Tánaiste Micheál Martin has not commented specifically on any potential delay next month in the rotation of troops serving with UNIFIL in Lebanon.
Mr Martin praised a weekend operation that saw Irish posts in Lebanon replenished with food and water, thanking the team involved for their "fortitude, resilience and courage".
"You saw at the weekend that we managed to replenish Posts 650 and 652," he said.
"That was a highly difficult manoeuvre by engineering corps and security but they successfully completed that mission, cleared a route to the posts and replenished them with food and water and all of the requirements.
"We didn't announced this in advance and so therefore we keep all of these issues under review.
"Safety, force protection, is the number one priority and various contingency planning occurs all of that time.
"I want to thank our troops, thank the team who managed to do that replenishment over the weekend, for their fortitude, their resilience, their courage and their commitment to peace keeping which is one of the nobliest things you can do in life. "
Asked about the Occupied Territories Bill, the Tánaiste said he would be bringing a memo to Government tomorrow "outlining a pathway" but said it is a "difficult, challenging path".
"It will take some to legislate, in my view, because the existing bill is unconstitutional at the moment in terms of its current provisions, and there are issues around other aspects of the bill which would need to be substantially amended," Mr Martin said.
"I think the context has changed because the International Court of Justice's advisory opinion, and I think any legislation should situate itself in the context of the ICJ advisory opinion.
"It is a difficult, challenging path, there is no point in pretending that it isn't but I think we can find a way through this".
UNIFIL commander praises Irish troops
The head of the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, Aroldo Lázaro, has praised the work of Irish peacekeepers in southern Lebanon.
Mr Lazáro paid a visit to Irish troops at two positions yesterday and said he is "deeply proud of their high morale and commitment" to the UNIFIL mandate.
He said Irish troops are based in areas which have seen intense fighting nearby.
Irish peacekeepers are based at UNP 2-45, situated about 7km from the border with Israel and better known as Camp Shamrock, and UNP 6-52, which recently saw IDF activity in close vicinity.
Peacekeepers remain in all positions in south Lebanon, despite enormous challenges and pressures. Yesterday, I visited peacekeepers in two Irish positions, which have seen intense fighting nearby. I am deeply proud of their high morale and commitment to @UNIFIL_'s mandate. pic.twitter.com/jT5KKri8Gu
— Aroldo Lázaro (@aroldo_lazaro) October 21, 2024
Additional reporting Ken Donnelly
