Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 77, 81, 91, 96, 100, 104, 112, 116, 119 and 125 together.

Ireland has deployed 411 personnel to the UN-mandated European Union military mission to Chad and the Central African Republic. Some 371 personnel are deployed with the 97th Infantry Battalion in Goz Beida in the south east of Chad, 22 personnel are deployed in the force's headquarters in Chad and 18 personnel, including Lt. Gen. Pat Nash, are deployed in Paris. The EU force, as defined in UN Security Council Resolution 1778, is authorised to support the UN by contributing to the protection of civilians in danger, particularly refugees and displaced persons. The mission is mandated to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid and the free movement of humanitarian personnel by helping to improve security in the area of operations. The mission is also mandated to contribute to protecting UN personnel, facilities, installations and equipment and ensuring the security and freedom of movement of its staff and associated personnel.

The mandate for this mission is robust and will be conducted under Chapter VII of the UN charter. The rules of engagement for a Chapter VII mission allow for the use of all necessary force to ensure the success of the mission. Therefore, the EU force is authorised to support the UN and take all necessary measures within its capabilities and area of operation to fulfil its functions. I have previously outlined the size of the Irish battalion's area of responsibility. In light of the size of the area of operations, it needs to be understood that the Defence Forces cannot be everywhere at the same time. Ongoing patrolling, surveillance, intelligence and monitoring of the situation, including contacts with the local population and village leaders, will enable the contingent to develop a situational awareness that will help it to direct and target its operations and patrol plans. The deployment of helicopters to Goz Beida will enable the Defence Forces to project troops forward quickly. They can also call on air assets as required.

The theatre of operations for the Chad deployment poses serious logistical challenges due to the nature of the operation and the mission area and environment. Force protection will, as always, be a key consideration. The Defence Forces will have all the required military hardware to fulfil their role in the mission. They have deployed a full range of force protection assets, including 17 Mowag armoured personnel carriers and four close reconnaissance vehicles and indirect fire capabilities, namely, mortars. These will provide the necessary armoured protection, mobility, firepower and communications. The Defence Forces have also deployed a suite of robust tactical communications systems.

As the House will be aware, significant investment has been made in Defence Forces equipment in recent years to provide them with the most modern equipment to undertake tasks assigned to them by the Government. The equipment issued to the Defence Forces is in keeping with the most modern requirements from the health and safety perspective. Ongoing investment in the Defence Forces will ensure this remains the case and will continue to be a key focus for me as Minister for Defence.

Regarding air support for the Irish contingent, the Defence Forces have contracted through a UK company for the supply of two Ukrainian Mi8T helicopters which arrived in the theatre on 28 June. They are being used mainly for operational deployment, while also facilitating the rapid movement of supplies, stores and equipment from the forward logistic base in Abéché to the battalion base in Goz Beida. The contract value will depend on the number of hours flown by the helicopters over the duration of the contract but is expected to be in the order of €3 million to end March 2009.

EUFOR also has four French attack helicopters and five French Puma helicopters in the theatre which are under the operational control of the operational commander. The French also supply to EUFOR one reconnaissance mission per day by a Mirage, as well as having two Mirages on standby for close air support. The Polish battalion has three Mi17 helicopters in the theatre. In addition, EUFOR is arranging for the supply of four further utility helicopters.

The estimated cost to the Defence Vote arising from participation in this mission for 12 months will amount to approximately €57 million. Provision to meet the additional costs of the operation has been made in the Defence Vote for 2008. Unlike a UN blue hat-type operation, all the costs of deployment, repatriation, rotation and sustainment, together with strategic and in-theatre tactical lift of the contingent, are met by each of the relevant troop contributing countries. The only costs met by contributions from EU member states are generally those of establishing and operating the headquarters facilities.

The EUFOR mission in Chad is mandated to run for a 12-month period, to 15 March 2009. It is envisaged that a UN-led blue helmet mission will replace the present EUFOR mission thereafter. The Government is committed to retaining troops in Chad up to March 2009. No decision has been made on whether we will continue in Chad after that date.

The mid-point review of the operation of the EUFOR mission is due to be completed in August. At that point discussions will commence on the successor mission and how the hand-over to the new mission can be conducted, while ensuring continuity of security and humanitarian assistance for both refugees and displaced persons.

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