Brendan Ryan (Labour)

I am glad risk assessments are undertaken continually because while I supported the mission to Liberia, it was probably one of the riskiest the Defence Forces ever undertook. Fortunately, they have been extremely successful considering their role was as close to peace enforcement as a Defence Forces mission has ever come in that they were dealing with irresponsible and unpredictable armed factions. While the State should not only support risk-free missions, there is a need for a review of risk taking and whether the risks are proportionate to the outcomes, as they were in Liberia. It was a sad and tragic country in a state of permanent civil war. Similar requests, however, may be made in the next six months regarding Somalia.