Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

Very little debate or legislation on defence comes before the House. Is oth liom nach bhfuil an tAire anseo. Níor thuig mé go raibh a phost chomh gnóthach sin. Ar aon chaoi, tá sé tábhachtach go bhfuil an díospóireacht seo ar siúl sa Dáil, mar go bhfuil muid ag glacadh cinnidh 400 saighdiúr a chur chuig réigiún dáinséarach ina bhfuil cogadh ar siúl in aice leis, Chad. I welcome the fact that Ireland is once again reverting to the UN mandate, the blue-hatted missions, as indicated by the deployment of over 400 soldiers. This is where we should have been; EU military missions are contrary to our supposed military neutrality. Our experimentation with EU battle groups should be brought to an end, with our defence forces committed only to UN blue-hatted peacekeeping missions. This would be an endorsement of the primacy of the UN model and would allow the UN to operate effectively if we could encourage other countries to do likewise.

In this time of recession it makes economic sense for Ireland to revert to such missions. The mission in Chad has cost us over €60 million to date, none of which is recoupable, as it would be if it was a UN-led mission. Over 50% of costs of the new mission will be recoupable. It is a sign of the esteem in which Ireland is held when operating in UN-led missions that, of the 14 countries committing to this mission, Brigadier-General Gerald Aherne has been appointed deputy force commander and an Irish officer will take up the position of chief operations officer. I wish the new mission well and hope this is a sign the Minister is recommitting to UN led missions only.

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