Michael Woods (Dublin North East, Fianna Fail)

This motion deals with the security of the Defence Forces personnel and the humanitarian aid being delivered. Arising from the conflict, more than 180,000 internally displaced Chadians and 236,000 Sudanese refugees live in camps in eastern Chad which is where our troops are going. They will protect these refugees and displaced persons from starvation, rape and attack, until they can return to their homes. The EU mission to Chad will complement the planned UN-African Union hybrid mission being launched by the United Nations in Darfur by limiting the spillover potential from the conflict in Sudan.

As Chairman of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, I am very pleased to have this opportunity to speak in support of the motion. At last Wednesday's meeting of the joint committee, it unanimously welcomed the Government's decision of the previous day to send 400 Irish troops to Chad once they were supported with the resources and equipment they needed.

The question of resources has been raised many times during the debate. The Minister has informed the House that the intention is to have initial operational capability on the ground in December, with the operation fully functional by the end of March 2008. While troop contributions are broadly in line with the requirements identified by the operational commander, gaps in the force still remain, particularly in vital elements of the structure such as helicopters and tactical aircraft and medical support associated with the launch of the operation. The Minister is right to highlight these defects and shortfalls which are being actively examined and addressed by EU military staff in consultation with the operational commander. At the recent meeting of EU Defence Ministers the Minister expressed his concerns and urged his colleagues to re-examine the shortfalls and actively support the mission.

Members will wish to ensure the mission is adequately resourced and capable of fulfilling its mandate. The Minister has given an undertaking to the House that there is no question of the Defence Forces deploying in theatre without the required enabling mechanisms being in place. I welcome his assurance, as will all Members. The European Union must not fall short as the situation is too dangerous. The Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs will monitor the progress of this mission. We plan to visit the Irish UN force in the field when it is fully established.

Ireland has a long and proud tradition of participation in UN peace missions which extends back almost 50 years. Members may recall two of the more prominent and dangerous missions undertaken by the Defence Forces; its participation in the UN peacekeeping mission in the former Belgian Congo in the 1960s and in the UNIFIL force in southern Lebanon from its establishment in 1978. Ireland has also provided military personnel for other UN missions such as to Cyprus and Egypt. In more recent years our forces played a highly valuable and distinctive role in bringing peace to Liberia and have contributed in that mission to new thinking about how conflict resolution should be addressed, with humanitarian aid and follow-up support.

In all these missions our forces behaved with great distinction and won many honours. However, the missions in the Congo and Lebanon were also dangerous and brave Irish soldiers were lost in both missions. We have learned that UN peacekeeping operations are not without risk. As a small country, Ireland has punched above its weight in UN peacekeeping missions. When it comes to the difficult work of peacekeeping, our officers and soldiers are internationally recognised as being second to none when it comes to deploying the necessary skills in the cause of keeping the peace in post-conflict situations.

Conflict resolution, security and peace are the foundations on which politics and democracy and economic and social development can flourish. In this new operation in Chad all the experience and skills which the Defence Forces have developed during the years will be put to the test. Everyone recognises that this will be one of the most difficult missions undertaken by the Irish Army. Chad poses immense challenges.

The conditions on the ground will not be easy, the terrain is difficult and the hot summer climate will pose a real challenge to the Defence Forces personnel. For this EU-UN peacekeeping operation to be successful, it must be fully resourced and the force must have all the necessary equipment at its disposal to ensure that the soldiers can carry out their mission in the manner expected, both in Ireland and in the broader international community. This includes the capability to move quickly and reconfigure when necessary. It is a matter of great pride for Members that the force commander is Lieutenant General Pat Nash. His appointment to this important position is a testimony to the high regard in which members of our armed forces are held by the United Nations. Members wish him well in this difficult undertaking and wish well to all who go with him, as well as a safe return.

The function of the force will be to establish a safe and secure environment for the many thousands of refugees who have fled into Chad to escape the horrors that have been inflicted on them in Darfur. The force also will be required to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to the refugees. Additionally, the force must protect UN and humanitarian personnel. These three tasks will require the deployment of all the skills our soldiers have learned from our extensive peacekeeping experience. I am confident they will carry out their mission in the most professional manner possible and that they will be able to so do in the knowledge that they have the full support of this House and the people as a whole.

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