Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

I agree this has been a successful mission. There were initial doubts due to the logistical difficulties, the absence of air access and difficult terrain. General Nash and his people overcame those difficulties and the mission has been an outstanding success. Foreign missions are indeed the lifeblood of a peace-keeping defence force, which is what our Defence Forces are.

I take the point about the costs of sending people to Chad. The EU force came to an end on 14 March and the mission was then taken over by the United Nations. We have committed ourselves up to 14 March 2010 anyway, so the question is if we go beyond that. Our mission to Chad costs about €7.5 million net per annum, even though we are getting money from the United Nations. The question of whether we can afford to continue will be a matter for the Estimates process. As the Deputy knows there is a crisis in the public finances and we must all find savings. I take the point about the money spent getting people out there and the success of the mission. I will recommend to Government when I am preparing my Estimates that we remain in Chad beyond 14 March 2010. I cannot give a definite guarantee the Government will agree to that but it is what I will propose.

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