Vol. 498 No. 3
85 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Defence the number of Defence Forces' personnel deployed in central America after hurricane Mitch; their skills and training; their expected assignments; the equipment and supplies they brought with them; the costs involved; the plans, if any, he has to set up an emergency rapid response unit to react to future emergency disasters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27080/98]
At my request, four military personnel visited Honduras between 26 November 1998 and 2 December 1998 on a fact finding mission to ascertain what humanitarian assistance could be rendered by the Defence Forces over a short time frame in the wake of the destruction caused by hurricane Mitch. A report on the visit is being studied in my Department at present in consultation with the military authorities with a view to assessing what assistance, if any, could be given. It is envisaged that military personnel would be seconded with pay to a non-governmental agency.
