Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)

No consideration has been given to any specific location. The question is about the UNIFIL mission. The reality is that, following a very difficult mission such as that undertaken in Chad, there will be considerable work to be done on the equipment on its return. This will take time. Issues arise over leave for the military personnel. Work is to be done in that regard.

We served with Finnish troops on the recent Chad mission. On that occasion the hospital facilities were provided by a Norwegian contingent approximately 100 km away. I met some of the Finnish people at a conference some months ago, perhaps in April. There are ongoing talks and very informal discussions between military personnel deployed in the Brussels office, for example, and departmental officials and various UN officers with whom they have reason to be in contact. It is very clear that the UN is aware we have committed 850 personnel and that, in the not-too-distant future when we find a suitable mission, we will have a number of troops to deploy.

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