asked the Minister for Defence if he can say as a result of his Cyprus visit how the living accommodation of Irish troops compares with that of other contingents on the Island.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Accommodation of Irish Troops in Cyprus.
27.
The accommodation allotted to the various contingents is dependent on the accommodation available in the particular sectors in which the contingents operate. The Irish contingent is accommodated under canvas as there is no suitable permanent accommodation available in the Lefka District. The United Nations authorities, however, have provided buildings of a semi-permanent nature in each Irish company location for messing, canteen and recreational purposes.
The object of my visit to Cyprus was to see the Irish contingent and I did not, therefore, inspect the accommodation of other contingents. I understand, however, that contingents in locations similar to the Irish are similarly accommodated.
I do not know if it is correct or not but my information is that Irish troops are mainly under canvas and that this is different treatment from the treatment given to other troops. I cannot understand how the Minister could go to Cyprus—I know that he had to talk with the Archbishop and with the Turkish minority—without inquiring about the different types of accommodation. Obviously we cannot appreciate what type of accommodation the Irish troops have if we do not know what type of accommodation the other troops have.
As I said, I understand that contingents in locations similar to the Irish are similarly accommodated. I also told the Deputy the purpose of my visit and I would not have been at liberty to inspect the camps occupied by troops of other nations.
We are all in favour of Irish troops serving with the United Nations but none of us wants to see them in the position of coolies.
I can tell the Deputy that I would not wish in any circumstances to withhold information in relation to our troops serving abroad. In so far as I understand the situation, our troops are treated on a par with troops of other nations.
Could the Minister say if in fact temporary buildings have been erected at the expense of the other countries who have sent troops and is that how it occurred that the Irish troops appeared to be the only ones under canvas in inclement weather?
There is no inclement weather in Cyprus.
As I said, the United Nations authorities have provided certain buildings and I take it that the United Nations have borne the expense. They have provided buildings of a semi-permanent nature in each Irish company location for messing, canteen and recreational purposes. I can add from my own observation that I saw our own troops working at putting up buildings and I saw them improving the buildings they already had by painting them and by minor construction work inside.
Can the Minister say if during his visit there was any complaint from the troops regarding accommodation?
I discussed the whole situation with the Commander——
Trust Deputy Dowling to drop a brick.
I discussed the situation with the Commander and any deficiencies which I noted I brought to his notice and also to the notice of the UN Commander.
But no private soldier came up to the Minister and complained that they had bad accommodation?
Any of the private soldiers with whom I spoke said they were very well treated and well fed.
They would have been back on a plane to Dublin before the Minister if they had said otherwise.