Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

I agree with Deputy Gormley on the latter point. I have had ongoing discussions with the Minister for Foreign Affairs about the matter. The two to three-year timescale can be a bit misleading. The last time we went into Lebanon we intended to spend a few years there but finished up spending 23 years in the country. The Government has made it clear that the maximum deployment to Lebanon will be two to three years. The current deployment, however, is only until next August. Coming up to next August we will have to re-examine the situation. Depending upon the position then, it may be that we will not be going back there in August. We just do not know and that has to be decided.

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