Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 3: To ask the Minister for Defence if, in view of the expected deployment of Defence Forces personnel to Chad and the distance of this area from seaports, he has considered the procurement of large transport aircraft for the Air Corps to be used to re-supply and support personnel there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22103/07]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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On 25 September 2007, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1778 establishing a multidimensional UN mission in Chad and the Central African Republic that will help strengthen security in the region. Resolution 1778 (2007) establishes the mission, to be known as MINURCAT, for a period of one year, with a mandate focusing on the security and protection of civilians, particularly refugees, internally displaced persons, IDPs, and civilians in danger, and on human rights and the rule of law in eastern Chad and north-eastern Central African Republic.

Since 2004, eastern Chad has hosted some 240,000 Sudanese refugees in 12 camps who have fled the fighting in Darfur. In addition, Chad is facing a surge in the number of IDPs, now totalling more than 170,000. MINURCAT will have three components: a UN multidimensional presence, composed of UN police, rule of law, human rights and other civilian officers; a special Chadian police or gendarmes unit, some 850 strong, dedicated exclusively to maintaining law and order in refugee camps, sites with concentrations of IDPs and key towns, and assisting in securing humanitarian activities in eastern Chad; and an EU military deployment, under Chapter VII.

The Government at its meeting on Tuesday approved the nomination of an Irish officer to the position of operation commander for the proposed EU military operation in the Republic of Chad and the Central African Republic. The European Council will shortly decide on this appointment as part of the joint action to launch the ESDP mission.

A fact-finding mission is to visit the region and report back on mission requirements. The Government will take a final decision on the extent of the Defence Forces' participation in this mission once this report is to hand. Any decision to participate will be subject to the approval of Dáil Éireann in accordance with the Defence Acts.

As part of the background planning for potential participation in the EU mission in Chad the Defence Forces are examining a range of strategic lift options for deployment of Defence Forces personnel and their sustainment in this region. The Defence Forces have stand-by arrangements in place in this regard, mainly involving commercial suppliers. Discussions are ongoing with our EU partners. There are no plans to acquire large long-range transport aircraft for the Defence Forces.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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The camp in Chad will be approximately 1,500 km inland and we have no air carrying capacity to support our own mission there. Will the Minister consider procuring a special airforce transport plane with a carrying capacity of approximately 50 to give the capability to the Air Corps to support that mission? We rely on others to provide back-up, such as the medical back-up service and to transport our troops in and out of their locations usually for four month stretches. In between if emergencies arise we must rely on others and their availability to service the Irish mission. There is a case for the Air Corps to procure such a transport plane with capacity for at least 50 which could also carry goods and supplies.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Deenihan is right about the isolation of this mission. I understand the terrain is barren and that the deployment and sustainment of the troops must be done mainly by air. That will involve putting in airstrips and so on, which we are discussing with the French, pending the final decision on the mission.

Without wishing to be flippant, I would procure anything if the Department of Finance gave me the money to do it. We work within our budget. The military advise me that our need for this sort of facility is so rare that it does not justify the cost. We have arrangements in place with commercial suppliers. Sometimes we link up with other people on the mission, in this case, the French, who provide the appropriate air transport. In the context of expenditure on defence and our weapon modernisation programme I am advised that a purchase of this sort, which would be expensive and difficult to maintain, would not be used enough to be cost-efficient.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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It could also be used for humanitarian purposes, and rapid reaction. It would overcome the problem to which Deputy O'Shea referred of transporting the whole Cabinet to Paris when necessary.

In advance of the next White Paper will the Minister consider the possibility of acquiring such an aircraft to enable the Air Corps to provide this service, whether for a mission abroad, for humanitarian reasons or rapid reaction missions?

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The Army has participated in humanitarian missions and has arrived at the destinations quite effectively. I will consider the Deputy's comments. A new White Paper is to be prepared which will cover the period after 2010. The first White Paper runs up to 2009-10. This will cover better equipment, more modernisation and this aircraft may well be included.