Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will be brief as I know other Members want to comment on this issue. I assume all Members in this House are proud of the role our Defence Forces have played in a number of international fora around the world but I know also there is a degree of unease in the country about this particular mission. For that reason I support Deputy Mac Lochlainn's proposal that while it is not necessary to get the approval of the House for this mission to be undertaken because the members are fewer than 12, it might be useful to have a debate on it when the House resumes following the Easter recess. It need not be a lengthy debate. The Minister of State might raise with the Minister, Deputy Shatter, the question of finding time to discuss people's genuine concerns about the allegations in the public domain regarding the Malian forces, and in particular the way they have dealt with the Arab and Tuareg families with whom they have come into contact. However, I am sure the Irish mission in Mali will be a positive and constructive one and that the influence of Irish officers on the men and women in the Malian army will be positive.

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