Safety of Irish peacekeepers is being monitored 'hourly'

Taoiseach Simon Harris has said the safety of hundreds of Irish UN peacekeepers based in Lebanon is being monitored "hourly" amid ongoing concerns over Israeli attacks on the country.

Ireland currently has almost 400 peacekeepers in Lebanon as part of the United Nations UNIFIL mission.

Speaking to reporters after meeting Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati, the Taoiseach said that Government and the Defence Forces are "continuing to monitor" the situation.

He said advice from the Defence Forces and on the ground is "being acted upon hourly" and that it is of fundamental importance for peacekeepers to be protected.

Mr Harris said he told Mr Mikati during their meeting that Ireland is continuing to do all it can to help create a ceasefire.

Mr Mikati said he and the people of Lebanon are grateful to Ireland for its stance over the past year, according to the Taoiseach.

Mr Harris said he also separately raised the case of Private Seán Rooney, who was killed while on duty in Lebanon two years ago.

Mr Harris said he expressed Ireland's "deep dissatisfaction" over delays in the case in Lebanon, and said it is "not right" that Pte Rooney's family must continue to wait for answers.

The Taoiseach met Mr Mikati at Government Buildings to discuss the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.

Mr Mikati travelled specifically to meet the Taoiseach, due in part to Ireland's continuing support of and calls for a ceasefire in the region.

Mr Mikati has this week been attending an international conference in support of Lebanon in the French capital Paris, which yesterday saw Tánaiste Micheál Martin pledge a further €5m in aid to Lebanon.

Pledging a further €5 million towards the refugee crisis in Lebanon, Mr Martin said: "I took the opportunity really to call out what is happening, and the systematic and serial breaches of international humanitarian law through the conduct of these wars by Israel, by Hezbollah and by Hamas.

"Israel has to be held accountable for what's going on in terms of the bombing of civilian populations in Lebanon."

He also raised the issue of Israel's intensifying attacks on northern Gaza, calling for the international community to insist on political and media delegations to be allowed into the area to "shine a light on what is happening".

Mr Martin said it was unlikely that the Occupied Territories Bill would complete its passage through the Dáil before the election, although it was making good progress.

Additional reporting: Tony Connelly