Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

Deputy Deenihan has asked three questions. As for parcels, the primary purpose of the resupply flights will be to supply appropriate provisions and equipment and other necessities for the troops. The military authorities have advised me that they may be able to make some provision for parcels at Christmas. I will certainly communicate Deputy Deenihan's sentiments to the military. I share his view that we should try to accommodate parcels from next of kin as much as possible.

Regarding subsidised leave flights, only one element of the deployment to Chad will be there for a full six month period. In Liberia and on other missions troops were deployed for a six month rotation period. Six months is quite a long time so they get leave to come home in the middle of the period, after around three months. As Chad is so far away and inaccessible, instead of a six month deployment there will only be a four month deployment and there will not be leave during that period. However, staff at the headquarters in Paris, which is not far away, and at the force headquarters in Abeche will be deployed for six months. Happily, there is an international airport at N'Djamena and those who are deployed for six months will be able to fly home from there.

There is a myth around subsidised flights. There was no direct air access to Liberia so people who wished to go home mid-term were taken on charter flights by the army. They had to pay for this service, although I do not know what the rate was. Only a small number of people are at issue in this regard. I am not overly concerned about those deployed in Paris, but we may be able to provide assistance to those deployed at the headquarters in Abeche. I will examine this matter, although I understand this has been the standard procedure for Irish troops abroad for some time. For example, when we had troops in the Lebanon, Eritrea and Ethiopia this system applied.

Regarding Deputy Deenihan's reference to an allowance of ten minutes per month of telephone calls, I was not aware this was the case and nobody brought it to my attention. I will look into this matter because an allowance of ten minutes per month strikes me as somewhat skimpy, if that is the case. I do not doubt what the Deputy has said. I would have thought a person from the representative association would have brought this to my attention by now. We will examine the matter.

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