Joe Behan (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the opportunity afforded to Members to express their view on this deployment which, to quote the Minister for Defence, Deputy O'Dea, "is one of the most challenging and ambitious overseas deployments to date."

I have not spoken very often since I was elected. I only spoke once so far and that was on the tragic circumstances of the fire in Bray in which two firefighters lost their lives. There is a certain similarity between these situations because, in effect, we are making a decision to deploy members of our armed forces into an area of the world which is an extremely dangerous one. I acknowledge the fact that all sides of the House support this deployment. It is, as Deputy Thomas Byrne said, a momentous decision to make and one about which, obviously, the families of those who will be sent will have some concerns. We all hope the mission will be successful.

I welcome the fact that since early September 2007 the crisis in Chad has been given greater prominence by the visit of the United Nations Secretary General, who went there to build support for the proposed multidimensional UN mission. The authorities in Chad and the Central African Republic have welcomed a possible EU military presence in their respective countries. The signing of the peace deal in Chad in October 2007, although under some strain now, can still provide an opportunity for greater stability in the region and, with the deployment of the UN mission, an improved environment for assisting and protecting refugees and supporting the distribution of humanitarian aid.

On 25 September 2007, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1778 establishing a multidimensional United Nations mission in Chad and the Central African Republic that will help strengthen security in the region. The mission will focus on the security and protection of civilians, especially refugees, internally displaced persons and civilians in danger, and on human rights and the rule of law in eastern Chad and north-eastern Central African Republic. The United Nations element of the mission is targeted primarily at supporting the civil administrations in Chad and the Central African Republic to protect refugees and refugee camps with the support of a UN police element and liaison officers.

I welcome the fact that the EU is intent on launching this operation as a matter of urgency. We receive media reports on a daily basis about attacks on refugees and their camps. I am especially concerned about the welfare of children in that scenario. It is important that we deploy personnel as soon as we safely can.

As has been stated previously, Ireland's participation in European Union-led peace support operations is entirely consistent with our foreign policy commitment to collective security which recognises the primary role of the UN Security Council in the maintenance of international peace and security and our tradition of support for the United Nations. This mission can make a major contribution to peace and security in the region and the creation of a safe and secure area for refugees.

I also welcome the fact that the Taoiseach and the Minister for Defence in particular have been positively disposed towards the proposed mission and have supported a positive response from the European Union to the United Nations request for assistance in this mission. I join Members on all sides of the House in welcoming the appointment of Lieutenant General Pat Nash as operation commander of the EU force, together with up to 11 additional personnel, who will be based at the headquarters of the operation. He is to be congratulated on his appointment and we wish him well for everybody's sake.

While I support the mission and the philosophy behind it, I have concerns, which other Members have expressed, and I urge the Minister to bear these in mind. Because the troops will be deployed to an area that is land-locked — it is 1,200 miles from the nearest port — the movement of personnel, goods, equipment and materials to the Irish camp will be a difficult task. I urge the Minister to consider the possibility of ensuring the availability of medium-lift C130 aircraft to support this mission. This will have a positive effect in terms of the time saved in getting to the region where the camp will be located but it can also act as a transporter which would allow personnel to have a break in service during their four-month deployment, which is currently intended to be without leave. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, stated the EU force will be based in stark terrain and temperatures that can reach 45° centigrade. We know the environment will be difficult. I urge the Minister to consider sourcing some medium-lift aircraft and not just to rely on helicopters to support the mission.

Likewise, I urge the Minister to consider the provision of communication facilities for personnel to contact their families. I refer in particular to Internet and e-mail access. At times this facility is supported by the Government but at other times it is not, depending on the location of deployment. In some missions, personnel have to buy their own telephone call cards and pay for access to communications. Given the length of the mission in this case, all efforts should be made to support overseas troops' communications with home.

While the mission presents challenges, we should be proud as a nation that we have men and women in our armed forces who are willing to serve in a situation where there is great devastation and difficulty and where children are suffering greatly, especially through lack of educational facilities, in a conflict that seems to be ongoing and does not appear to be capable yet of a resolution. I commend and support the motion before the House and I urge the Minister to address the points that have been raised by me and other speakers.

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