Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

I thank Deputy Timmins for reminding people of our stance against EU battle groups. I made it consistently clear that we opposed Government moves to undermine and diminish the neutrality of the State. While we are happy this mission has the agreement of the United Nations, which in our view is a prerequisite for any Irish involvement in peacekeeping missions, it is not a UN peacekeeping force. It is the first of many EU battle group adventures abroad. With everybody else in the House we are worried about the deteriorating circumstances in Chad, particularly the lack of progress towards a political solution in the conflict.

We are concerned that there is little information on this mission. We have no information on its mandate or financing and we have real concerns about its aim. Major General Pat Nash is to take over command of the EU military operation preparing to deploy in Chad and the Central African Republic. I should congratulate him because it is an honour when an Irish citizen gets the recognition deserved for the position we have taken in the past. However, General Nash will be based at operation headquarters in Paris with a French officer taking over in the operations theatre. The bulk of the EU forces will be French. Despite the great contribution the French made to the EU in recent times, we are concerned about France playing such an important role in this force considering its previous role in the area as an imperial power.

Will the Taoiseach tell the House whether the agreement to send Irish troops to Chad was cobbled together with Nicholas Sarkozy during the recent rugby match between France and Ireland? What are the benefits which accrue to the Taoiseach? Many questions about the Chad regime are raised and much of its record is politically suspect. I urge caution. I only have two minutes to speak on this matter and I welcome the opportunity to do so. We must examine other aspects of this mission and according to the Order Paper we will return to it if more than five members are sent.

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