Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

It concerns me that there are shortfalls in the mission to date. As Deputy Deenihan is aware, MINURCAT has taken over since 15 March and there are some teething problems. To the best of my knowledge, the fuel crisis was unanticipated. The Irish troops have been sent out to Chad, as have the other MINURCAT troops, to do a job and anything that prevents them doing it to the best of their capacity or capability is of concern to me. It is not true to say that the Irish troops are confined to camp. They have been forced to cut back on some routine patrols due to the fuel shortage. However, I am also assured by the military powers that they have sufficient fuel to undertake any emergency journeys that are necessary or to respond to emergencies either by land or air.

It is expected that the rationing will come to an end in approximately three weeks, but that is not to say there will not be future crises of that nature in Chad. We are on notice of that now. I assure the House that there will not be any problem with medical evacuation. I have discussed that with the relevant personnel in the Army and I have been assured that there will not be any problem. The force commander has put a plan in place for medical and other evacuations. That is part of his brief. The plan is in place and it is ready to be implemented, if necessary.

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