Noel Treacy (Galway East, Fianna Fail)

We had large displays of both men and women, as well as equipment and technology from outstanding brilliant skilled personnel in the Defence Forces, for which I thank them.

As a member of the IPA's UN reform committee, I had the privilege on 19 November to visit UN headquarters in New York and meet Assistant Secretary General Orr. One of the requests made was for Ireland to play a major role in Chad. I provided full assurance on behalf of my parliamentary colleagues that the Minister for Defence on behalf of Ireland was doing his utmost to ensure we could expedite our contribution as rapidly as possible. I salute the Minister and his colleagues. I am proud to be a Member of this House where democracy prevails and we have the final say on where our military men and women should go in the cause of international peace and justice.

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