Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I do not object to the proposal but this is part of the triple lock mechanism whereby the Dáil must consent to the despatch of troops. My party does not object to this and has never objected to such matters being debated in the House but the Minister for Defence suggested this morning that the central issue is that the Government must wait for a report on the matter from Lieutenant General Pat Nash, operational commander of the EU mission to Chad. I am informed that there is a likelihood of a major civil war in southern Sudan and that millions of refugees could stream across the border to Chad from Darfur. Has the Government considered the logistics of dealing with a human catastrophe that may erupt there? Whether we give consent to despatch troops is a matter for the Dáil. However, is it wise to give consent now if we find later that Irish troops, as part of the EU force, do not have the necessary logistical back up, particularly in the area of air transport? The military commander in charge of the mission may yet decline to send the force because there is no agreement on the capacity for air transport.

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