Tom Kitt (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 and 4 together.

The European Union military mission to Chad and the Central African Republic, EUFOR TCHAD/RCA, established under the authority of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1778 (2007), was formally launched by the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 28 January 2008. Ireland will be the second largest contributor to the mission, with 450 personnel. The aim of the mission is to protect civilians in danger, particularly refugees and internally displaced persons, facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid and protect UN personnel.

The mandate for this mission is robust. It will be conducted under Chapter VII of the UN charter, allowing the use of all necessary force to ensure the success of the mission. The EU force is authorised to support the UN and to take all necessary measures within its capabilities and its area of operation to fulfil its functions. EUFOR is committed to conducting its operations in a neutral and impartial manner.

A total of 83 Defence Forces personnel are currently serving with EUFOR: 18 at the operational HQ in Paris and 65 in Chad, including 53 personnel of the Army Ranger Wing. A ship containing all the heavy equipment of the Irish battalion, which departed Dublin on 26 March 2008, is scheduled to arrive at Douala port, Cameroon, on 12 April. A team of 23 Irish personnel has deployed from Ireland to Douala port to receive the ship on its arrival. This team will organise the movement forward of the Defence Forces' cargo by road, rail and air to the headquarters of the Irish battalion at Goz Beida in eastern Chad, a distance of some 2,700 km.

The advance group of the 97th infantry battalion, comprising 177 personnel, will fly to N'Djamena at the end of April and will move forward to Goz Beida on an agreed schedule. The advance group's primary mission is to construct the Irish camp in Goz Beida. The main body of the 97th infantry battalion is scheduled to arrive in Chad towards the end of May. The Netherlands will deploy a contingent of 60 personnel with EUFOR, which will be fully integrated into the Irish battalion.

Because of the nature of the operation, the mission area and the environment, force protection will be a key consideration. The Defence Forces will deploy a full range of force protection assets, including armoured personnel carriers. The military authorities have indicated that, while the level of risk is consistent with any operational deployment into a troubled African state, it is one which the Defence Forces have the capability to manage.

There will be a sufficient water supply available in Chad to meet the needs of the Irish contingent. I have been informed that the Defence Forces have already tapped two wells in the area of operation. These wells can produce 3.2 cubic metres of water per hour. This water supply is sufficient to meet the needs of 700 personnel. The Defence Forces also have a purification system in place that will be used to treat all water before use and for the recycling of used water. In addition, an ample supply of bottled water will be available.

In early February and on 1 April, fighting took place between Chadian forces and rebels. EUFOR personnel were not involved in these incidents. However, the situation in the Republic of Chad is currently calm.

Key enablers, in particular tactical and medevac helicopters and medical facilities, are currently in place thus allowing the mission to proceed. Having being satisfied that the capabilities required to support EUFOR's main force deployment had been established, Lieutenant General Nash, the EUFOR operation commander, declared that the mission had achieved initial operational capability on 15 March this year. This marked the start date for the 12 month duration of the operation as set out in UN Security Council Resolution 1778.

When the full EU force is deployed, it will comprise 3,700 personnel. A total of 1,800 EUFOR personnel are already deployed in Chad. This now affords the operation commander and his staff the opportunity to plan for the follow-on deployment of three multinational battalions, including the Irish battalion. The mission is planned to reach full operational capability by mid to late May.

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