Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have one more question and I will be brief as I do not wish to hog the meeting. I was enormously struck by the comments made on the ALTHEA mission in Bosnia by Lord Paddy Ashdown. He described international participation in Bosnia as absolutely disastrous. Does Mr. Howard have a comment in that regard?

We all echo the comments about Colonel Beary and the good wishes to Colonel Aherne. I do not know whether the latter is already in place or if he has still to travel. When will training begin in Mogadishu?

I understand the Danes have an opt-out and are sensitive about the common security policy. In a paper published during the Danish Presidency, there was much talk about the constraints being placed on the establishment of battle groups. We have never seen a battle group called into action. That can be a good thing or it might be a bad thing when one looks at the peace enforcement role we might have in this particular area. Will Mr. Howard comment on the issue?

It struck me that the Department is doing good work and that a partnership approach is taken to the work in hand. To what extent is there engagement between the Department of Defence, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Irish Aid, not least having regard to the work the Department is doing in the Sahel and the Horn of Africa?