Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

I will certainly consider the matter. I have had no complaints in that regard from the military. I understand the recruitment of apprentices is taking place as normal and as is needed.

In answer to Deputy Timmins with regard to Lebanon, I did not receive any request when I was there to either extend the period of the Irish troops being there or to expand the force. The United Nations presence in Lebanon will certainly extend beyond next August. Troops will be returning from Liberia and possibly from Kosovo in the near future. However, there are plenty of other trouble spots in the world and plenty of other possible requests. No formal request has been made but there is no shortage of places which will need the presence of Irish troops with their magnificent experience and expertise in peacekeeping.

As Deputies will be aware, we were in Lebanon for a very long time. We decided in the light of requests, particularly for Irish troops to return there, to make a commitment, despite the fact that we were stretched in our foreign deployments. We made that commitment and went in. We did not have the facilities to provide a full unit but we went in by agreement with a Finnish contingent involved in both reconstruction and ordnance and explosives clearance work. As Deputy Timmins will know, while the troops are there, they are at the disposal of the force commander who can allocate other tasks to them.

The Government decided that we would go in for a period of 12 months. That period will expire in August or September, or possibly October. Expanding the mission, remaining or returning home would require a Government decision at the time. I am sure the Government, whatever Government is in office, will make the right decision based on the circumstances prevailing in Lebanon at the time and on the level of interaction with the Lebanese.

From what I saw during my trip to Lebanon, I am sure work on the tasks in which we are involved as the protection detail for the Finnish contingent, namely, reconstruction tasks and ordnance clearance work, will almost be finished by the time we are due to come home in September or October. The Government will have to consider the matter afresh at that point.

See this speech in context