Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

I cannot put a date on when the multinational force will leave Iraq but local security forces there have increased their capability. Ireland is a substantial distance from Iraq but we have been part of the EU effort to try to assist the Iraqis' capacity to rebuild their judicial and security systems. Last year, a significant number of Iraqi officials who have been involved in rebuilding prisons were here to liaise with our own Prison Service, at the latter's invitation, under the umbrella of EU assistance to Iraq.

Deputy Higgins raised the question of regional stability and there are significant issues in that regard, not least the interaction by the Turks in northern Iraq. While Turkey has a right to defend its own people from cross-border attacks, we must exhort any country to use military action only as a last resort.

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