Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 4 Feb 1992

Vol. 415 No. 3

Written Answers. - Gardaí Serving in Angola.

Patrick McCartan

Ceist:

112 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Justice if he will outline the action he has taken to address and alleviate the poor working conditions and needs of the ten gardaí working with the United Nations in the People's Republic of Angola; if he envisages cutting short their term of duty there; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Justice (Mr. Burke)

The safety and welfare of both our Garda and military contingents serving with the United Nations in Angola is a matter to which the Government attach considerable importance. As I indicated in my contribution to the Adjournment debate on 27 November 1991, the Department of Foreign Affairs have pressed the case at the UN in New York for improved living and working conditions for UNAVEM personnel, and senior officials from my Department and the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Defence have met the Under Secretary General of the UN in Dublin to impress on him the need for immediate action to bring about the necessary improvements.

The Garda surgeon visited Angola at the end of November and the issues raised in his report, such as the need to upgrade UN provision for medical care, have been taken up specifically with the United Nations. Even though the consensus among contributing countries to the UNAVEM mission is that conditions in Angola have improved in recent months, the Department of Foreign Affairs are continuing to highlight the need for further improvement in mission conditions as identified by Irish personnel.

Arrangements are in hand for a senior Garda officer to visit Irish personnel in Angola this month and report on these conditions.

It is understood that the UN Under Secretary General will also visit Angola this month where he will, no doubt, address the issues raised by this country. Further consultation with the UN will take place on conclusion of the two visits.

There are no proposals at present to curtail the service of members of the Garda contingent with the UNAVEM mission.