Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 80: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will visit troops serving overseas on St. Patrick's Day; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8853/07]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I have no plans to visit Irish troops serving overseas on St. Patrick's Day. However, the general officers commanding the home brigades for our missions in Liberia, Lebanon and Kosovo, the main missions in which we have troops deployed, will visit the troops in these missions on St. Patrick's Day, as is the norm and tradition.

As Deputies will be aware, I recently returned from visiting Irish personnel of the 34th Infantry Group serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL. The primary purpose of my visit was to see at first hand the work of members of the Defence Forces serving with UNIFIL and convey to them, on behalf of the Government and the people, the deep appreciation felt regarding the outstanding manner in which they perform their duties in this very challenging mission.

My visit to Lebanon was arranged to coincide as near as practicable with the St. Patrick's Day festival. I paid a similar visit to personnel serving with the United Nations mission in Liberia at the same time last year. Such visits serve to boost the morale of Defence Forces personnel serving abroad, especially at the time of our national day celebrations.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I know the Minister was abroad recently. However, it is a pity he will not be abroad on St. Patrick's Day, our national day of commemoration. Traditionally, the Minister for Defence has travelled abroad to meet troops. The Minister probably wants to attend the parade in Limerick on the day. It is important that of all Ministers, the Minister for Defence should be the one to travel abroad.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The practice I have adopted is that the general officers visit the troops serving in the various missions during St. Patrick's week. So as not to coincide, I try to visit one of the missions as near as possible to that week. Last year we travelled to Liberia and this year to Lebanon. The troops seem to appreciate us doing it this way. As far as the St. Patrick's Day celebrations are concerned, this year I will visit troops who were in Lebanon and will travel abroad on behalf of the country.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Where will the Minister visit them?

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I will visit troops at Sarsfield Barracks in Limerick and may be able to arrange visits beyond this, if time allows.

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Will the Minister arrange a visit to Lebanon on St. Patrick's Day by Opposition spokespersons?