Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

Deputy Timmins has certainly raised a number of important questions. First, the funding question has arisen before. In the short term at least, I do not anticipate any increase in funding. We will stay within our limit of 850 troops and will operate from that. In other words, our total overseas commitment will not exceed our present limit of 850 troops.

Second, we will also insist on the principle under which we operate in the EUFOR and KFOR operations, namely, that costs will lie where they fall and each country will meet its own costs.

Third, our participation in a battle group, if it is deployed, might only last for 30 days. The maximum will be only 120 days. There will not be much extra cost involved when the battle group is on stand-by during that six-month period. If a battle group happens to be deployed we will of course have to meet the usual costs of deployment, sustainability, nutrition, overseas allowances and medical care. We will also have to meet the costs of bringing troops back. We do not expect, however, that it will add significantly to costs. Irish troops are well equipped for missions up to and including chapter seven missions. That is precisely the type of mission we are operating in Liberia at the moment. It is generally agreed that the force's assets are sufficient to provide adequate protection.

I hope to introduce the necessary legislation before the summer recess to enable Irish troops to go abroad for training. It will change the definition of the UN resolution slightly to incorporate the type of resolutions they intend to introduce. They will be the major changes, although there will also be one or two other minor amendments.

The Deputy asked about the publication of the report but as we are still working from it, I do not think it would be appropriate to publish it yet. Perhaps when I have gone to Government with a formal decision on joining a battle group, I will consider the Deputy's request to publish the report.

The Deputy also asked about other countries with which we have had discussions. I am told that we have had informal discussions at official level with Austria and Finland. I met the British Defence Secretary, Dr. John Reid, who came over to see me just before Christmas. The question of battle groups arose in conversation but I understand the British have their own. They are providing a single nation battle group while we will be part of a multinational battle group. We have joined with Sweden because to all intents and purposes, we are effectively in a battle group with that country.

The Swedish-Irish contingent is the rapid response unit of the United Nations contingent in Liberia. In effect it is a battle group in theatre. What it is doing and has been doing differs little if at all from what the battle groups we now envisage will be doing. We have traditionally worked with the Swedes. We are familiar with their system and they are familiar with ours.

It is not correct to say, as Deputy Timmins did, that we will not be doing anything before 2010. The general format for multinational battle groups up to and including 2010 has been agreed, so any contribution we make between now and 2010 will most likely be in a niche capacity. Following our discussions with the Swedes in Oslo on 10 March, I expect us to be able to move ahead straight away, perhaps have our contribution to a battle group ready before the end of this year and possibly even participate before the end of the year, should such a battle group be deployed and should we be on standby at that time.

The triple lock is not necessarily an impediment to our participation in battle groups. There is no doubt that in some cases, everyone might agree that a battle group should be deployed and Ireland will not be able to participate because the United Nations resolution has not been passed. That is a fact and that situation can occur. However, the Government is reflecting the will of the people when we say we will act in accordance with the United Nations resolution. That is and will remain Government policy. I point out to Deputy Timmins that it has been said to me by some of my counterparts in Europe that in certain situations, countries participating in battle groups will not want to go to a particular troublespot because of some historical problem or historical baggage. They would not be able to participate for that reason. It is not just the absence of a United Nations resolution which can preclude involvement in a battle group.

The important point is that all battle groups will have a built-in redundancy provision for situations where one or more participants cannot participate for one reason or another. That will be part of the organisation of multinational battle groups.

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