Seanad debates
Thursday, 13 November 2003
United Nations Mission in Liberia: Statements.
Supporting our troops not only involves providing them with necessary equipment and the means to carry out their task, it also means looking after their welfare. I have a concern which I wish to put to the Minister. Serving overseas is not a nine to five, five days a week job, which the Minister will know from his tours. It is a 24 hour per day, seven days per week mission. We are sending troops to Liberia on a six month tour of duty. On average, a member of the Defence Forces on such a mission would receive two weeks' leave and maybe a weekend in between. When we served in Lebanon, we could take that leave in Cyprus, Israel or in Egypt and some of our families came out to join us. However, a rest and recuperation facility is not readily available in Liberia. This is a concern because soldiers need that break.
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