Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

To answer the Deputy's last question first, I do not recall receiving anything from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. Something may have come to my Department but I certainly have not seen it personally. The recent declaration by the rebel forces is obviously a cause for worry. That cannot be gainsaid. However, this is not the first time that one or other of the militias there have declared that they would behave in a hostile way towards any foreign troops on Chadian soil. This is because they think the foreign troops are coming in to aid the French, who were previously the colonial masters of Chad and still have a substantial involvement there. However, we have been emphasizing that this is a UN-mandated EU humanitarian mission. The fact that the French, because of their interest in and knowledge of the area, are the main contributors to the mission is neither here nor there. We are going in to perform humanitarian tasks, protect refugees and save lives. We have factored in all these elements, including the possible attitudes of the militias, in our threat assessment. Having done so, the advice available to me is that we are confident the troops are sufficiently trained, prepared and equipped to meet the mission's substantial challenges.

On Deputy O'Shea's first question, the answer is, happily, yes. Other EU Ministers are responding and there is movement. Without being too specific, one country that I do not wish to name because it has not gone through the internal process yet has offered the medical supplies required. A number of others are discussing providing funding to assist yet other countries to supply necessary logistical support, including aircraft etc. It is possible that a new force generation conference will be arranged for next Wednesday. If so, it is a sign that we are on the verge of a breakthrough.

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