Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister to the House. He will be glad to note that on the Order of Business, Senators called for him to come before the House today on a separate matter. I am happy he is in the House to discuss this important issue and allow Senators to contribute to the debate. On behalf of the Fine Gael Party, I express warm support for the Government's decision to deploy more than 430 of our troops to Liberia in western Africa in the coming months. The mission, which is being undertaken under United Nations auspices, has our full support and I wish our troops well.