Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 9: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will report on his meeting in Sarajevo with Major General David Leaky, commanding officer of the European Union Forces and with Lord Ashdown, UN High Representative in Bosnia-Herzegovina; the issues that were discussed at this meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25885/05]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 42: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will report on the outcome of his visit to the Camp Eagle US military base in Sarajevo to meet the Irish troops stationed there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25926/05]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 42 together.

During the period 30 May to 1 June, I visited Irish troops serving with KFOR in Kosovo, and EUFOR in Bosnia-Herzegovina. During my visit to EUFOR, I met Lord Ashdown, the High Representative for Bosnia-Herzegovina and Major General A. David Leakey, Force Commander EUFOR on 31 May 2005. The discussions were wide-ranging and included the current situation in the area and the prospects for further developments and also the question of the opening of negotiations on a Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU.

On 1 June 2005, I visited Camp Eagle Base in Tuzla. This is the location of the headquarters of the Finnish led multi-national task force, north, of EUFOR, with which Irish personnel are serving with EU and other participating nations. I observed, at first hand, what the situation facing our troops is like in Bosnia. I conveyed to the troops, on behalf of the Government and the people of Ireland, our deep appreciation for the outstanding manner in which they continue to perform their duties on overseas service.

During my visit I found morale among troops to be very high. I congratulated the Irish personnel on the success of their mission to-date. Irish Defence Forces participation in EUFOR's Operation ALTHEA is a vitally important component of our overall approach to peace keeping. Serving, as they do, as part of a Finnish-led task force, Irish personnel are charged with a wide range of tasks including maintaining security and preventing a resumption of violence, supporting counter terrorism and the fight against organised crime, facilitating freedom of movement for the local population and assisting the return of refugees.