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Seanad Éireann debate -
Thursday, 13 Nov 2003

Vol. 174 No. 13

United Nations Mission in Liberia: Statements.

I thank the Seanad for the opportunity to outline the background to the United Nations mission in Liberia, UNMIL, and the reason the Government decided to respond positively to the invitation from the United Nations to provide a contingent.

Ireland has accorded central importance to the United Nations since it became a member in 1955. Within the UN system, Ireland has always supported effective international action in areas such as disarmament, peacekeeping, development and human rights. It has also been a strong defender of the primary role of the Security Council in the maintenance of international peace and security. In line with this approach, Ireland has taken seriously its obligation under the Charter of the United Nations to make available to the Security Council armed forces, assistance and facilities to contribute to the maintenance of international peace and security.

Ireland's Defence Forces and, in more recent times, the Garda Síochána, have gained extensive experience in peacekeeping and have been regularly approached as a source of peacekeeping personnel. Relative to our size, available resources and capabilities, both financial and military, Ireland is proportionately a very large peacekeeping contributor within the international community. As a result, there is extensive experience of overseas peacekeeping in a wide range of missions among the serving personnel in the Defence Forces. Nearly 75% of all eligible serving personnel in the Army have served overseas, while, within the officer and NCO groups, that figure rises to 90%.

Today, the call for Ireland's assistance comes from Liberia, a troubled and poverty stricken country that has suffered under a brutal regime. Liberia is ranked 174 out of 175 nations on the UN world human development index, which measures health and living conditions. It is a deprived, war-torn and war-weary nation.

Liberia has been in a state of near-constant conflict since the late 1980s. Along with its neighbouring countries of the Mano River Union, comprising Sierra Leone and Guinea, it has been at the centre of inter-related conflicts driven principally by the sponsorship of rebel movements by national leaders seeking to undermine their neighbouring regimes. Liberia's former president, Charles Taylor, was the principal architect in fomenting instability in the region, particularly through his support for the rebel movement in Sierra Leone, the Revolutionary United Front. In turn, Sierra Leone and Côte d'Ivoire have been accused of supporting and sponsoring anti-Taylor rebels in Liberia.

The conflict in the region has been marked by large-scale human rights abuses, including, intimidation, rape, decapitation and murder. Within Liberia, two major rebel groups emerged in opposition to the regime of former president Charles Taylor. Both groups, Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy and the Movement for Democracy in Liberia, have histories of atrocities towards civilian populations and have relied on child soldiers, including girls. It is estimated that Liberia has some 27,000 to 38,000 combatants, including the Taylorites, up to 70% of whom are minors.

With the assistance of the United Nations and the Economic Community of West African States, there has been significant progress in moving towards peace in Liberia since July this year. Peacekeeping troops have been deployed in Monrovia, the capital of Liberia. President Taylor has gone into exile in Nigeria. In addition, a National Transitional Government of Liberia has been established involving representatives of the Government and rebel parties, in accordance with the comprehensive peace agreement signed by the Government and the rebel groups in Accra on 18 August 2003. The peace agreement, which sets out a road map towards elections in 2005, has been endorsed by the Security Council in Resolution 1509, which also established UNMIL.

While there has been progress, Liberia remains highly unstable and the peace process remains fragile. The rebel movements continue to control large areas outside the capital of Monrovia. Minor incidents can quickly escalate and there is poor control and communication between the disparate elements of the rebel groups. As Deputies will be aware, there have been some incidents involving the rebel groups and Government forces in Monrovia itself and, more recently, in the north of the country since the National Transitional Government of Liberia was established.

Establishing peace in Liberia, in tandem with the current UN operations in support of peace in Sierra Leone and the wider Mano River Union region, offers a real and tangible opportunity for the international community to assist in bringing stability to the region as a whole. The Defence Forces have a strong tradition of participation in missions of this nature and Ireland has a particular commitment to Africa, which is evidenced by, among other things, our bilateral aid programme. The Government considers that Ireland, as a long-standing contributor to UN peacekeeping, should participate where possible in suitable peace support operations. The UNMIL operation in Liberia offers a suitable opportunity for such participation.

The mission in Liberia has a strong and robust UN mandate. It will operate under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, which means that the force is authorised to take all necessary measures to fulfil its mandate. The mandate is comprehensive and includes monitoring the implementation of the cease-fire and the comprehensive peace agreement between the Government and rebel forces. It also includes, inter alia, assisting the disarmament, demobilisation, reintegration and repatriation of all armed parties, providing security, protection and humanitarian assistance, and promoting human rights.

The proposed Irish contingent will comprise a motorised infantry battalion of some 430 personnel and a small number of additional personnel who will be deployed at force headquarters and as military observers. At the request of the UN, a contingent of the Army ranger wing, amounting to some 40 personnel, will be deployed for a three month period.

The Irish contingent will operate as the force commander's rapid reaction force. It will provide an immediate response capability, deployable in sufficient strength and with the required level of force to provide a swift and decisive military reaction to any crisis. In the initial stages, the Irish battalion will act in a path-finding role for the UN brigades deployed beyond Monrovia.

Deployment to UNMIL will take place during November and December 2003. Initial deployment will be for one year, with a possible extension thereafter, subject to renewal of the UN mandate and a satisfactory review of the mission. In the case of UNMIL, my intention is that the duration of Defence Forces involvement will not exceed two to three years. Elections, which are due in 2005 under the comprehensive peace agreement, should be completed by the time the Irish contingent withdraws.

A full assessment of UNMIL was undertaken, including a comprehensive and detailed reconnaissance by an experienced Defence Forces team, before a final decision was made on their deployment. The military authorities have reported that Liberia is an inherently dangerous theatre of operations. The potential for renewed hostilities, an unquantified mine or improvised explosive device threat, hazardous driving conditions, the demanding climatic conditions and the threat to health make force protection a primary concern for the Defence Forces. However, I am assured by the military authorities that, while circumstances are difficult and volatile, they are satisfied they can discharge their mandate in an effective manner and maintain the safety of their personnel.

The decision to send troops overseas is not taken lightly. I assure the House that our ability to protect the health and safety of our personnel is of paramount concern when considering any mission. Once a decision to deploy is made and the nature and manner of that deployment are determined, all operational decisions regarding the deployment, force protection assets, medical facilities, etc., are a matter for the military authorities.

The final decision on deployment to Liberia was not taken until the detailed reconnaissance had been undertaken by the Defence Forces and I had received the report from the Chief of Staff. While no absolute guarantees can be given with regard to the safety of troops serving in missions, it is policy and practice to ensure that Defence Forces personnel are appropriately trained and equipped to carry out their mission.

The Defence Forces are deploying significant force protection assets and medical support on this mission. The equipment being deployed is of the highest quality. The Mowag armoured personnel carriers being deployed on this mission were also deployed with the Defence Forces when they served with UNMEE in Eritrea where they performed effectively. We are also deploying armoured vehicles and support weapons, heavy machine guns and a mortar platoon to provide protection and a significant response capability to the contingent.

A key concern on this mission is the health of our troops, having regard to the endemic nature of disease in Liberia. The Defence Forces adopt a comprehensive approach to managing and protecting the health of deployed personnel. As a matter of course, all personnel volunteering must have passed their annual medical in the first instance. They are then subjected to a further detailed overseas medical, where they are assessed for suitability with particular reference to the physical requirements of the mission in question. The troops to be deployed to Liberia will all go through this process.

The main risk to health in Liberia is malaria. The director of the Army Medical Corps has stated that systematic use by Defence Forces personnel of anti-malaria medication should be effective in protecting them from this disease. Troops are being fully immunised against all other known disease risks, including yellow fever, hepatitis A and B, cholera, meningitis and tetanus. The director of the Medical Corps has also had detailed consultations with the Royal College of Surgeons regarding the tropical disease aspects of the mission. In addition, special training is being provided by the Netherlands to our medical personnel on the environmental health issues arising in a tropical setting. As regards possible water-borne parasites or diseases, the Defence Forces are bringing their own water purification and sewage treatment plants with them. On return from a mission, all troops are fully tested from a health perspective as a matter of course.

The Defence Forces will be deploying as part of the battalion, a state-of-the-art containerised medical facility, which was recently acquired. The medical facility will be operated by two medical doctors who will be assisted by a team of 13 Defence Forces medical personnel and paramedics. A full surgical medical facility is being provided to the mission by the Netherlands initially and Jordan thereafter. In addition, there is a Red Cross medical facility in Monrovia and a full surgical medical facility in Freetown, which is attached to UNAMSIL and also provided by Jordan. The Jordanians provided a similar facility to our troops in UNMEE, which worked well.

I assure the House that the required facilities and medical personnel, including medical doctors, to provide for the Defence Forces contingent in Liberia will be deployed and maintained on an ongoing basis. I am assured that all these facilities fully meet the requirements for this mission. At the recent RACO conference, its president indicated satisfaction with what is being proposed with regard to force protection, particularly the health and medical aspects of the mission.

Ireland has long recognised its obligations to support peace and security throughout the world. There have been suggestions in the media and elsewhere that Ireland should only embark upon a mission where there is absolute certainty with regard to safety and no threat to our personnel. I cannot accept this position. Sometimes our obligations mean operating under difficult circumstances in dangerous situations. Sometimes we cannot wait for peace to happen, we need to help establish and maintain it. Ireland will not falter in its obligations in this regard.

In Liberia, Ireland has the opportunity to contribute, in a substantive manner, to bringing stability to a key region in Africa and to support the establishment of peace, respect for human rights and the rule of law as well as the re-establishment of civil society in the region. We have the opportunity to facilitate and support the development of the country and the aspirations and potential of its people. Since our first involvement in peacekeeping in 1958, Ireland's willingness to participate in UN peace support missions has been motivated by a firm belief that peoples throughout the world have the right to live in peace with justice, free from fear. Our participation in UNMIL represents a continuation and vindication of that belief.

I commend the individual members of the Permanent Defence Forces who have served and continue to serve on overseas missions, together with their families and loved ones. As we enter the Christmas season, it will be a difficult time for families with loved ones far from home. I hope, however, the arrangements we are putting in place, the provision of telephone services, Internet access and a direct mail service, will help ensure there is good and effective ongoing contact between our peacekeepers and their families. I assure the personnel being deployed and their families that we will do whatever we can to protect our personnel and return them safely to their families.

I welcome the Minister to the House. He will be glad to note that on the Order of Business, Senators called for him to come before the House today on a separate matter. I am happy he is in the House to discuss this important issue and allow Senators to contribute to the debate. On behalf of the Fine Gael Party, I express warm support for the Government's decision to deploy more than 430 of our troops to Liberia in western Africa in the coming months. The mission, which is being undertaken under United Nations auspices, has our full support and I wish our troops well.

As the Minister pointed out, our troops are being deployed to an inherently dangerous theatre of operations, according to an assessment by our key military personnel visited the country on a reconnaissance trip to ascertain the level of difficulty involved in the mission. We should not be under any illusions that this mission will not be dangerous and difficult for our troops. As the Minister noted, Liberia is one of the most unstable regions in the world, not only because it has suffered civil war for the past 14 years, but also due to widespread disease. The country features at or near the top of a United Nations list ranking the incidence of disease in the region. As the mission will be possibly the most dangerous deployment ever undertaken by the Defence Forces, it is important the House wishes our troops well and assures them of our full support.

Earlier this week, Senator Maurice Hayes reminded us that Armistice Day and the many hundreds of thousands of Irish people who gave their lives in two world wars are commemorated on 11 November. We should not forget that since the Defence Forces were formed, 82 of our troops have given their lives for the cause of the United Nations, helping to bring peace and security to various parts of the world.

The deployment to Liberia is not a peacekeeping mission, but a peace enforcement role, which makes it much more dangerous for the troops involved and difficult for the families they will leave at home. It was correct and honest of the Minister to inform the public some weeks ago that the mission would not last for six months or a year but at least two or three years given that elections are not scheduled to take place in Liberia until 2005. This is not, therefore, a short-term mission.

I was distraught at the response of the United States Government to the crisis as it emerged during the summer months when rebel troops approached and entered Monrovia and Charles Taylor refused to relinquish power. It was pathetic to see US aircraft carriers anchored off the coast of Monrovia watching events, while the US Administration refused to send troops, apart from a small number of marines dispatched to protect the US ambassador who remained in the city. The United States has a special responsibility to Liberia given the long history of slave trading between the US and western Africa and the large-scale repatriation of many Americans to Liberia in the earlier part of the last century. I have expressed support for the United States Government in the House on many issues, but on this occasion it has not fulfilled its special responsibility to the Liberian people. As a friendly country, we should point this out to the United States in an open and honest manner. While there is an international responsibility to commit troops to the mission, there is a particular onus on the United States because of its historical connection with Liberia.

Senators will not be shocked to learn that Liberia is one of the poorest country's in the world. An estimated 85% of its people live below the poverty line while the region has endured a tortuous civil war for the past 14 years. The former President, Mr. Charles Taylor, is now wanted for war crimes in Sierra Leone. We must question the motives of the Nigerian Government in giving asylum to this man, who has committed atrocious crimes. As part of the deal he has been let out of Liberia and allowed to remain in Nigeria, which I understand, but we must confront the fact that over 200,000 people have been killed in the past ten years alone in that region in very difficult circumstances. A total of 500,000 people have been displaced from their homes. I congratulate Concern on its work in Liberia. My brother-in-law is with Concern in Liberia at present and is due home shortly, after completing six months there. In the past few months I have received e-mails from him. It is harrowing to read about the difficult situation for people in that country. Many NGOs had to leave Liberia. Concern left but subsequently returned. Its members are extremely brave people. I pay tribute to the Concern personnel who have put so much time in recent months into helping the refugees who have left the villages, where there were appalling scenes of carnage, for Monrovia. Many brave young Irish men and women have gone to Liberia over the past six months and have stayed with the people, even during the most difficult period over the summer when the place was virtually ungovernable and there was no security or law and order.

Our troops face a difficult task. There are part of a contingent of 15,000 UN troops. Their first task will be to separate the warring factions. The second task is to disarm the many young soldiers. Boys as young as seven or eight years are enlisted in the army and in the warring factions in the region. The place is awash with arms and people will have to be disarmed as soon as possible. In addition, people will have to be returned to, and kept safe in, their homes. Our troops will play a key role in that regard. This mission will not be short lived, given the instability of the situation.

I wish to make a point about the triple lock arrangement. The Minister will be aware of the comments made in the other House by our party spokesperson and in this House by Senator Minihan on 1 April this year. We need to debate the future of Ireland's participation in UN missions. Ireland could not send troops to Macedonia, a place that has as much, if not more, connection with Ireland as Liberia, because one member of the Security Council, China, took umbrage at Macedonia's support for the exiled leader of Tibet. The deployment of our troops should not be based solely on the veto of one or two members of the UN Security Council. If the Dáil and the Government wish to send troops to parts of the world which are trying to achieve peace and security and, therefore, to endorse the UN Charter, they should be able to do so irrespective of whether there is a UN resolution.

Our party has introduced a Bill to deal with this issue on which we hope to encourage debate. Ireland was the only country in the EU that was unable to send troops to Macedonia due to the triple lock mechanism. That mechanism must be challenged. I urge that a debate take place on it, especially on foot of the brave Private Members' Bill put forward by our spokesperson, Deputy Gay Mitchell. Macedonia is also important because at some point in the future it is likely to become a member of the European Union so we have a responsibility in that regard. We should determine our foreign policy on the basis of our needs and in the context of the EU. The EU will have greater responsibility for matters such as peace enforcement and peacekeeping in the future and our decisions on participation should not be determined by the political considerations of one member of the Security Council.

I wish to describe the case of a woman in Liberia who was forced to leave her home because of the rebel actions. The information can be found on the Concern website. It shows the type of situation people in that country face. The woman's name is Alice Brown and she is a mother of two. She was displaced from her home in Liberia and went to Monrovia. She is one of the 200,000 people who have been displaced. She said:

I arrived here [the Concern camp] 10 days ago after walking for four days from [my home village]. There were thousands of people on the road with me. . I put my one year old on my back and the two year old walked. Her feet and ankles swelled up and she was in terrible pain for much of the journey. I kept telling her we were nearly there but I was lying.

We had no food for the journey, all we took was water. The children are not taking from the breast any more which made it more difficult for them. This is the first time we have been displaced. It felt so bad to be forced from my home like this. I am from Tubman Street in Buchanan city. I thank and praise God that I found my way to the displacement centre. I left Buchanan because of the MODEL troops who were terrorising the people in the town. . They looted all the houses in Buchanan. Many women were raped and many innocent people were killed in the town.

They even raped pregnant women, old women and young girls. Some women's rectums were violated. I was not raped. I managed to hold on to my foam mattress but as soon as I made it onto the road I encountered some soldiers who took it off me. They pushed me and told me to keep walking.

I want this war to end. I am suffering too much. I pray for it to end. . I am aware of what Concern are doing here in the camp. I see the children singing every evening. They make sure everyone listens. They tell us to wash our hands before eating and cooking. Concern have also constructed many latrines. If they were not here there would be so much more disease. I have small children, who are the most vulnerable to disease so I appreciate how important their work is. Concern have also constructed washing rooms so we can wash in private. In a crowded place like this that is important. It gives us our dignity.

That is an example of the suffering one woman has had to face as a result of the political instability in that region.

We are doing important international work today. It is something of which this country should be proud. The troops go in our name and act on our behalf. They, and particularly their families, deserve our support, especially as we go into the Christmas season. I wish the troops well in Liberia and I hope they return safely to their families as soon as possible.

The Minister, Deputy Michael Smith, is an important and active Minister in the Government. I compliment on and thank him for his work for the Defence Forces. It is acknowledged throughout the country that the Minister has made a major contribution to the development of facilities for the Defence Forces.

I will outline the reason our troops are going to Liberia. The people of Ireland are proud to have troops with the ability and training to take on this important work. Last October the west African peacekeepers in Liberia traded their camouflage helmets for the blue helmets of UN forces, inaugurating a new UN mission intended to secure lasting peace for a nation in ruins after 14 years of conflict. In August, Nigerian troops were the first to arrive to halt the fighting between rebel groups and the government of former warlord Charles Taylor. The Nigerian-led peace force succeeded in imposing a ceasefire in Monrovia, ending fighting that killed more than 1,000 civilians in the city.

Mr. Taylor resigned under international pressure on 11 August, leading to a power sharing and peace deal between the government and rebels. Liberia descended into chaos in 1989 when Mr. Taylor, then a warlord, invaded the country from neighbouring Ivory Coast. Following his seven year insurgency that led to the death of more than 150,000 people, war weary Liberians elected him president in 1997. Insurgents took up arms against him in 1999 and marched on the capital in June.

Mr. Taylor's financial support for rebel forces in Guinea, Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone created enormous hardship in those countries. The United Nations banned sales of diamonds from Liberia in 1990 in an attempt to cut off Mr. Taylor's source of funds and thus limit the amount he could funnel to rebel insurrections in neighbouring countries. His contributions to rebels in Sierra Leone fuelled a bitter civil war in that country. His main ally, the Revolutionary United Front, has been accused of widespread torture and sexual assault.

In June 2003, a UN backed court indicted Mr. Taylor for crimes against humanity during the civil war in Sierra Leone. Much is needed to revive the country, which was once one of Africa's richest. It does not have functioning electrical systems or roads and hundreds of thousands of civilians are living as refugees. The power sharing Government is scheduled to take over. That will lead to elections and a democratically elected Government in early 2005.

The cause of peace sometimes comes at a price, as the loss of 83 personnel since 1960 has shown. However, our Defence Forces have over the years demonstrated that they are capable of facing security risks. In the Lebanon in particular, where hundreds of our personnel served over a 25 year period, many difficult situations were faced. When the mission concluded in 2001, it was widely recognised that the Irish handled these situations in a highly professional manner.

Irish military neutrality is a policy to which the Government is deeply committed. Ireland, however, has never been ideologically neutral nor morally indifferent to the major international and security challenges of the day. Ours is not a rigid neutrality, frozen in time and isolated from the evolving international security realities. Ireland's neutrality originated as an important expression of sovereignty and became practically possible in 1938 when the British returned the treaty ports to Irish control. Irish neutrality has not been imposed from outside nor is it guaranteed by international treaty. It is a policy espoused by successive Governments and its core defining characteristic is non-membership of military alliances. Our neutrality has gone hand in hand with a strong commitment to international co-operation for stability and security.

There is no conflict between Ireland's military neutrality and full and active support by Ireland for collective security based on international law. The progressive approach taken by Éamon de Valera in the League of Nations in the 1930s is clear evidence of that. When faced with the challenge to international security of Mussolini's invasion of Abyssinia, Ireland supported sanctions against Mussolini. The League of Nations was, however, unable to deal effectively with aggressor states led by dictators because of the absence from the League of the United States and the weakness of the League's enforcement mechanisms. As the League of Nations failed to meet its responsibilities, the world descended into war.

The history of Europe from 1935 to 1945 clearly shows that military neutrality on its own is not enough to maintain conditions of peace and security internationally. It is also necessary to work actively for international peace and security, taking account of prevailing circumstances. In advocating UN membership to Dáil Éireann in 1946, Éamon de Valera emphasised his hope that the UN would be better able to act against an aggressor than the League of Nations when he said: "Either the time for action is going to pass in futile discussion or there must be a method by which effective forcible action will be taken". He also emphasised that

"if there is ever to be a rule of law, nations must make up their minds that they will take part in such enforcement, because, if there is not enforcement, then, of course, the duties and the rights that are guaranteed will be all thrown aside".

It is the responsibility of the Government to ensure that the safety of our personnel is at the top of the agenda. While one cannot give absolute guarantees regarding safety, we must analyse the risks involved. In addition to ensuring that intensive training is undertaken, robust and modern protection assets, including armoured military vehicles and personnel carriers, must be deployed. Our troops deserve the best equipment and facilities we can give them. I welcome the Minister's statement that such equipment and facilities will be provided.

Although 20 countries will participate, Ireland will be the only western country to make a significant contribution. That fact illustrates the high regard the UN has for us. It knows our track record and we should be honoured that the unique qualities of Irish peacekeepers continue to be recognised. Irish peacekeepers are among the most acceptable from the contributing nations' community of troops for several reasons, including their high standards of experience. As Ireland is a neutral country, which was not a colonial power, our troops are recognised as being impartial. The Defence Forces bring more than 40 years' experience to peacekeeping. That gives the Irish soldier an almost unique understanding of the requirements for peace support operations. Irish soldiers have a talent to earn the trust and confidence of the conflicting parties and the local population and have demonstrated their ability to defuse potentially explosive situations by tact, dialogue and humour.

The Congo operation in 1960 marked the first opportunity for the Defence Forces to serve alongside armies from other nations. That experience showed that Irish troops were as well trained and suited to peacekeeping as those of any other nationality. Subsequent peacekeeping experiences in places such as the Lebanon, Bosnia, Kosovo, East Timor and Cyprus have reinforced that conviction. Speaking during a visit to Ireland in 1998, the former US President, Bill Clinton, said that he could not leave Ireland without acknowledging that there were few nations which had contributed more than Ireland, even in times of difficulty for this country, to the cause of peace and human rights around the world.

Once the full Irish contingent has been deployed to Liberia, more than 800 Defence Forces personnel will be serving in 19 overseas missions. That is the largest commitment since the Lebanon and represents almost 10% of the entire force. We are punching well above our weight on behalf of peace and we should all be proud of that.

I appreciate the comments of the Army officers' association, RACO, which has expressed concern about the level of medical backup for troops who are being sent on a peace mission to Liberia in west Africa. It states that it wants more information about medical services in what it describes as an inherently dangerous situation in Liberia. I welcome the Minister's statement that the demands of RACO have been complied with. I know his commitment to the Defence Forces. If more is required he will not be found wanting. When money was scarce in the past the Minister found ways of providing facilities and equipment for our armed forces. He disposed of surplus land that had lain idle for many years to ensure that the Defence Forces were not left short when extra equipment and facilities were required. I compliment him on his work as Minister.

We all wish our forces well. I know it is difficult for them because of the time of year they must leave – coming up to Christmas – but our soldiers are of the very highest calibre and they take their work seriously. They will do us proud in Liberia.

I welcome the Minister to the House. Naturally I am most supportive of this effort in conjunction with the United Nations. It is wise to remember, however, that as Senator Brian Hayes said, this is a peace-enforcing exercise. Senator Moylan mentioned the Congo, the only other peace enforcing exercise in which we have been involved where we suffered serious losses. Our troops are facing danger but I am sure the Minister and the Chief of Staff would not allow them to undertake a mission for which they were not properly equipped and trained. We can let them go forward with our full support.

This mission should have started many years ago. The people of Liberia have suffered grievously over the last ten years. It is good to see our troops going out in solidarity with a force that is mainly African, including 15,000 Nigerians. Our experience in many other parts of the world will be particularly useful to those who are less experienced. Like Senator Hayes, I was disgusted with the behaviour of the United States Administration during the summer. It must have been dreadful for the people of Liberia to see aircraft and naval carriers on the horizon and nobody coming to put a stop to the fighting. They have appealed to America to help them. It is extraordinary that a few hundred troops cannot be spared when there are 150,000 in Iraq who were not asked to be there.

I am glad the Taoiseach told Mr. Berlusconi we were not happy with Mr. Putin's actions in Chechnya, where human rights are being abused. It is not media exaggeration. I hope the Minister will convey to the Taoiseach my appreciation of his taking the time to tell Mr. Berlusconi we support the European Union's view in this matter.

Senator Moylan pointed out that it will be a long time before there are elections in Liberia and I presume our troops will have to stay until they take place. The political situation is unclear. We must rely on the Liberians to deal with that while we ensure that the country is as peaceful as possible so that democratic elections can take place.

I was glad to hear the Minister mention the problem of child soldiers. This has become a terrible problem in Africa. In Sudan and northern Uganda, children are kidnapped on a regular basis and forced to fight. They can be as young as seven and many of them are girls. Church leaders have contacted me about what is happening in Sudan and have asked me to make sure that, wherever possible, we make clear our abhorrence of this practice. I am sure the Minister will do that. Another problem for our soldiers in Liberia was illustrated on television recently. Most of these young people are on drugs. The leaders of rebel groups put them on drugs and give them all kinds of weapons: guns, machetes and so on. It was horrific to hear children talking about this and showing the amputations of hands and feet which had been done by children of their own ages.

The Minister did not mention voodoo, but I ask him to make sure that the troops obtain local information about this. I have been to west Africa and it is a powerful force, although as I have not been to Liberia I cannot say whether this is true there. Every market contains stalls with fetishes and sometimes children are told that if they wear a certain fetish they will not be hit by bullets. It is important the soldiers are told about this. The Irish public should also know because children may be killed during this peacekeeping mission. If children are fighting because they have been told that wearing girls' clothes will magically protect him from bullets, our soldiers may not be in a position, with the best will in the world, to spare their lives. We must accept that this sort of thing will happen because, as the Minister pointed out, 70% of the combatants are minors and they have been involved in the most appalling acts. The best thing we can possibly do is to restore the peace so these children can return to some form of education and normal life, having been out of it for years.

It is extraordinary that there should be such trouble in Liberia because it does not have great assets. The rubber trade on which it relied for so long has been overtaken by the use of petrochemicals. There is not much in the way of gold or diamonds but apparently it is a centre for smuggling, for example from Sierra Leone. This must be dealt with by our troops, which makes an added difficulty for them. As a doctor, I was interested to hear the medical issues mentioned by the Minister. They seem to be well defined. I always say that the best way to prevent malaria is to wear long sleeves and trousers tucked into one's socks in the evening. I hope plenty of insect repellent goes out with the troops because that is also useful. It is to be hoped our medical personnel will not have too many problems to deal with. Will they be able to do anything for civilians in the area if they have time on their hands? Their medical care has been appalling for a long time, with no vaccinations and so on. I do not know the protocol in these matters.

It was good to hear Senator Brian Hayes mention the work done by non-governmental organisations such as Concern. I am sure that if the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Kitt, has a few euro left in his budget he will try to give them something towards their work. We have made a huge effort with bilateral aid in other countries in Africa; perhaps we can spare a little for this one.

I sincerely hope that all our soldiers come back safe and well but as previous speakers said, it is a very worrying time for them and their families. They are going to help a group of people who, sadly, have been neglected, perhaps because they did not have many assets and were left on the sideline. Their pitiful pleas over several years for troops to be sent from America went unheeded and I am glad we are involved in this United Nations force which has come to aid people who do not deserve to be in the situation in which they find themselves.

I am glad to have the opportunity to speak on the participation of members of the Defence Forces in this peace enforcing mission in Liberia. At the outset I welcome the Minister to the House. We may not have always agreed on micro issues within the Defence Forces but on a macro basis I congratulate him on his role as Minister for Defence and on the major reform in the Defence Forces, much of which has been very positive.

Ireland became a member of the United Nations in 1955 and, since 1958, we have had a continuous presence in peacekeeping missions, mainly in the Middle East. The extensive Irish participation in peacekeeping is regarded in very positive terms both by the Government and the Defence Forces. Indeed, in September 1993, the Government restated the role of the Defence Forces and defined one of them as being to participate in United Nations missions in the cause of international peace.

Ireland's participation in peacekeeping operations has promoted a very positive image of Ireland and its Defence Forces both within the international community, in the United Nations and among the various communities in various mission areas. Unfortunately, this service has not been without cost. To date, 82 members of the Defence Forces have given their lives in the cause of world peace.

I digress slightly at this stage to mention Private Kevin Joyce, a member of the 48th Battalion, who is missing in action since 1981. Now that we have successfully completed our mission in Lebanon, I ask that we would continue efforts on a diplomatic level to recover what are believed to be the remains of Private Joyce and bring them home for a Christian burial. I hope we do not lose sight of that one Irish soldier whose remains have never been found.

It is an undisputed fact that the success of peacekeeping missions primarily depends on the desires of the warring parties to resolve their differences peacefully. It equally depends on the support of the international community working in concert with a clear mandate and the provision of the resources necessary for the successful conclusion of the mandate objectives.

Ireland's participation in overseas missions is underpinned by the confirmation in the Seville declaration that this country's participation remains firmly grounded in the UN as the international authority for the co-operative arrangements for collective security. This decision making process for involvement in the peace support operations requires the conditions of the triple lock, that is, United Nations authorisation together with Government and Dáil approval, and it is a matter of some regret that this Chamber does not also have a legislative role in the approval of overseas deployment of Irish troops. That, however, is an argument for another day. I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important issue and also welcome the decision of the Dáil yesterday to approve this mission.

On the subject of the triple lock, if I may digress briefly, mention has been made that in certain circumstances missions the Government believes to be desirable may be blocked by the veto of a permanent member of the Security Council. This is to be regretted. It is long past time that this subject be revisited and that we debate all aspects of the triple lock and, on a wider front, reform of the UN Security Council. These, too, are arguments for another day because this debate is about Liberia.

As has been stated by the Minister, this mission is not without risk. Nevertheless, it is without question correct for the Defence Forces to play an active role in this mission. Not alone is the professionalism of our Defence Forces ideally suited to the successful conclusion of the mission but Ireland, during our period on the Security Council, was among the strongest supporters of the targeted sanctions of the former Liberian regime. Now that that regime has fallen, we have a moral responsibility to help build a lasting peace in Liberia. We have already shown our support for Liberia through the provision to date this year of €2.5 million in emergency humanitarian assistance. This deployment is another sign of our commitment to the country and to the region.

The success of peacekeeping missions largely depends on the desire of warring parties to resolve their differences peacefully. In this regard, Liberia is still volatile and unstable. However, I have faith in those in the Defence Forces who undertook the risk assessment and advised the Minister accordingly. Our Defence Forces are a professional army with a well-earned reputation for their ability to partake in peacekeeping missions anywhere in the world. In this regard, it was disappointing to see in the media and to hear some misguided suggestions from the Opposition to the contrary. Much of what has been and will be said in this House about the mission is theoretical. As a former peacekeeper, having served three tours of duty in Lebanon, I would like to put a human face on the tasks faced by our Defence Forces.

The task of a peacekeeper is particularly demanding because peacekeeping operations are, by definition, established in areas of conflict where acts of violence and breaches of international and locally arranged agreements are daily occurrences. Those who serve in peacekeeping forces are equipped with light defensive weapons but are not authorised to use force except in self defence. This right is exercised judiciously because of the obvious danger that if a UN force uses weapons, its impartiality, however unfairly, is called into question. This particular mission is one under Chapter VII of the UN Charter and is a peace enforcing mission. This requirement sometimes demands exceptional restraint on the part of soldiers serving in peacekeeping forces.

Irish peacekeepers are among the most acceptable from the communities of troop contributing nations for several reasons which include their high standard of experience and the fact that our troops are recognised as being impartial because Ireland, as a neutral country, was never a colonial power. The Defence Forces brings over 40 years of experience to peacekeeping. This gives the Irish soldier an almost unique understanding of the requirements for peace support operations. Irish soldiers have a talent to earn the trust and confidence of conflicting parties and the local population and have demonstrated their ability to defuse potentially explosive situations by tact, dialogue and humour. Senator Henry referred to voodoo. That reminds me of a situation in Lebanon where we encountered similar activities but by deploying the Irish pipe band, we introduced our own version of voodoo, which defused a potentially explosive situation. It is amazing what a piper can do.

My major concern about this particular mission is the issue of child soldiers. These young boys and girls, who are fully armed and have been force-fed a cocktail of cocaine by senior officers, aggressively engage in conflict. This is a new departure for our Defence Forces but I am confident that military authorities, who are au fait with the very clear rules of engagement in this situation, have provided the necessary training and support mechanisms for this new challenge.

The widespread contamination of Liberia with a particularly virulent strain of malaria concerns not just me but every Member of the House. I am glad the Dutch have sent a level 3 ship to provide medical support to the force but I ask the Minister again to keep that under review and ensure that full medical support, including equipment and vaccinations, is available at all times to our troops.

With regard to medical provisions, I am also aware that our soldiers will operate in an environment where AIDS is endemic in the population. This is something on which no one else has touched. Will the Minister outline what provisions have been made to ensure the safe supply of properly screened blood if it should be needed by our troops? Given that blood supply has a shelf life of 35 days, there is a need to put in place a mechanism for the supply of properly screened blood on an ongoing basis.

The Irish element of this force will be deployed as a mobile reserve element to the overall force. This places our troops at the cutting edge of the mission. With that comes huge responsibilities to ensure that reaction to any situation is measured and responsible. Our troops have been selected for this role because of their reputation in previous missions but with that comes huge responsibilities, of which we should not lose sight.

I stress the importance of showing political support to our Defence Forces. It is one thing to debate these issues in the House, and I thank the Leader for responding to my request for such a debate. I also thank the Minister for giving us his time. However, political responsibility must follow on from the decision made in the Dáil yesterday. Our Defence Forces have served this country proudly at home and abroad and with distinction since the foundation of the State. I hope the political system will support this mission on a continuous basis and that it will actively monitor the role of the Defence Forces in Liberia with regular statements in the House on the welfare of our troops in line with our responsibility to them.

Supporting our troops not only involves providing them with necessary equipment and the means to carry out their task, it also means looking after their welfare. I have a concern which I wish to put to the Minister. Serving overseas is not a nine to five, five days a week job, which the Minister will know from his tours. It is a 24 hour per day, seven days per week mission. We are sending troops to Liberia on a six month tour of duty. On average, a member of the Defence Forces on such a mission would receive two weeks' leave and maybe a weekend in between. When we served in Lebanon, we could take that leave in Cyprus, Israel or in Egypt and some of our families came out to join us. However, a rest and recuperation facility is not readily available in Liberia. This is a concern because soldiers need that break.

When soldiers are on a 12 month tour of duty, they are given one return trip home. I am not trying to create a precedent here nor am I playing on my loyalty to my former colleagues, but this situation is unique because of the geographical location of Liberia. Will the Minister consider bringing forward an imaginative approach to the leave period for troops in Liberia? If soldiers want to come home, that trip should be paid for by the State. The cost of getting out of Liberia back to Europe is in excess of €2,000. Maybe we could devise an imaginative approach, for example a supply flight whereby we could repatriate troops for a two week period. When we served in Lebanon, the Norwegians and the Finns were repatriated even if they were only on a six month tour of duty. Repatriation of our troops is only paid for if they are on a 12 month tour of duty. Will the Minister look at that?

They do not compete with us on overseas programmes.

I accept that but we have a responsibility to take our troops out of that theatre for a two week period. We should not impose huge financial costs on them in order to avail of that facility. Given the uniqueness of the situation, will the Minister look at that positively? It is a sincere request. It would constitute a once-off basis for this mission, as I am not trying to create a precedent.

As a former member of the Defence Forces, I am acutely aware not only of the commitment made by our troops, but of the huge support from wives and families. In recent years, support for the families of troops overseas has improved dramatically. The big breakthrough for us in 1988 was a visit from Mick Dunne to Lebanon. Talking to him privately one night, we succeeded in having the All-Ireland football and hurling finals broadcast to us by telephone link. It created a great atmosphere among the troops. The western command flew red and green flags on their Land Rovers while the southern command flew red and white flags because Cork was playing Mayo. Since the Israelis used a mechanism of colour coded flags on the back of their vehicles to signal each other, there was consternation when they saw these new colours flying on our jeeps. They did not know what was going on.

The Senator was at risk.

Although I am being flippant, the All-Ireland final of 1988 resulted in a minor incursion by Israeli forces into south Lebanon to try to counteract the new colours which were flying. Those types of morale boosting supports have improved dramatically. I welcome the Minister's assurance to the House that telephone and Internet access will be provided. However, we cannot forget the wives and children left at home.

And the husbands.

And the husbands. I apologise to the Leader. It is imperative that we ensure there is proper support for the families and that we keep that to the fore.

I wish my former colleagues in the Defence Force every success on this mission. I also wish them Godspeed and hope they will be safe because there is no doubt they are going into a dangerous theatre. The people and the Defence Forces are proud of our troops, as politicians and Members of the Oireachtas, should be. I congratulate the Minister on his role over the past years in bringing us to a situation where we can put a fully equipped and well trained force into such a theatre of operations with a degree of confidence we did not have before.

I thank the Minister for his presentation. He talked about Ireland's contribution to the United Nations in particular, to peacekeeping missions, our experience in that area and our financial and personnel contributions. I pay tribute to our Defence Forces for their work in peacekeeping and recognise the price that has been paid by those who have been killed or injured on these missions. Members have pointed out that this is a dangerous mission. The Minister acknowledged that Liberia is highly unstable and that the peace process is fragile. As has been said, peacekeeping is important for Ireland, so much so that we talk about it in terms of a duty. It is important we do our best to ensure the safety of our troops, which is a permanent duty.

Many people have mentioned that there is a fear this mission will be peace enforcement rather than peacekeeping. However, it is important we ensure our role is peacekeeping and not peace enforcement, and certainly not the suppression of war. It is also important we know our role and our limits and stand by them. If it came to it, we should know when it is time to consider withdrawing our troops. The Minister spoke of the risk assessment which has been carried out prior to making the decision to undertake the mission. It is important it becomes an ongoing process.

I agree with Senator Minihan on the role of this House in that it should continue to monitor the situation and hold ongoing debates on the progress of the mission. I will be interested to hear the Minister's comments on that.

The Minister has given assurances on the medical and water purification facilities and the other equipment which will be provided. However, as my colleague, Deputy Sherlock has rightly pointed out, the Government is cutting back on spending on defence. Is the Government going to provide the Defence Forces with the necessary resources to ensure these assurances given by the Minister become a reality?

Other issues were raised by my colleagues in the Dáil. Deputy Higgins raised the need to take on board the views of those who will be involved in or serve on the mission and those who would have previous experience of peacekeeping missions. Deputy Higgins mentioned the fear that because there have been a lot of retirements from the Army the age profile of those going to Liberia might be younger and that even though they might have other advantages through being younger, they would not have the same level of experience as older members of the Defence Forces. I am not saying that is the case.

About 75% have previous experience.

It is a legitimate concern to raise. What is the response of the Minister for Defence in terms of those who will serve on the mission and their prior experience in other countries?

I wish our troops well on this mission, success in their efforts and a safe return.

I join with other Senators in thanking the Minister for Defence for coming here and the readiness with which his office responded when we contacted them about the debate. We are aware that under the Constitution the matter must be debated and decided in Dáil Éireann, but we felt that while we did not have the deciding role, we should have the listening role and the right to hear the Minister's plans. Also we felt we should discuss the people going in our name to Liberia.

The debate, which I have been following, has been very good. While not taking from others who spoke, it is good we have somebody like Senator John Minihan, who has the inside track and who has served three tours of duty in the Lebanon. Clearly he is contributing on the basis of a very rounded perspective on overseas duty and what it entails and also what it means for our people who are there.

I speak from a particular perspective as on this occasion, apart from the 40 Rangers and 14 staff from headquarters, between 370 and 380 personnel are from the western command, mainly Custume Barracks in Athlone. For me, there is a real interest in this, as there would always be given I come from a town which has the headquarters of the western command, which is a huge Army base. I know intimately many of the people who will be going and their families, some of whom live on the same street as me. All speakers, and the Minister when he spoke here today and on television, touched on the welfare of those who will travel and those who will stay at home and wait for their return. Their welfare is a high priority for those at the head of the Defence Forces and for the Minister, which is to be highly regarded.

I remember, as a very young girl in 1958, the first occasion our Defence Forces went overseas. On that occasion quite a contingent went from Athlone and the western command. Usually, the overseas contingents are drawn from the various commands, but on this occasion it is centred on the western command. Therefore, the personnel will know one another very well. That will show its worth in a place like Liberia, which will be completely different from other peacekeeping missions. The earlier missions in the Congo and the later ones in Cyprus and the Lebanon became familiar to us. Indeed, the towns in those countries and their names were on the lips of young children as they played around Athlone as their fathers, uncles or brothers were abroad and they were cognisant of where they were and what they were doing. Sadly, of course, brave lives were lost. When one reads that we have to be absolutely sure, as the Minister touched on in his speech, that our personnel are going to perfectly safe environments, we need to realise that if they were perfectly safe environments they would not have to go. The purpose is to render them safer, in partnership with others, and in so doing to remove dangers, but it is a dangerous situation for anybody who goes to serve overseas. One is often in a very hostile climate and a strange land. One has to get on with the people one is hoping to help and with one's fellow defence personnel in one's own force and in the forces one is joining. It requires great skill and professionalism, particularly the skills of interaction with other people, which is a necessary trait in those who travel overseas on peacekeeping duties. In many cases, the Irish Defence Forces who go overseas show terrific skills of interaction in extending friendship in very ordinary ways to children, older people and the people of the villages and towns in which they are based.

Let us put ourselves in the minds of the men and women of our forces who are going. They are trained professionally and are full of bravery in their hearts and minds, but it is a different matter by the time they get to a place with different temperatures, voices, situations, all of which they cannot be aware of. They have a mammoth duty to perform and they do it with dignity, skill, professionalism and pride in the Irish Defence Forces. I have seen very young men who have gone overseas come home as men who have grown in maturity as a result of the experience they have gained.

Liberia, and Africa in general, is a place with which Ireland has a rapport going back many hundreds of years. Our work there in various fields has always been applauded. While it will be a strange new venue for peacekeeping, the echoes and the synthesis of Africa and Ireland are strong.

I wish all the United Nations forces in Liberia great success, particularly our own forces. May they have success, happiness and safety as they work on our behalf in Liberia. I hope their touch and professionalism will bring a better standing for that war-torn country.

I too wish the Minister for Defence and our Defence Forces who are about to be deployed to Liberia, the very best of luck and a safe passage while they are there. They deserve great praise. They are great people and I have the greatest admiration for those who go on peacekeeping missions. However, this is a little bit more than peacekeeping. Senator Hayes has pointed out the difference between peacekeeping and peace enforcement. This, according to the Minister's speech, will be more a peace enforcement than a than a peacekeeping mission for our troops. The Minister said in his speech that the proposed Irish contingent:

will comprise a motorised infantry battalion of some 430 personnel and a small number of additional personnel who will be deployed at force headquarters and as military observers. The Irish contingent will operate as the force commander's rapid reaction force. They will provide an immediate response capability deployable in sufficient strength and with the required level of force to provide the swift and decisive military reaction to any crisis situation.

Quite clearly the Irish troops who are going on this mission will be in very dangerous territory.

I am delighted with the Minister's speech. He has made every effort to provide for the health and well-being of the battalion while it is in Liberia. This need is paramount and was well explained by Senator Minihan. It is difficult for an ordinary person such as myself to envisage the difficulties entailed in peacekeeping and peace enforcement missions but, having listened to Senator Minihan, I can imagine the difficulties encountered. I am delighted the Minister has taken all necessary precautions to provide for our soldiers while they are overseas. They deserve great credit.

Everyone knows of someone who has been a casualty of a peacekeeping mission. Great trauma has been experienced by soldiers who were injured and by the families and friends of those who were killed. It is important the State and the agencies responsible for making the necessary provisions ensure that the needs of our armed forces and their families are provided for while they are on peacekeeping missions of two or three years.

I am delighted that the Minister has assured us that every aspect of the operation has been taken care of. I wish our troops the best of luck and I thank the Minister for coming into the House. Provision has been made for this matter to be debated in the Dáil. I am pleased it is being debated in the Seanad also. I thank the Minister for that.

It is difficult to see Liberia as an easier issue than Nenagh hospital.

We are discussing Liberia, not Nenagh hospital.

That was bombed.

Senator Ryan should speak to the motion.

I am glad the Minister for Defence, although not obliged to do so, has come to the Seanad to give Members the opportunity to speak on this issue. Despite all my smart remarks, I acknowledge he has always been prepared to facilitate this House and has taken it seriously. Most Ministers who have spent a period here retain a certain affection when they have moved on to higher things—

That is true.

—and even when they come back to us in one form or another.

Reincarnated.

I speak on this motion, first because I want to wish our troops well. As the nearest thing to a pacifist in this House, I believe our Army does a superb job abroad. I have had the opportunity, as part of various Oireachtas delegations, to meet the troops serving abroad. I met them in Cyprus on one occasion and, although not on an official visit, I met some of our troops in a dodgy environment in the Gaza Strip in the 1980s when Deputies Tony Gregory and Joe Sherlock and I visited there. Although we were guests of the uprising rather than of the Israeli Government, we met some Irish troops who were working there. One cannot but be impressed by their commitment, particularly to non-violent conflict, and their determination that the use of force is the last item on their agenda. That was made extremely clear to me. I wish them well.

I will not go through the list of arrangements made for the support of our troops. I assume that we have a professional Defence Force and that the basic back-up will be provided. I am old enough to remember, however, the first deployment of troops to the Congo and the shock of the tragedy of the Niemba ambush. Even then, Irish politicians and the general public retained a belief that these things are worth doing, despite the very rude awakening of seeing a military procession through Dublin more than 40 years ago.

It was at this time of year.

I was only 13 at the time but it was an enormous shock to all of us. Nevertheless, the people of this country could see that what was being done was worth doing. That trauma, if anything, deepened our sense that this was a worthwhile thing for our Defence Forces to do.

The history of Liberia is an enormous reproach to western civilisation. Liberia is a consequence of the slave trade. It was populated by slaves who were liberated back to that country from the United States. While what has been done there and the brutality of the war is beyond description we must remember that western society, in its history of colonisation and slave trading, has played a major part in the creation of that tragic country. This does not excuse anything that is going on now. However, the great Christian powers of Europe were the driving force of the slave trade from Africa to North America, out of which came the slaves who founded Liberia. Ireland does not have anything to apologise for in this regard. However, this is not an issue of a tragic country but of the historical obligation of western Europe and North America to places like Africa, in the light of the harm done in the name of our civilisation on the African continent, particularly through the slave trade.

This is one of the most risky and difficult tasks undertaken by our Defence Forces. I do not make light of any of their missions but this one is different. That is not a reason not to do it. I accept the professional judgment of our Defence Forces and of the collective international community that a properly equipped military force can, notwithstanding the risks, make a dramatic contribution to stabilising a tragic country and region. It appears that the presence of Irish troops is a necessary part of the stabilisation of Liberia and its neighbouring countries, a region which is torn by enormous strife. Senator Minihan mentioned the use of child soldiers, which seems to be a new and African phenomenon. It also happened in Uganda. If we can bring an end to that sort of thing it is worth taking part in peacekeeping missions, even if they involve a risk.

I wish our troops well. I assume the necessary back-up provisions for their health and safety have been made. The need for decent rest and recreation is a necessary part of that and I have considerable sympathy with what Senator Minihan said about this. If more can be done, I hope the Minister will consider doing it.

I never expect thanks for coming to the Seanad for any debate. I like coming back to this House, which is a special part of my experience. The unanimous support for an issue as important as Irish troops going to Liberia and the nice remarks made by every contributor about our Defence Forces is something I always want to hear. It will be possible to translate that good will into greater confidence for the troops who are facing risks and difficulties in Liberia. We have taken note of the ideas put forward here about how we might improve the circumstances and make life easier for our troops. We will continue to do this and will look at it again in light of the first week's experience in Liberia.

Senator Ryan and others are correct when they say that while we have faced many difficult terrains in the past, we have probably not faced one as difficult as this. Over the past month the military has gone to exceptional lengths in its reconnaissance to check out every aspect that could be thought about. All the angles are covered in as far as we can do this. While we would like to be in a position to give guarantees, we are not able to go that far.

Under our reorganisation into three battalions, the contingents will be drawn from the west, south and east in turn. The troops will be used to working and performing with each other. This should strengthen the camaraderie that is so necessary, as the troops will be tested and hard decisions will have to be made.

I thank the Members for their conscientious, deliberate and supportive contributions. Our soldiers will take the message with them that they have the wholehearted support of both Houses of the Oireachtas. We can only hope that as the months wear on, we will be saved from any atrocities like those that happened to us in the past. We have lost 84 men since 1958. The Niemba ambush in the Congo left an indelible memory in my mind. I was attending secondary school at the time and remember the great solemnity and seriousness of the funerals. Irish soldiers did not refrain and missions have gone on for 40 years on every continent.

Our troops have covered themselves in glory, particularly with their ability to move away from their military training and peacekeeping abilities to humanitarian tasks. They have written their name indelibly on orphanages, medical clinics and schools. I think of Camp Clarke near Pristina. The homes of two brothers near there were burnt down by Milosevic's troops. The brothers had eight children between them, four of whom had special needs. The families had no winter facilities and snow was lying on the ground. Irish troops renovated the cow byre in a couple of days and the families lived there until two new houses were built. I was there when the houses were nearly finished. While the cooker had been installed the windows had not and the families had moved into the house. A beautiful little deaf and dumb daughter of one of the brothers showed me her room and we had our photograph taken. When I returned much later she caught me by the hand and brought me in to show me the photograph. By then the houses had been completed. There was such joy to be seen on their faces, even when the windows had not been installed. I mention this to demonstrate the good work that can be carried out when a certain amount of peace falls on a place. Such work cannot be carried out in the beginning; the problems must first be resolved.

Somewhere in our genes, we Irish understand famine. We certainly understand oppression and domination and this is reflected in our songs and poetry. When we go to places that now have the kind of difficulties that once were ours, we understand them better than most. As Senator Ryan said, our soldiers have a great ability to iron out things. The arrangements that are made behind the scenes are similar to paragraphs four and five of the Downing Street Declaration, where paragraph four was compiled by extremists on one side while paragraph five was compiled by extremists on the other. Irish troops have exceptionally good skills and can bring together different groups in the search for peace.

It has been a tremendous experience for me to watch this happen at first hand. I have made ten visits to the Lebanon and it is nice to hear from someone who has had first hand knowledge. B Company in Lebanon had a couple of lucky escapes. Shells penetrated the blocks on the stairwell where only seconds before our troops had passed. Somebody in the heavens was looking after them on that occasion. One of our soldiers was badly injured in Lebanon. When I visited him in hospital in Israel the doctors told me he was a miracle man. They said they would not have been able to do anything for him were it not for what had been done for him by his colleagues when he was wounded. It shows that immediate medical attention is of critical importance.

On this mission, we will have the best field hospital and facilities we have ever had. Two doctors, 13 paramedics and level two hospitals will back up our troops. We are grateful to the Dutch for providing a hospital ship that is due to arrive in Liberia in the coming days. This will provide tertiary treatment and the most sophisticated surgical and medical facilities. While we hope our need for these will not be great, it is available if needed.

I thank Members for their support for the contingent. Let us all hope that when next we discuss such matters, all of our troops will have returned safely home and have been replaced by the next contingent.

Sitting suspended at 1.40 p.m. and resumed at 2.30 p.m.
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