Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)

The mission is necessary and humanitarian and it has the full support of Fine Gael. However, it is a mission that is highly risky. Full protection must be in place for the duration of the mission. This is the most dangerous mission ever undertaken by the Irish Army. If proper protections, facilities and support are in place, the risks may be minimised, if not removed. However, if corners are cut and facilities and back-up supports are not in place and the situation deteriorates, the EU force could find itself in a very dangerous environment, caught between warring rebels, a government with accusations of abuse of human rights levelled against it and masses of refugees from Darfur. This is certainly an exceptionally risky mission. I wish Lieutenant General Pat Nash, leader of the mission, and all the troops all the best. They have served us well and with great distinction in the past. I hope they will have a safe mission.

See this speech in context