Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 56: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress of the EU mission in Chad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16945/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The EU military mission to Chad and the Central African Republic, EUFOR TCHAD/RCA, has faced a number of challenges including force generation and logistics, as well as the insecurity caused by rebel movements in Chad earlier this year. The mission suffered the tragic loss of a French soldier in March. However, very substantial progress has now been made in deploying the force and Initial Operational Capability (IOC) was declared on 15 March 2008 with Full Operational Capability (FOC) expected later this summer with the full deployment of the three multinational battalions. There are currently nearly 2000 troops from eighteen different EU Member States on the ground in Chad.

Lt. General Pat Nash, Operation Commander of EUFOR, who is based at the Operation Headquarters in Mont Valerien near Paris, visited Chad from 7-11 April. Following that visit he has reported to the EU Political and Security Committee that EUFOR is now making its presence felt throughout the Area of Operations and is establishing the basis to make a real difference prior to the rainy season. General Nash also reported on the development of EUFOR's security support to the UN policing mission MINURCAT.

I understand from my colleague the Minister for Defence, Mr. Willie O'Dea TD, that a total of 247 Defence Forces personnel are currently serving with EUFOR. When the balance of the Irish contingent deploys later this month this figure will increase to approximately 430, with the bulk of the personnel serving with the 97th Infantry Battalion in the field in eastern Chad, plus staff at Force HQ in Chad and Operational HQ in Paris. Construction of the Irish Camp at Goz Beida, where the main Irish force will be based, is advancing well. Army Ranger Wing (ARW) personnel deployed in Chad as part of the Initial Entry Force are also currently conducting patrols and route reconnaissance operations in the vicinity of Goz Beida.

I very much welcome the progress now being made in the deployment of EUFOR TCHAD/RCA, particularly given the crucial humanitarian role the mission is to play in relation to the protection of vulnerable refugees and internally displaced people and of the humanitarian convoys necessary to relieve their distress. We can be proud of the role being played by General Nash and his colleagues in the Defence Forces in this vital EU mission.