Ann Ormonde (Fianna Fail)

I also wish to welcome the Minister of State to the House. I have not had the opportunity to do so in this session. I have a great interest in non-governmental organisations, as well as overseas aid and development. I will always be ready to reach out to help those in Third World countries when I see an opportunity to do so. It has always been a part of my life. In my other profession I did likewise and will continue to do so in this House. The decision to participate in the Chad mission is a courageous one and I congratulate the Government on taking it. I also congratulate the Minister for Defence for allowing 400 soldiers to take part in this military operation in the Republic of Chad.

The Minister of State, Deputy Tom Kitt, outlined the background to this mission and many speakers outlined their views on it. I will not repeat what has been said because we are all singing the same tune in terms of the problems that exist. I congratulate Major General Pat Nash on taking the lead in the planning and launching of this operation and wish him well. As we all know this is a dangerous mission. We have all read about the atrocities that have occurred there. We hear reports on Sky News and other television programmes of displaced people, many of whom have been terrorised, raped and murdered. People have been forced to leave their homes, their villages have been burned, wells have been poisoned, their livestock killed and the list of atrocities continues. Such atrocities are frightening. Ireland has been to the forefront and has a strong tradition since the beginning of our history of doing what we can to help those who are so displaced. I congratulate the Irish troops participating in this mission, knowing that it is such a dangerous one.

The EU has taken on capacity in regard to peacebuilding and peacekeeping in this area. What are the relations between the EU and United Nations and is there sufficient joined-up thinking in that regard? Our troops are ready to leave, but they do not have the helicopters they need and the necessary field hospitals are not in place. There seems to be a lack of those material aspects that would make life a little less dangerous for those troops who have sacrificed their lifestyles to bravely take on this dangerous mission.

The Minister of State said there are significant deficiencies in enabling elements of EU planning and preparations. I would like him to address that aspect. In the absence of these elements, it will not be possible to launch the operation, as rightly made clear by the operation commander. If that is the case, will the Minister of State indicate the timespan involved? When will the Minister for Defence deal with these issues in the EU and will he do so before or after Christmas? While I am aware the 51st contingent is going out to prepare and launch this mission, I would like to hear the Minister of State's view on the seriousness of this mission and the scale of these deficiencies. That is my main concern.

I wish those participating in the mission well. I hope it will be successful. When our troops participate in overseas peacekeeping missions and assist in the provision of humanitarian aid, they invariably have success stories. I wish them every success in getting the next stage of development off the ground.