Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

Last year, I supported a motion to send an Irish contingent to Liberia. It operated as a rapid reaction force together with Swedish forces and the mission has gone well so far. Yesterday, I missed the celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of Ireland's membership of the United Nations. I am sorry I was absent because I had intended to be there. That was a good day and hopefully we will have another 50 years of the same endeavours to come. We should celebrate that proud tradition of UN service around the world. The mission in Liberia and other missions in which Ireland has participated over the years, demonstrate what can be achieved through our neutrality and the United Nations in particular. Hopefully, the special court will be successful, so that Mr. Taylor and the nine other accused will face the penalties of that body.

Like Deputy Sherlock, I also wonder about the Minister's decision to reduce the number of officers serving overseas on peacekeeping missions. I suspect the move may be linked to the Minister's intentions regarding battle groups. I ask the Minister to outline the domestic commitments that made him announce this reduction in officers serving overseas. Those numbers need to be retained at their current levels.

Molaim an rún.

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