The Government has approved the deployment for a further 12 months of 220 Irish personnel in peacekeeping missions to Kosovo and Afghanistan.
There are 213 Irish personnel, mainly from the Defence Forces, serving in Kosovo, while a further seven are in Afghanistan.
Irish troops have been operating in Kosovo since August 1999 under a UN-approved Nato force, and are serving as part of a Czech-led grouping.
Yesterday Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea said both missions were "of vital importance locally and internationally and our troops serving there are a source of great pride for this country". He said discussions were under way regarding the Republic's role beyond 2007.