Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

It is very unusual to meet an enlightened Kerryman, which we have in our new manager in Wicklow.

On a serious note, Deputy Treacy spoke about the triple lock arrangement which the Minister also mentioned. I am a strong opponent of it for the following reason. In Kosovo we have made a great contribution in a few short years. Depending on how things go there in next few weeks, it is possible that our role could be made redundant as the UN resolution may become null and void. I do not know whether the Minister has sought legal advice on the matter. We could be left with a situation where nothing will have changed on the ground other than the Kosovars might make a unilateral declaration of independence. Our force could end up being there illegally and we could be forced to withdraw from Kosovo which, in purely pragmatic and practical terms, would be very difficult to explain to the international community and ourselves.

I appreciate the work the United Nations does. However, as I have mentioned in the House before on occasion, we use the concept of the United Nations as a comfort blanket. We are mature enough as a state to be able to make our own decisions. If the situation evolves, I would deeply regret having to cease our involvement with KFOR owing to the difficulty regarding the triple lock arrangement which was inserted as the Seville declaration on the Nice treaty. I am not certain what the substance of that declaration is.

I ask the Minister to address the following issue. Where would we stand if difficulties were to arise and we needed the assistance of NATO to move into or out of the area? I am not advocating that we join NATO, as people sometimes believe. It was something of which the former Deputy, Gay Mitchell MEP, was accused on occasion. While I am not advocating it, I certainly see no difficulty in seeking assistance from it. What will happen if the only mechanism available to us if we are to ensure the safety of our troops in this region is to avail of NATO resources?

Like Deputy Treacy, I got a briefing from the UN on the situation in Chad a couple of weeks ago. Having listened to a French officer who went to Chad on a reconnaissance mission, my initial doubts about the safety and security of this mission have been assuaged. I accept that one can never predict what will ultimately happen in a volatile area. I am satisfied that the mission will have enough resources to protect itself and that it will be secure. I am not sure about the long-term future of the mission and the ultimate success or otherwise of this endeavour. Given that there are several hundred refugees in this region, it is important for the EU troops to build good relations with the locals and gain their trust.

That Chad was a French colony for a long time is advantageous in the sense that the French authorities know the lie of the land, but disadvantageous in the sense that colonial powers can bring baggage with them. Can the Minister give us more details about the case of a group of children who were being moved from Chad to France? This matter received a great deal of publicity a few weeks ago. I am not sure whether the Minister addressed this subject in his speech, as I did not go through it in detail. I understand that French diplomats intervened to ensure that many of those involved were allowed to return to France. What is the current situation in that case? I understand that it might not have been a once-off occurrence — it might have been happening on a regular basis. I would like some more information because it is important to have such details if we are to prevent the exploitation of vulnerable communities by people from other countries. A force that comes to such a society without any baggage can suffer if a difficult environment has been created by the sins of its predecessors.

It is important that this mission should have a clear role. I am sure Lieutenant General Patrick Nash, who is very professional, and his staff will ensure that is the case. Our troops need to have the ability to deal with the difficulties they will encounter in Chad, such as the physical infrastructure there. I appreciate the difficulties which will be encountered within families when members of the Defence Forces leave for Africa at the start of December, just before Christmas. I wish them well.

It is easy for societies, nations and international communities to talk about intervention and the provision of assistance. It can be much more difficult to undertake the practical tasks which are involved in making peace. Deputies will be aware of the problems associated with trying to resolve local conflicts in our constituencies. I refer to street fights and tensions between families, for example. The difficulties associated with making a difference at international level are obvious, therefore.

It is important that we acknowledge the role played by peacekeepers in the past. Many Irish families have lost loved ones on UN missions. As I have said to the Minister and his predecessor on many occasions, we need to provide for the upkeep of the monuments which have been erected in many countries where Irish people have unfortunately been killed. Irish troops are no longer present in south Lebanon, for example, but memorabilia commemorating those who died there are still in existence. We should find a way of ensuring that these memorials are maintained.

I will conclude by speaking about the slightly related issue of the many Irish servicemen who fought overseas in the First and Second World Wars. We are often unaware that people from our own communities died in such conflicts. While those who went abroad and gave their lives in the world wars for what they saw as the freedom of small nations have been officially recognised in recent times — we have come a long way in the last few years — the time has come to try to remember them in their own communities, where they have been forgotten in many instances. We should do something to remember such people.

I support the motion before the House and I wish the force well.

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