Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 28: To ask the Minister for Defence his views on a statement attributed to him on 14 October 2005 in which he said that the key issue in relation to EU crisis management operations was inter-operability and that this goes beyond just equipment, involving training, military doctrine, operating procedures, command and control, culture, and rules of engagement. [32043/05]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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When multi-national forces are deployed on peace support and crisis management operations they should be able to immediately commence operations on the ground. If they are to be fully effective, they should operate like a well-oiled machine. The time to start learning about other forces operating procedures, standards, capabilities, rules of engagement etc. is not when one is in the middle of a crisis operation requiring a robust response.

The comments referred to by the Deputy were taken from an interview I gave on the EDA where I was asked about the need for equipment and force co-ordination on EU missions. My comments were emphasising the importance of inter-operability in crisis management operations undertaken by the EU. The requirement for inter-operability, which is but one of the considerations which also include sustainability and survivability, involves common understanding of doctrine, operating procedures and standards, training standards, command and control etc within the force as a whole. In the absence of such understanding, the force will be unable to operate at its most effective and, potentially, will be exposed to higher risk.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 29: To ask the Minister for Defence the current level of Defence Forces engagement in Liberia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31912/05]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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As the House will be aware, a contingent of the Permanent Defence Force has been serving with the United Nations Mission in Liberia, UNMIL, since December 2003. Initial deployment was for one year, an extension of which was approved by Government for another year in December 2004, subject to renewal of the UN mandate and a satisfactory review of the mission. In the near future, I will be bringing proposals to the Government for the continued deployment of a contingent with the mission beyond December 2005.

From the outset my predecessor signalled the Government's intention that Defence Forces involvement in UNMIL would not exceed two to three years in duration and the United Nations has been advised accordingly. It is now general policy that deployments of Defence Forces contingents to peace support missions overseas should be for defined periods.

Ireland, together with an infantry company group from Sweden, provides the quick reaction force, QRF, to the UNMIL Force Commander. The Irish contingent currently comprises 403 personnel. When it was deployed in late 2003 the initial focus of the unit was to help secure the Monrovia area and to support the disarmament process. However, in recent times the focus of the unit has altered to framework operations in support of the election process.

The United Nations Mission in Liberia, UNMIL, is playing a positive role in ensuring a secure environment for the holding of elections and in the run-up to the installation of the new Government next January. Parliamentary and presidential elections in Liberia took place on 11 October 2005. These elections marked the return of Liberia to a constitutional democracy after 14 years of civil war. As the presidential election did not produce an outright winner, a run-off between the two leading candidates — Ms Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and Mr. George Weah — will be necessary. This next round of voting is due to take place on 8 November 2005.

While Liberia has made major progress in consolidating peace and in implementing the August 2003 comprehensive peace agreement, the peace process still faces many challenges. These include completion of the rehabilitation and reintegration of ex-combatants, reconstruction of the army and police and strengthening of the institutions responsible for the rule of law. Recognising the importance of guaranteeing the security situation in Liberia in the coming months, on 19 September 2005 the UN Security Council extended the mandate of UNMIL until 31 March 2006. Dependent on the political and security situation in Liberia at that time, in March 2006 the Secretary General of the UN is expected to make recommendations to the Security Council on a downsizing plan for UNMIL.