Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 67: To ask the Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Government of Chad has called for the withdrawal of the military element of the UN force in Chad; the implications such a withdrawal would have for the Defence Forces, particularly in view of the recent decision to significantly reduce the number of Defence Forces personnel serving in Kosovo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9336/10]

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 72: To ask the Minister for Defence the discussions he has had with the Department of Foreign Affairs regarding a report by Amnesty International on violence against refugee women in eastern Chad; the actions that have emanated from those discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9180/10]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 76: To ask the Minister for Defence if he is satisfied with the level of back-up support being provided to Irish troops in Chad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9167/10]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 92: To ask the Minister for Defence if the Irish contingent on peacekeeping duties in Chad will be maintained at its present strength throughout 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9189/10]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 67, 72, 76 and 92 together.

Ireland currently has 420 personnel serving with the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad, MINURCAT. The UN mandate for this mission is due to expire on 15 March 2010. The question of the renewal of the mandate and the duration of any such renewal is currently under discussion at the UN and discussions in this regard are also ongoing with the Chadian authorities.

I am aware that President Déby has written to the UN Secretary General suggesting that the MINURCAT mission should be brought to a conclusion and withdrawn. It will be a matter for the Security Council to decide how and when a mission should be concluded.

Subject to renewal of the mandate by the UN Security Council, Ireland is committed to maintaining the Defence Forces contingent in Chad with MINURCAT for at least another year. However, should the UN mandate end, the Defence Forces will withdraw, and it is envisaged that a period of consolidation and renewal would be allowed for training and equipment maintenance before the Defence Forces would undertake a further mission. The costs of repatriation of Irish troops and equipment from MINURCAT would be met by the UN.

Ireland is currently contributing 759 Defence Forces personnel to 11 different missions throughout the world. The number of Defence Forces personnel deployed overseas will reduce to approximately 510 personnel in the second half of 2010 due to plans to reduce Ireland's contribution to the EU-led mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the NATO-led mission in Kosovo. In the event that the Irish contingent is withdrawn from Chad, it would further reduce Ireland's commitment to overseas peace support operations to approximately 100 by the end of this year.

I am satisfied that the required logistical support of Irish troops currently deployed with MINURCAT is being delivered in accordance with national standards. There are no concerns in regard to real life support for Irish troops at this time.

I am aware of a report by Amnesty International on violence against refugee women in eastern Chad which was published last year. I understand that Amnesty International Ireland has contacted the Minister for Foreign Affairs in regard to the above-mentioned report. The Government shares the concern of Amnesty International Ireland at the content of the report and will continue to make Ireland's voice heard with regard to Chad. Ireland will do its utmost to contribute to protecting the vulnerable and building a lasting peace.

The United Nations mission in the Central African Republic and Chad, which comprises civil, police and military components, is authorised, inter alia, to take all necessary measures, within its capabilities and its area of operations in eastern Chad, in liaison with the Government of Chad, to contribute to protecting civilians in danger, particularly refugees and internally displaced persons.

Ireland has made substantial efforts and contributed strongly to the efforts to improve the security and protection of the people in the region and to defend their human rights. To this end, we have maintained over 400 Irish troops on the ground in Chad with MINURCAT and previously with the former EU-led mission in Chad. In addition, since the beginning of 2007, Ireland has provided more that €15 million in funding humanitarian relief projects in Chad.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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It could happen that Ireland would be forced to withdraw from Chad in July if the Government of Chad has its way. I understand a compromise is being sought whereby the UN force would remain in the north and central part of the battle theatre but that the Irish will be withdrawn from the south. This would be most unfortunate as the Irish have made a significant contribution to the protection of refugees. The Irish contingent has set up a state-of-the-art refugee camp and base in Chad and this has become an example for all other UN missions. I hope this withdrawal will not happen because we have made such a contribution there. Is the Department considering other missions where Irish military personnel could be deployed as UN peacekeepers? Foreign missions are the raison d'être of the Defence Forces, the lifeblood of our Defence Forces. The Minister of State gave the figures for reductions and our Defence Forces will lose much of their reason for being if they are not on missions abroad.

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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On the question about any further plans, in the event that the mission to Chad would be terminated, yesterday the Government decided to dispatch five members of the Permanent Defence Force for service with the proposed EU common security and defence policy military mission to contribute to the training of Somali security forces. This mission, which was established under EU Council decision of 4 February 2010, is scheduled to be launched in May 2010.

The conditions under which the Defence Forces may participate in overseas peace support operations have been made very clear by the Government. In this regard, the conditions which have been referred to as the triple lock mechanism must be satisfied. The operation must be authorised and mandated by the United Nations; it must be approved by the Government and it must be approved by way of resolution of the Dáil where the size of a Defence Forces contribution is more than 12 personnel. Ireland receives requests from time to time with regard to participation in various missions and these are considered on a case by case basis. When considering any particular request, the existence of realistic objectives and a clear mandate which has a potential to contribute to a political solution, consideration of how the mission relates to the priorities of Irish foreign policy and the degree of risk involved are among the factors which are considered.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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I have two questions. When is it anticipated there will be a decision of the United Nations Security Council in regard to the future of MINURCAT? On 19 November 2009, in reply to a parliamentary question in the name of my colleague, Deputy Mary Upton, the then Minister for Defence, Deputy Willie O'Dea, informed the House that MINURCAT had recently launched a campaign to combat gender violence in Chad. Has the Minister of State any updated information on that campaign?

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I do not seem to have that information. With regard to the discussions with the UN, the mandate of that mission is robust and is being conducted under chapter VII of the UN charter for peace enforcement, allowing for the use of all necessary force to ensure the success of the mission. On the issue of gender violence, it is my understanding that a number of Irish Aid-funded organisations and others are contributing to programmes to alleviate gender-based violence but I cannot say that I have any further information than that available to me at the moment.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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I was in Chad earlier last year and there is a particular difficulty about entering into camps. This does not help the situation in terms of policing this sort of activity. I have been asking this question for a while since that report appeared in The Irish Times. Whereas it would seem there is much goodwill, I am not getting a clear message that effective measures are being put in place. I ask that the Defence Forces in Chad would renew and make every effort to rid the country of this type of violence which is absolutely reprehensible.

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I concur with Deputy O'Shea's comments. I had informal conversations at a function last week and I understand that the Army has been very proactive in engaging with the local community, difficult and all as the circumstances are. The Deputy has visited the region and he will be more aware of the situation on the ground than I am. Working with both Irish Aid-funded organisations and international aid organisations, the issue of gender-based violence is being dealt with but as to what extent I will correspond with the Deputy.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Deputy Deenihan finally and briefly.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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If that is possible. The then Minister informed the House at the previous Question Time that the numbers would be reduced as a result of cutbacks. A total of personnel serving overseas would be reduced from 750 to 480, which includes the numbers in Chad which is 406. This means that if the mission is withdrawn from Chad, there will only be 74 personnel serving abroad, a completely inadequate number. This number will not satisfy the challenges which the Defence Forces must face in order to remain as a vibrant force. I ask the Minister of State to consider restoring the numbers in Kosovo, for example, to 216. As regards new missions with the United Nations, it is quite clear that we could not enter into any new missions unless the triple lock mechanism is satisfied and those missions were mandated by the United Nations as peacekeeping missions.

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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With regard to the KFOR mission, as the security situation in Kosovo continues to improve, NATO has initiated plans to scale down its force in Kosovo. Provided the prevailing security conditions continue, the move to a deterrent presence is being implemented in a gradual and phased manner. It is proposed that KFOR will move from its current level of approximately 10,713 troops as of 1 February 2010 to 6,000 troops by August 2010 and a final figure of some 2,000 troops by 2011. This is a decision taken by NATO.

As for other requests, apart from the recent EU request to dispatch members of the Defence Forces to the CSDP mission in Somalia, no other deployments are planned or envisaged at this time.