Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 November 2004
106 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Defence if he will elaborate on his statement of 24 October 2004 that the situation in Iraq would have to be much more stabilised than it is now before he would commit troops to that country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28812/04]
View answerIn the course of my discussions with the UN Secretary General, Mr. Kofi Annan, during his visit to Ireland last month, we discussed the security situation in Iraq and the difficulties this was creating for the UN assistance mission in Iraq. We both recognised the need for a much expanded UN operation to support the rebuilding of Iraq. The Secretary General expressed the view that it would be difficult to mount any expansion of the current UN mission in the absence of greater security and stability in the region. It was against this background that I stated that the situation in Iraq would have to be more stable before the Government committed troops to that country. I should also state that no formal request has been received from the United Nations for the provision of Irish Defence Forces personnel for the UN mission in Iraq and, as such, the matter does not fall to be considered at this time.
