Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)

Following on from Senator Norris's remarks about the troops who are leaving for Liberia on a most dangerous peacekeeping mission, there has been concern among some of the participants in the force about appropriate equipment. In my constituency of Sligo-Leitrim, a number of personnel from the Western Command will be participating in the mission. Their families have expressed concern that the troops are being sent with inappropriate equipment to carry out their mission effectively. I ask the Leader to request that the Minister for Defence come to the House to reassure us that the troops will be able to carry out their mission successfully.