Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I move:

That Dáil Éireann approves:

(i) the placing of the contingent of the Permanent Defence Force serving in Chad with the UN-authorised EU-led force, known as EUFOR TCHAD/RCA, under the authority of the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT), established under the authority of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1861 (2009) of 14 January, 2009;

(ii) the despatch, pursuant to section 2 of the Defence (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1960, as applied by the Defence (Amendment) Act 2006, of a contingent of the Permanent Defence Force for service with the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT), established under the authority of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1861 (2009) of 14 January, 2009; and

(iii) the continued deployment of personnel with EUFOR TCHAD/RCA during the handover period and pending the completion of the withdrawal of EUFOR TCHAD/RCA.

In commending the motion to the House, I wish to outline briefly its background and provide some brief information on the reason the Government decided to respond positively to the UN's request to Ireland to consider putting the Irish troops currently deployed in Chad under the command of the United Nations after 15 March 2009.

Members will recall that the deployment of Defence Forces personnel with the current UN-mandated EU-led force in Chad was the subject of a lengthy debate in Dáil Éireann in November 2007. The mandate for this EU-led mission will expire on 15 March 2009. The Government has decided, on foot of a new UN Security Council resolution establishing a new "Blue Hat" force in Chad and the Central African Republic, to rehat our current contingent in Chad and to seek the approval of Dáil Éireann to this end. The motion before the House was debated in the Select Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights on 18 February 2009.

Pursuant to the Government decision on 10 February 2009, authorising arrangements for the transfer of command of the Irish contingent to the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad, MINURCAT, the motion has been placed on the Order Paper for Dáil Éireann.

I will briefly outline the background to MINURCAT and the reason the Government decided to respond positively to the UN request for the "blue hatting" of the Defence Forces contingent currently serving in Chad. The current EU operation in the Republic of Chad and the Central African Republic was established under the authority of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1778 of 25 September 2007. Following Government and Dáil approval, a contingent of some 400 Defence Forces personnel was deployed with this EU force in Chad.

Following a formal request from the United Nations in October 2008, the Government approved, in principle, participation by the Defence Forces in the UN follow-on mission, MINURCAT, with a contingent similar in size and nature to its existing contribution to EUFOR. On 14 January 2009, the Security Council unanimously adopted Security Council Resolution 1861 (2009), authorising the deployment of a military component of MINURCAT to follow on from the EUFOR mission at the end of its mandate. The Security Council decided that MINURCAT shall include a maximum of 300 police officers, 25 military liaison officers, 5,200 military personnel, and an appropriate number of civilian personnel to carry out its tasks.

On 10 February 2009, the Government formally approved the placing of the Irish contingent of the Permanent Defence Force currently serving with EUFOR in Chad under the authority of MINURCAT. This approval was granted on the basis of the recently passed UN Security Council resolution, the ongoing commitment of a number of EU member states and confirmation that France plans to continue to provide the necessary logistics support to the UN Mission.

The Defence Forces currently deploy a mechanised or wheeled infantry battalion in Goz Beida, south-eastern Chad, consisting of two mechanised manoeuvre companies, a battalion support group, as well as a battalion headquarters, a national support element and a national intelligence cell, which comprises approximately 400 personnel in total. An additional 23 personnel serve in the force headquarters in Abeche and N'Djamena and 18 personnel in the operational headquarters in Paris. Ireland is the second largest contributor to the mission. The nature of the Irish battalion duties includes, inter alia, short and long-range patrolling, situational awareness and the provision of an overall security and deterrent presence within its area of operations. To date, the Defence Forces have made a key contribution to the EU's largest multinational deployment under European security and defence policy. This was a major bridging operation and invaluable experience has been gained by the Defence Forces over the past 18 months from planning through execution to the imminent handover to the UN. Major logistical and operational challenges were met in deploying to, and operating in, the heart of Africa.

The current Chad deployment has validated the effectiveness of the planning processes and procurement procedures of the defence organisation, both civil and military. Recently procured equipment such as armoured personnel carriers, APCs, weapons systems, field accommodation, etc. have been tested and have proven their value, acting as key enablers in contributing to the ongoing success of the Defence Forces' participation in this mission. Through their performance in the EU-led mission, the Defence Forces have enhanced their reputation as a professional and impartial military force as they now prepare to re-hat under a Chapter VII UN mission with MINURCAT.

If deployment to MINURCAT is approved, it is anticipated that the Defence Forces will deploy similar numbers of personnel between the camp in Goz Beida and the headquarters elements in Abeche and N'Djamena. Certain personnel will continue to serve in EUFOR during the handover to MINURCAT and the completion of the withdrawal of EUFOR. Thereafter, the EUFOR operational headquarters in Paris will be closed and the personnel withdrawn. The Finnish Parliament approved, on 26 February 2009, the ongoing participation of Finnish troops in the UN crisis management operation in Chad and the Central African Republic and plans to deploy 80 troops. The Finnish detachment will move from Abeche to the southern part of the Goz Beida operational area, to work together with the Irish battalion and replace the Netherlands armed scout platoon, which will withdraw from theatre on 15 March 2009. The proposed commitment by the Defence Forces to MINURCAT will be for an initial period of one year. Subject to the renewal of the mandate, a satisfactory review of the mission and available resources, the Minister for Defence would propose, subject to Government approval, to extend the Defence Forces participation on a year to year basis thereafter. Contingent personnel will be rotated on a four-monthly basis similar to current EUFOR deployments.

The expected contributors to the military component of MINURCAT will include Albania, Austria, Croatia, Finland, France, Ghana, Ireland, Italy, Nepal, Norway, Poland, Russia, Togo and Uruguay. The UN has appointed an Irish officer, Brigadier General Gerald Aherne, as deputy force commander and he was deployed to theatre earlier this week. Ireland also has secured the post of chief operations officer.

The EUFOR TCHAD-RCA mission has progressed most satisfactorily. Despite the challenges that have faced the mission, a solid foundation has been laid, which will help prepare the way to build future successes. In recent updates, EUFOR's operation commander, Lieutenant General Pat Nash, has stated that the EUFOR mission is having a positive effect in creating a safe and secure environment for refugees, for displaced persons and for the wider population. That said, the main threat to the local populations, which is being countered by the Defence Forces, arises from criminality, banditry and lawlessness. There has been a noticeable decline in incidents of banditry in the Irish-led multinational battalion south's area of operations during January 2009 compared to December 2008. A significant redeployment of Chadian forces in the general area has added to the security in the area, and assisted the reduction of banditry against the local population. The three international and non-governmental organisations that withdrew from the area during October 2008, Medecins Sans Frontières, Action Against Hunger and the International Committee of the Red Cross, have returned their permanent presence to the area during the last week of January 2009.

MINURCAT is expected to have a wider deployment than EUFOR in eastern Chad. When the UN force is fully deployed and is able to provide the intended level of security, it is expected that the security situation at local level will improve, particularly from the criminality and banditry perspective. The UN follow-on force will act under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which means that the force is authorised to take all necessary measures within its capabilities and its area of operations in eastern Chad to fulfil its mandate.

Ireland currently pays all its own costs arising from its participation in EUFOR TCHAD-RCA, together with a contribution to the common costs of the mission. As the proposed follow-on force will be a UN-led operation, the UN will meet some of the costs of Ireland's participation in the mission. It is estimated that UN reimbursement to the Exchequer will be in the region of approximately €8.5 million per annum, while the related cost to the Defence Vote amounts to approximately €16.2 million. The expected reimbursement in 2009 will be €3.7 million.

If the Leas-Cheann Comhairle bears with me, I have almost concluded. To summarise, therefore, the humanitarian and security situation in eastern Chad clearly will continue to warrant an international presence beyond March 2009. The commitment of troops currently deployed to EUFOR to the UN follow-on force is critical to avoid a security vacuum and ensure that civilians and UN personnel at risk continue to be protected. MINURCAT is crucial to the overall effort to bring stability and hope to the region. Having made a significant investment in providing safety, security and reassurance to the local population under the EU-led mission, and given Ireland's strong support for the UN, we have an obligation to ensure the success of the UN's efforts. A positive response to the UN request would be consistent with Ireland's commitment to UN peacekeeping, particularly in Africa.

Before I commend the motion to the House, I would like to express my appreciation, and that of the Government, for the work of Lieutenant General Pat Nash as operation commander. Together with his staff, he has been unstinting in his efforts to ensure the success of the mission since his appointment. The post of operation commander is a highly prestigious position within the overall mission and this was the first time that Ireland or any other smaller member state within the European Union has been offered such a senior role within an EU-led peace support operation. It is a recognition of the standing of the Defends Forces in the field of peace support operations generally. Lieutenant General Nash's role is to manage the overall military operation and to provide the military interface between the operation, MINURCAT, the EU and the UN. All Members will agree that he has undertaken this role with distinction since his appointment in October 2007. I wish Lieutenant General Nash every success in his retirement in the coming months and I commend the motion to the House.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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This is a highly important event for Ireland. As the Minister of State noted, it is important that the force is being led by an Irish man who is internationally renowned for his military competence and capacity. It is important for Members to reflect on what the Irish troops are doing in Chad and what sort of place that country is. Like the Minister of State, I do not usually speak on defence matters but my research on Chad indicates it is a particularly inhospitable place. It has an estimated population of almost 11 million people and has a life expectancy for males and females of 46 and 48, respectively. The Leas-Cheann Comhairle and I visited Uganda some years ago and in many ways its profile is similar to that of Chad. It is a very poor country with many serious problems, medical and otherwise. Some 5% of the population is HIV positive, equating to approximately 200,000 people. More than 250,000 people from neighbouring countries have sought refuge in Chad. Its difficult geographical terrain has led to it being described as the "dead heart of Africa". With a largely desert climate, it is an inhospitable place in which to live and an extremely difficult environment in which to pursue agricultural activities. In addition, there are the serious political problems in Chad and the countries surrounding it. That is why our troops are there.

The purpose of this motion is to effect the transfer of command of the mission to the United Nations. This motion offers an opportunity for us to reflect on the importance of our Army and on the great contribution it makes as a peacekeeping force. In this regard, it offers a contrast to other armies we see on the news every day, many of which are carrying out appalling atrocities in countries where they should never have been in the first place. The people of Chad need the contribution of our Army. Its activity there takes place under the imprimatur of the United Nations. This is a humanitarian mission and it is necessary and worthy.

However, it is also highly risky — the most dangerous mission ever undertaken by the Army. Full protection must be seen to be in place and remain in place for the duration of the mission. That is the task and duty of this House and the United Nations. If proper protection, facilities and back-up are in place, the risks to our troops will not be entirely removed but will certainly be minimised. ensure every step is taken and that no corners are cut in ensuring all the necessary facilities and back-up are in place. However, if the situation deteriorates, the force could find itself in a very dangerous environment, caught between warring rebels, a Government against which human rights accusations have been levelled and a mass of refugees from Darfur. It is an exceptionally risky mission. This House and this nation are extremely proud of the exceptional Irish men who undertake this dangerous mission.

I draw the Minister of State's attention to an article in The Irish Times today by Captain James Cahill from Barna, County Galway. It is a wonderful piece of writing which brings home in a personal way what is going on in Chad and the knowledge, back-up, preparation and commitment involved. The Defence Forces and the Department of Defence should encourage participation by way of website, letters and so on. We should get behind these personnel as much as possible.

Many people think of Chad as a faraway, unhappy land in which battles take place over issues of which we know nothing in towns whose names we cannot even pronounce. Captain Cahill's article makes clear for us the reality of peacekeeping in a troubled regions. He stated:

I'm leading my troops into the African desert with rebels and bandits known to operate in the area. It's a strange feeling, a mixture of adrenaline, fear, excitement and self-doubt. Have I done everything I can to get my troops ready for this? Will they follow me? This is it, this is Chad.

This descriptive passage communicates how the leaders of our soldiers feel about this mission, their commitment to their job and the commitment of the Department and Government to our endeavours in this troubled place. Captain Cahill speaks of the soldiers' preparations for their deployment in Chad:

Given that the political, cultural, medical, operational and environmental conditions are so different to home, we had endless briefings covering cultural awareness, the political situation in Chad, our mission and most importantly for soldiers our rules of engagement, when, how and if we can open fire in a hostile situation.

He goes on to describe the reactions of local people to the Irish troops:

On our hand-over patrols we visited a lot of villages and refugee camps in our area of operation. One of the first things that became apparent to me was that nobody is lying at the side of the road starving to death as is the case in other parts of the continent. Instead you are met with unsure glances which quickly turn to waves and smiles when they recognise friendly faces. This to me highlighted the unease in the country at the moment and was a real eye-opener.

We must support our soldiers in their activities. In these difficult days for our country, it is great to see men of such calibre putting their lives on the line to bring peace to a war-town area which may be heading into even greater uncertainty. This is surely an inspiration for young people. Is the Minister of State satisfied that everything possible is being done to ensure there is continuing support for the troops? That is one of the key points on which I have been asked to seek assurance. I have also been asked to raise the issue of the arrest warrant issued against the President of Sudan for crimes against humanity. What are the immediate issues to consider in terms of the impact on the Chad-Sudan-Central African Republic region?

How do we ensure our troops are safe in this environment? In particular, they must be able to react instantly if refugees begin fleeing from Sudan. We must have assurances that the hand-over process will not weaken the position of our soldiers and place them at risk. I have no doubt the Minister of State will provide those assurances. Our troops in Chad must have full support and back-up. No risks must be taken in this regard. Their mission is crucial to the stability of the region and to the safety of the refugees from Darfur.

Ireland has made an enormous commitment to foreign aid. In particular, Irish Aid is doing a wonderful job in Africa. Members who have gone there were extremely impressed by the professionalism, commitment and dedication of those involved. It is a completely different world, peopled by practical idealists who get the job done while believing in service and something beyond themselves. The mission in Chad reflects all these good qualities in the Army. I welcome and fully support the motion while asking the Minister of State to provide the assurances I have sought.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Ba mhaith liom mo chuid ama a roinnt leis an Teachta Aengus Ó Snodaigh. B'fhéidir go ndéarfaidh an Leas-Cheann Comhairle liom é nuair a bheidh ocht nóiméad ídithe agam.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Déanfaidh mé sin.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Tá an-áthas orm seans a bheith agam labhairt ar an rún seo sa Dáil, mar tá dea-scéal ag baint leis. Ar ndóigh, tá dea-scéalta ag teastáil go géar sna laethanta atá againn faoi láthair. In these gloomy and uncertain times of unprecedented economic recession, it is uplifting to debate a positive motion such as this. The EUFOR TCHAD-RCA mission, which is now coming to a close, has been under the overall command of Lieutenant General Pat Nash, who has done a great job. I add my congratulations to those offered by the Minister of State and Deputy O'Dowd.

The operation encompasses Chad and the Central African Republic. The region has improved in terms of safety and security for refugees, displaced persons and the population in general. Deputy O'Dowd referred to the warrant issued by the International Criminal Court against the Sudanese President, Omar al-Bashir, with regard to criminal activities of great concern to the court. The Chinese authorities have sought the suspension of the case against the Sudanese President. The licences of between six and ten NGOs operating in Darfur have been revoked and this is a serious matter. One of the NGOs affected is Oxfam, which works with 600,000 people in north Sudan, of whom 400,000 are in Darfur. The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has noted that this is a serious setback to the lifesaving operations in Darfur and has urged the Government of Sudan to restore the NGOs to operational status. We all echo his call.

The concern we have is the effect this may have on further refugees coming from Darfur and the consequences for the area in terms of the operation of Irish troops. I visited Abeche and N'Djamena in Chad but I did not get as far as Goz Beida. To see our troops perform a task at least as well as anywhere else in the world is uplifting. Terrain is hostile, hot and barren. Uncertainty exists because of bandits and militia groups. Have there been recent security reports on the possible consequences of developments in Sudan with regard to the action taken by the International Criminal Court? I visited one of the refugee camps and got the feeling that while the Irish troops have improved the situation a great deal many of the refugees would not have a great inclination to return home for a long time. Even though they are not very good, the conditions under the EUFOR mission, which will continue under the blue hatted mission, are better than conditions in Sudan.

When this motion was being considered by the committee, I asked the Minister how long he would expect the Irish commitment to continue beyond this year. The indication was that it would be about a maximum of another year when the year under the UN mandate has expired. We are doing a very good job there and I raise this concern and seek an update on security because of the possibility of short-term developments putting our Irish troops at greater risk. I would like the matter clarified.

This was the biggest mission by the EUFOR under the operational command of Lieutenant-General Nash and it was a success. There were major problems to begin with, such as the logistics of setting up camp in an area 2,000 miles from the sea, and this was a major undertaking. It was discharged very well. The UN base was under construction when I visited the area and I am sure progress has been made on this. The fact that Lieutenant-General Nash oversaw this mission from its inception through to its conclusion and the fact that it has been successful makes me very proud as an Irish person and a Member of this House.

I understand that hospital care is provided by Italians in Chad. Will this continue? Will there be a change in the medical personnel we will deal with? The rainy season will begin in three months' time and this has the effect of slowing everything down. The Labour Party gives full support to this motion.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Very little debate or legislation on defence comes before the House. Is oth liom nach bhfuil an tAire anseo. Níor thuig mé go raibh a phost chomh gnóthach sin. Ar aon chaoi, tá sé tábhachtach go bhfuil an díospóireacht seo ar siúl sa Dáil, mar go bhfuil muid ag glacadh cinnidh 400 saighdiúr a chur chuig réigiún dáinséarach ina bhfuil cogadh ar siúl in aice leis, Chad. I welcome the fact that Ireland is once again reverting to the UN mandate, the blue-hatted missions, as indicated by the deployment of over 400 soldiers. This is where we should have been; EU military missions are contrary to our supposed military neutrality. Our experimentation with EU battle groups should be brought to an end, with our defence forces committed only to UN blue-hatted peacekeeping missions. This would be an endorsement of the primacy of the UN model and would allow the UN to operate effectively if we could encourage other countries to do likewise.

In this time of recession it makes economic sense for Ireland to revert to such missions. The mission in Chad has cost us over €60 million to date, none of which is recoupable, as it would be if it was a UN-led mission. Over 50% of costs of the new mission will be recoupable. It is a sign of the esteem in which Ireland is held when operating in UN-led missions that, of the 14 countries committing to this mission, Brigadier-General Gerald Aherne has been appointed deputy force commander and an Irish officer will take up the position of chief operations officer. I wish the new mission well and hope this is a sign the Minister is recommitting to UN led missions only.

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leis na Teachtaí go léir a labhair ar son an rún seo. Ní féidir leis an Aire bheith anseo inniu de bharr cúis pearsanta. Gabhann sé a leithscéal le muintir an Tí.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Tá sé sin sothuigthe.

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the House for its recognition of the importance of Ireland's and the Defence Forces' contribution to international peace and security. I am particularly grateful for the kind words and compliments from Deputies regarding the manner in which the Defence Forces have discharged themselves in these missions. The debate reflects the high regard in which the Defence Forces are held internationally as peacekeepers and the warm regard with which the Irish people hold our Defence Forces, recognising the important role they play in the communities served both here and abroad.

I assure the House that the decision to go to Chad and remain on there was not taken lightly. In considering any mission, our ability to protect the health and safety of our personnel is of paramount importance. However, all missions involve some element of risk.

I will try to address, as best and as briefly as I can, the questions which were raised. I agree wholeheartedly with Deputy O'Dowd's comments on the diary which Lieutenant Cahill has been writing in The Irish Times, and is worth circulating. I recommend to the Department that it find ways to ensure we engage through websites, blogs etc. with our troops. That is probably already happening.

The humanitarian position in Chad is very difficult. The world development indicators place Chad at 170 from 179 countries and the humanitarian situation in the country has continued to deteriorate. As a result of EUFOR creating a safe and secure environment, the number of refugees, and particularly the number of internally displaced persons in the country, has increased and the ability of host communities to cope has decreased. Deputy O'Shea has seen this at first hand. There are 290,000 refugees and 180,000 internally displaced persons in eastern Chad.

Since the beginning of 2007, Ireland has provided more than €11 million in funding for humanitarian relief projects in Chad and these projects are undertaken by UN agencies such as the World Food Programme, UNICEF, UNHCR and NGOs, including Concern. I was asked if the Minister is satisfied that the safety of troops is being protected. The Minister has been assured that Irish troops have all the necessary supports to do their job and protection of the force is always paramount. The Defence Forces have displayed a full range of force protection assets, and these will also be deployed in the MINURCAT mission. I understand the forces have become very competent in the areas of protection and have the appropriate equipment.

The duration of the deployment is a maximum of three years, with a report going to Government at the end of this year. The extension of the mission is contingent on the renewal of the mandate.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Will that be three years in total, including EUFOR, or three years with the blue hat?

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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That will have to be decided by Government.

On the issue of medical facilities to be provided, as well as a level two hospital in Abeche, there will be a level one facility with each battalion with a capacity to support a minimum of two locations. There will also be a level one-plus medical facility with the company group in Boro and access to a level two facility in N'Djamena. Norway will replace Italy in providing medical care when the mission re-hats on 15 March.

There were a number of questions regarding the International Criminal Court as pertaining to the events in Darfur. Ireland fully supports the International Criminal Court's fundamental role in the promotion of international justice and the fight against impunity. Those responsible for the abuse of human rights in Darfur must face the consequences of their actions, as this is necessary both for the sake of common justice and to deter further acts of this kind.

We were all shocked to hear that the Sudanese authorities have decided to expel approximately ten NGOs engaged in essential humanitarian work in Darfur, and this is yet another signal of the Sudanese Government's appalling disregard for human life in Darfur. The Department of Foreign Affairs is in contact with Irish NGOs which work in Sudan and is monitoring the position closely. So far the programmes of the Irish NGOs have not been directly affected but the working environment is clearly becoming more difficult.

I understand that some of the NGOs expelled from Sudan are in receipt of Irish Aid funding and the Department of Foreign Affairs will follow up with the organisations concerned. The Minister for Foreign Affairs has issued a statement of his position in that regard.

I commend the individual members of the Permanent Defence Force who have served and continue to serve on overseas missions, as I commend their families and loved ones. Ireland's substantial contribution to the international peace effort depends on the ongoing commitment of Defence Forces personnel to serve overseas in difficult and dangerous circumstances. Their commitment, service and loyalty to the tradition of the Defence Forces and overseas services contributes extensively to the high regard in which Ireland is held within the international communities.