Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

I appreciate that. We will not set a precedent.

We have provided over €10 million for northern Kenya, which I visited with UN personnel. However, we have not deployed any troops to distribute the food in the region and we rely on others to do so. It is in this kind of circumstance that the Minister could ensure a quick response on the part of the Government. The Bill will allow a rapid response to crises throughout the world instead of depending on secondment to other organisations. This is very important.

Does the implementation of the legislation require further consultation with the representative bodies of the Defence Forces? The Bill broadens the scope pertaining to the deployment of troops abroad for training but troops may not have applied to be members of the Defence Forces with such training in mind. If 200 men or women have to train in Germany for a particular task, this will not be one of the duties they believed they would be doing when they joined the Army. I refer in particular to listed men and women. It would be worthwhile to have detailed discussions with the representative bodies to brief them on this Bill and to outline the effect it will have on the current status of the listed troops. Will the Bill have retrospective effect? Chapters 6 and 7, on UN missions, are the applicable chapters of the mandate documentation in this regard.

Section 8 refers to approval by the Dáil, which was mentioned by our spokesperson. Would "the Oireachtas" not be a more appropriate reference? This House would have a great interest in the involvement of the Defence Forces abroad. Making that change might require some extra effort but the Bill must be passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas. In the circumstances, therefore, I ask the Minister to consider amending the section to read that the Bill would be passed by the Houses of the Oireachtas, Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann, or that Members of Seanad Éireann would be informed by some mechanism because they have a major interest in this area. Senator Minihan, who served as a senior officer in the Defence Forces, has a great deal of knowledge of this field and it would be helpful that such a Bill would come before this House before the deployment of troops.

The missions abroad, particularly those in Liberia and Kosovo, and smaller missions in Jerusalem and Cyprus, will continue. Other troubled areas in the world will also require the presence of Irish troops. In that regard we are fortunate in having standard bearers for this country because their presence in foreign missions is courageous on their part, and on the part of their families who are prepared to be deprived of them for that length of time.

Coming from an area near Custume Barracks in Athlone, I know that many of the troops are living in County Roscommon and I know many who have served abroad with great distinction. From attending the Arbour Hill ceremonies I am aware of the number of plaques on the walls of that beautiful church commemorating the men who sacrificed their lives in the course of representing this country.

Our troops are great ambassadors for Ireland. Since he took up his portfolio, the Minister has been very active in visiting our troops. That is very much appreciated by them. That is also the case as far as the President is concerned. The exercise has always been to meet the troops on the ground.

I wish the Bill well. I am delighted the Minister has introduced it in the House. Members will give him every co-operation we can to ensure it is passed as quickly as possible.