Dáil debates

Thursday, 8 November 2007

2:00 pm

Photo of Tom KittTom Kitt (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)

On 25 September 2007, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1778 establishing a multidimensional UN mission in Chad and in the Central African Republic, CAR, that will help strengthen security in the region.

Resolution 1778 (2007) decided that the multidimensional presence would consist of (i) a new United Nations mission in Chad and in the Central African Republic, to be known as MINURCAT, with a mandate focusing on the security and protection of civilians, particularly refugees, internally displaced persons, IDPs, and civilians in danger, and on human rights and the rule of law in eastern Chad and north-eastern CAR and (ii) troops deployed by the European Union with a robust authorisation to protect and support it. In its decision of 15 October 2007, the Council of the European Union agreed a joint action to launch the ESDP mission in support of the UN operation in Chad and in the Central African Republic.

More than 170,000 displaced Chadians and 236,000 Sudanese refugees live in camps in eastern Chad. These people have fled from Janjaweed attacks, widespread banditry and criminality and clashes between rebel and Government forces on both sides of the porous Chad-Sudan border. I visited Darfur in 2004 and saw for myself the great suffering being endured by the many Sudanese people in the Darfur region.

The operation on which the EU is engaged is designed to provide for the creation of a safe and secure area for refugees and internally displaced persons and to allow for the distribution of humanitarian aid. The nature of the operation is fully in accordance with Ireland's traditional policy of support for and participation in peace support operations, our close engagement in Africa and our support for the United Nations, which has authorised the proposed deployment of the peacekeeping troops.

The UN element of this operation is targeted primarily at supporting the civil administration in Chad and the Central African Republic to protect refugees and camps with the support of a UN police element and liaison officers.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

Ireland was asked to provide the operational commander for the EU mission. In its decisions of 2 October 2007 and 23 October 2007, the Government decided to deploy Lieutenant General Pat Nash as operational headquarters commander of the EU force on this mission, together with up to 11 additional personnel to the headquarters of the operation. Dáil Éireann approved the deployment of Lieutenant General Nash and his personal support staff on 9 October 2007. The operational commander has been appointed by the European Union in the joint action and is responsible for the planning and, when directed, execution of the mission.

Lieutenant General Nash took up his appointment last month and is based at the operation headquarters in Mont Valérien, Paris. He has assumed immediate leadership in the planning and launch of the operation. The role of the operation commander is to manage and co-ordinate the overall military operation and to provide the military link between the operation and MINURCAT, the EU and the UN. The EU is planning to launch this operation as a matter of urgency. The intention is to have an initial operational capability on the ground next month with the operation fully functional in January-February 2008.

The mission of the EUFOR TCHAD-RCA is to contribute to establishing a safe and secure environment in the area of operation, in order to protect civilians in danger, facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid and the free movement of humanitarian personnel through improved security, protect UN and associated personnel and encourage the return of internally displaced persons.

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