Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 118: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of the EU mission to Chad; the reason for delays in the mission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30949/07]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The EU military mission to Chad and the Central African Republic, entitled EUFOR Tchad/RCA, was authorised by a Joint Action of the Council of the European Union on 15 October, in accordance with the mandate set out in United Nations Security Council Resolution 1778 of 25 September.

The Joint Action included the appointment of Lieutenant General Pat Nash of the Defence Forces as Operation Commander. The Government on 2 October agreed to the nomination of General Nash for the position. The nomination of General Nash, and support staff, was approved by Dáil Éireann on 9 October. Following reconnaissance visits by the Defence Forces to the region, and my own visit to Sudan and Chad earlier this month, the Government on 19 November authorised the Minister for Defence to arrange, subject to Dáil approval, for the despatch of a contingent of up to 400 members of the Defence Forces for service with EUFOR Tchad/RCA, making Ireland the second largest contributor to this Mission.

Lt Gen Nash, as Operation Commander, has had primary responsibility for the Force Generation process which aims to ensure that the mission has the capacity to undertake the tasks envisaged for it by the United Nations, namely to protect civilians in danger, particularly refugees and displaced persons, facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid, and protect UN personnel.

To date, three Force Generation meetings have taken place, and very significant commitments of personnel and equipment have been made, including by third countries outside the European Union. It is the Union's and the Operation Commander's hope that formal Initial Operating Capability can be declared by year end, or very soon thereafter. Deployment of the Irish contingent would take place in line with the overall deployment.

As with the Force Generation process for any substantial mission, certain shortfalls have been identified. In this case, transport aviation and medical support facilities have been the key shortfalls thus far. The Taoiseach has indicated to the House that deployment of members of the Defence Forces will be conditional on adequate logistical support being in place. Given the importance of the Mission, and its key role in addressing the humanitarian crisis and regional instability resulting from the Darfur crisis, I expect that these shortfalls will be addressed in the coming period and the Mission will proceed on schedule.