Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

I agree with Deputy Collins that while we must be conscious of the fact that it is a dangerous mission and we need to keep this to the forefront of our considerations at all times, we do not wish to emphasise it too much out of consideration for the families of those who are going abroad into a very hostile environment.

In reply to Deputy Collins's question about equipment, the force is taking 17 Mowag APCs, four special reconnaissance vehicles, the appropriate supply of heavy machine-guns, the usual supply of indirect fire capabilities such as mortars and various other types of force protection equipment. The force will also take a large amount of construction equipment such as drop trucks and fork-lifts because it will be necessary to do a lot of building out there. A containerised medical facility and a containerised maintenance facility will also be brought. I am informed it will take approximately 20 flights to transport the amount of equipment.

I indicated to Deputy Deenihan in an earlier reply the breakdown of costs. The cost of transport alone will be €20 million, broken down as follows — a total of €3.8 million for the deployment of the initial entry force; the initial deployment of the main contingent will cost €10 million; rotation flights, €2.4 million; and resupply flights, €3.4 million. This is quite an expensive operation but in my view, the humanitarian situation warrants it.

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