Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

The request is the result of UN Resolution 1590 of 24 March 2005. A small number of military personnel at officer level have been requested to act as observers to the mission in southern Sudan rather than in Darfur. The Chief of Staff of the Army has circulated the Defence Forces seeking volunteers and this process will conclude on 28 April. Currently, 134 officers serve abroad. If more than 12 officers come forward, Dáil approval will have to be sought to send them overseas. The Government will have to decide, whatever number of officers volunteer, whether to send them to the Sudan and it will take a number of criteria into account. The process will involve asking how useful the mission will be to the overall situation in the Sudan and how it accords with Irish foreign policy. The most significant issue to take into account will be the level of risk associated with the mission. A risk assessment is being carried out.

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