Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

I visited Chad from 16 to 18 June 2008 to see at first hand the work of Defence Forces personnel serving with EUFOR. I was accompanied on my visit by the Secretary General of my Department, the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, Lt. General Dermot Earley, and Kyle O'Sullivan, Ireland's ambassador to Nigeria, accredited to Chad. On arrival in N'Djamena, I met with Chad's Secretary of State for National Defence, General Hassan Saleh Al-Djinedi and, afterwards, with Mr. Victor Da Silva Angelo, the special representative of the UN Secretary General, who is head of the UN mission in Chad, MINURCAT.

In my meeting with General Hassan Saleh Al-Djinedi we discussed the role of EUFOR. I outlined the mandate and the neutral and impartial nature of the force. I specifically pointed out Ireland's neutral status and that our key concern and the reason for Ireland's participation was to create a safe and secure environment for refugees, internally displaced persons, IDPs, and the distribution of humanitarian aid. We also discussed the difficult security situation on the ground.

In my meeting with Mr. Victor Da Silva Angelo, I discussed the security situation in the camps and the ongoing work on the deployment of police and gendarmerie units. The special representative pointed to the difficulties involved in progressing the return of IDPs to their homes because of the fraught security situation on the ground and the lack of support available to returning IDPs. He noted that the difficult security situation is also impacting on humanitarian workers and their capacity to service the camps and advised me that the first contingent of police and gendarmerie commanders had just graduated from the UN course and that he expected to see significant progress on policing by the end of the rainy season. In referring to events over the previous few days, the special representative referred to the important role the Defence Forces had played in safely evacuating and providing shelter for the humanitarian workers in Goz Beida.

I also met with the deputy force commander, Colonel Derry Fitzgerald and other senior Irish officers based in EUFOR force headquarters, who briefed me on the security situation on the ground.

Additional information not provided on the floor of the House.

On 17 June 2008, I visited Camp Ciara, which is the headquarters of the Irish-led multinational battalion. The standard of the camp and the facilities in it are very impressive, particularly when one considers the distances and logistics involved in transporting the equipment and constructing the camp. Great credit is due to the advance party for the magnificent effort it has put into preparing the ground for the main contingent. After a series of briefings and lunch with the troops, I addressed them and congratulated them on the tremendous job they are doing under extremely difficult conditions and terrain. I conveyed to them the best wishes of the Government and the Irish people in the work they are undertaking.

The Irish personnel are already making a significant difference on the ground and are enhancing Ireland's international reputation as neutral, impartial and professional peacekeepers. I was very impressed by the motivation being shown by our troops in the performance of their duties in difficult circumstances, their energy and the good atmosphere in the camp generally.

The days prior to my recent visit had been particularly tense in the region. EUFOR Irish troops, which were deployed to protect Djabal IDPs and refugee camps north west of Goz Beida, received incoming fire from an unknown group. Irish personnel returned warning fire. There were no casualties. The Defence Forces personnel, along with their Dutch counterparts, were also involved in the evacuation of humanitarian workers, NGOs and staff of the UNHCR. A total of 234 personnel were brought to Camp Ciara where they were accommodated until it was safe for them to return to their own compounds.

While at the camp, I met representatives from the international organisations and Irish personnel from Concern. The local UNHCR representative in Goz Beida, Mr. Jose Fischel de Andrade, thanked me for the action which the Defence Forces had taken in evacuating humanitarian personnel, including UNHCR staff, and in accommodating them in the camp. Unfortunately, I had to cancel a scheduled visit to the UNHCR refugee camp and the IDP site due to the prevailing security situation. However, I did meet with some of them near the camp before departing. I am pleased to report that the situation in the Irish-led multinational battalion's area of responsibility is currently calm.

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