The Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, Lieutenant General Sean McCann, has said that Irish peacekeepers could be returning to Lebanon next year.
He said Lebanon is one of a number of options being considered as a new overseas posting for up to 500 Irish troops.
There are currently 150 Irish soldiers serving abroad in 12 locations.
Since the withdrawal of the battalion from Chad last May, there has been no large-scale Irish mission overseas.
Irish peacekeepers served in Lebanon with UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) for 23 years from 1978 to 2001.
700 soldiers were posted there on six-month rotations during that time.
47 Irish troops lost their lives on that mission.
A group of about 160 soldiers returned to Lebanon for a one-year mission in 2006/7.
At the PDFORRA annual conference in Trim, Co Meath, General McCann told journalists that Irish soldiers are very familiar with Lebanon and had built up skills and expertise in the area.
The General said that if Irish troops return to Lebanon they would not be involved in a ground holding operation as before.
Instead, he said, it would be a 'high visibility low profile' exercise with frequent mobile patrols.
PDFORRA General Secretary Gerry Rooney said overseas missions are very important for the morale of soldiers and are also a good source of additional money.
A soldier serving on a UN mission can earn about €15,000 tax-free in allowances over a six month period.
