Tom Kitt (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)

I totally agree with the Deputy regarding the huge value of this work. When I addressed the House on the last occasion, I mentioned that I had been privileged to visit Liberia and see the projects in which our Defence Forces are involved. Since I last spoke I have visited Kosovo and witnessed the great work our Defence Forces are involved in there, such as the construction of classrooms and school playgrounds. This work brings our personnel into contact with local communities.

Irish Aid provides a lot of money, some €4.75 million in 2007, in funding for humanitarian relief projects in Chad. The list of non-governmental organisations, NGOs, involved includes Médecins sans Frontières, Concern, Trócaire and so on. All of our major agencies are there along with international agencies and UN agencies, such as UNICEF.

I agree with the Deputy that it is important we support our Defence Forces and are generous when they come across a project in which they wish to participate. Some of the Defence Forces decide to raise money and this adds value because it helps build a connection with communities in Ireland also. I commend the Defence Forces on this and encourage them to continue this practice. There is a role for Irish Aid, where appropriate.

As I said in my opening remarks, we must not forget that the primary function of our Defence Forces on these missions is to keep the peace. However, the work the Deputy has mentioned is vital and I would encourage the projects the Defence Forces take on, on a case by case basis.

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