Breeda Moynihan-Cronin (Kerry South, Labour)
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Question 111: To ask the Minister for Defence the position regarding the proposed participation of Irish troops in the EU support operation for the UN mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo; when a Government decision will be made; when troops will be committed to the mission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17216/06]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Elections are due to take place in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) under UN supervision in July 2006. In December 2005, the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) invited the EU to consider the possibility of providing "a suitably earmarked force reserve that could enhance MONUC's quick reaction capabilities during and immediately after the electoral process."

MONUC is the UN mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and was established in February 2000 by the United Nations Security Council. It is headquartered in Kinshasa and consists of about 16,000 troops. Ireland contributes three military observers to the mission.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1671 of 25 April, 2006 authorised the EU to deploy a European Union Force, codenamed "EUFOR RD Congo", in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in support of MONUC, during the electoral period in the DRC, for a period ending four months after the date of the first round of the presidential and parliamentary elections there. The DRC authorities have welcomed possible EU military support to MONUC during the electoral process. On 25 April, 2006, the Council of the EU adopted a "Joint Action" to launch the mission.

Ireland from the outset has been positively disposed towards the proposed mission and has supported a positive response from the EU to the UN request. In this regard, Ireland advised the Chairman of the EU Military Staff that, subject to national decision-making procedures, Ireland was prepared to offer up to ten Headquarters personnel for the mission. Today, the Government approved the despatch of up to ten (10) members of the Permanent Defence Force for service with the new mission. Ireland's proposed contribution is well in line with that of other contributing member States and has to be looked at in the context of our existing major commitments to peacekeeping operations.

Two Defence Forces officers have been assigned to the Operational Headquarters for the mission in Potsdam (Germany) for pre-deployment training and familiarisation. Ireland is currently awaiting details from the EU Military Staff regarding the deployment of the remaining personnel.