EU may back Chad mission

Defence Forces proposals for a peacekeeping mission to Chad could soon be back on track following a positive response from other EU member states for the necessary helicopters, tactical aircraft and medical support, the Dáil was told.

Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea said there was "movement" following his written appeal last week to other EU defence ministers to ensure that the mission was "adequately resourced and capable of fulfilling its mission".

One country had offered the required medical supplies and a number of others were "discussing providing funding to assist yet other countries to supply necessary logistical support, including aircraft," he said.

A new conference may be arranged for next week and if that happens, "it is a sign that we are on the verge of a breakthrough".

Mr O'Dea was responding during questions to Labour spokesman on defence Brian O'Shea about the proposed deployment of a total of 450 Irish troops as part of an EU mission to protect some 400,000 refugees in Chad, many of whom had fled the fighting in neighbouring Darfur.

The deployment of an advance group of 50 Army Rangers was deferred until the new year because of concerns about insufficient air and other logistical supports.

The main Irish contingent of 400 troops was due to be deployed in February or March 2008. The Minister said the deferral of the advance group "may - I emphasise the word 'may' - have a knock-on effect on the deployment of the main body of the force".

Questioned about the number of aircraft required, Mr O'Dea said: "In the Abéché area where the Irish troops are likely to be based, we would need at least three med-evac helicopters and one fixed-wing med-evac aircraft. More will be needed in other parts of Chad."

Mr O'Dea insisted that the EU force, with the vast majority of troops from France, would not be deployed until Lieut General Pat Nash and the EU Military Committee "are satisfied beyond any shadow of a doubt that sufficient air support and other logistical supports are in place".

The Minister said "we are confident the troops are sufficiently trained, prepared and equipped to meet the mission's substantial challenges".

Mr O'Dea reiterated to Fine Gael spokesman Jimmy Deenihan that the deployment would be the most expensive operation for the Defence Forces.

Chad is landlocked and nearly 2,000 km from the nearest port facility, and because of the remote location of the mission's area of operations "deployment and resupply of the contingent will mainly be by air transport and, therefore, extremely expensive".

The mission is expected to cost €57 million and transporting personnel and equipment will cost about €20 million.

When asked by Mr Deenihan why the six new helicopters acquired by the Defence Forces could not be used, Mr O'Dea said that it was because "they do not have the range. It is a vast country that contains the Sahara desert and is as large as France, Spain and Germany put together, if not larger".