Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)

I am glad the Minister has clarified the matter. The most important thing about this mission is the provision of resources for our troops. It is one thing to send soldiers to Africa, but it is another to support them while they are there. Various doubts have been expressed about our capacity to provide that support. I raised these issues when I asked a question in the House about Ireland's air transport capability. Major concerns continue to be expressed about our capability in this regard. I accept that many of these matters may have been resolved. However, I understand that at least 20 helicopters will be needed, whereas just three helicopters are being provided as things stand.

Most Members received a communiqué yesterday from the Irish section of Amnesty International pointing out our lack of air transport equipment. The e-mail sent to me argued that there is an urgent need to commit adequate resources to the air transport sector. It states:

Lack of air transport support is a crucial issue that could delay the force and delay effective protection of civilians in the region. There is a real danger that the force's deployment will now be significantly delayed due to under-funding and a lack of adequate air transport, such as helicopters. Effective implementation of the mandate can also be undermined if insufficient resources are authorised. The resources authorised for this UN operation should correlate to the mandate that it is expected to perform to avoid situations where a mandate to protect civilians is not matched by the capacities of deployed forces. In addition, given that the local gendarmerie in eastern Chad is poorly equipped, adequate material assistance is needed to ensure reasonable conditions of service. Otherwise, their capacity to operate and act in accordance with international standards and principles can be significantly undermined.

Many people seem to suggest that insufficient resources are being provided. Our mission in this region, which is 2,000 km inland, will not be the same as our mission in Liberia, which proved to be quite successful. The Irish contingent returned from Liberia relatively unscathed in the sense that there were very few problems. This will be entirely different, however.

In addition to the air transport difficulties I have highlighted, which will have an impact on the delivery of supplies, the issue of water will be very important. I read last week about the visit to Chad of the Minister for Foreign Affairs. He mentioned that the temperature in that country was 45° Celsius. That will present a major challenge to Ireland's 400 troops, who will never have worked in such conditions. The availability of a quality water supply will be important. People who served in Liberia told me that the water supply there, which was made available through the UN, was not of the quality that might be expected by armies in this day and age. They used to borrow water from the Swedish troops, who had their own supply of much higher quality water. The availability of decent water could be a matter of life and death in a mission of this nature. It is obvious that water will have to be supplied in large volumes. This issue will have to be addressed before our troops leave this country.

I would like to speak about the medical back-up personnel available to Irish soldiers. The Army does not have numbers required by the White Paper or mentioned in the previous PriceWaterhouseCoopers report, which proposed the retention of 47 medical staff. Currently, the Army has 27 medical personnel, some of whom are non-nationals. It is important that the medical personnel accompanying our mission should be Irish because they must look after not only the physical well-being of the troops, but also their emotional and psychological well-being. This also raises the issue of communication and, where possible, Irish doctors should accompany them. The primary hospital of the mission will be based on mainland Europe but it is important that the other medical supports be provided in situ and that will create a number of complications.

Amnesty International has highlighted the treatment of women, especially in the internally displaced persons area, and that will demand particular attention on the part of the mission. Our troops will be aware of this issue since the war broke out.

The French will make up half the force but their involvement raises a number of issues. France is a former colonial power in Chad and it has been a strong supporter of the current regime, led by President Déby, who is a former French-trained helicopter pilot. He staged a coup in Chad and the French have been accused of launching attacks on the militia to defend the Déby regime. As a result of this significant involvement, the mission could be targeted by four or five different militia or rebel groups and our troops could become embroiled in that scenario. The mission is, therefore, fraught with risks and potential dangers.

The key issue is whether the EU force will be used to support the Déby regime in the event of attacks by rebels. Will Irish and other EU troops become involved in the political instability in Chad as opposed to protecting the victims of the instability? The Minister will have to clarify the precise role of the mission before the troops are deployed in the country.

Deputy Kenny met people from Egypt yesterday who advised him of the likelihood of a major civil war in the Sudan shortly. That will result in more refugees crossing the border into Chad into the refugee camps, thereby putting more pressure on the EU mission to protect them. The region will also become more volatile because different rebel forces will be involved and the Janjaweed, the principal rebel force, which is very active, well organised and reasonably well equipped, will present a threat to the mission. That must also be taken into consideration before the Minister makes the final decision.

A number of rangers will be deployed shortly to set up camp and so on but I disagree with the Taoiseach who gave the impression there would be no threat to them. Even though they are highly trained, efficient soldiers, they will be under threat. Will the Minister come back to the House before he makes the final decision on sending the main force or are we giving him approval to deploy 400 troops to Chad at the conclusion of the debate? Next March or April he will know more about the warring conditions in the country. Will he come back to the House to make sure we are happy the safety of our 400 troops is assured, every support and service is available to them and the logistics on the ground are appropriate to protect them so that they can pursue their peacekeeping mission?

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