peacekeeping mission in Lebanon will be broadcast on TG4 and TG4.ie tonight (Tuesday, January 13) at 8pm.