Dáil row over safety of troops in Chad

DEFENCE Minister Willie O’Dea and Fine Gael TD John Deasy clashed in the Dáil yesterday over the proposed deployment of army personnel to Chad.

The row broke out over Mr O’Dea’s attempts to assure the Dáil that medical and logistical issues had been addressed to safeguard the troops.

Mr Deasy claimed Mr O’Dea did “not have a clue” about the issues involved. Mr O’Dea said he had addressed all the issues and suggested Mr Deasy was deaf.

Eight members of the Defence Forces are already with the EU Force [Eufor] peace enforcement mission in Chad, which is affected both by the Sudanese Darfur conflict on its border and by internal rebellion.

The deployment of 50 members of the Army’s ranger wing is expected to go ahead today, and by mid-May, it is anticipated 400 Irish troops will be in Chad.

Mr O’Dea said owing to the remote location of the mission’s area of operations, deployment and re-supply of the Irish contingent would mainly be by air. This led to questions about transport, medical evacuation and other safety issues.

Asked by Fine Gael TD Jimmy Deenihan if a helicopter needed to be permanently onsite in the event of a medical emergency, Mr O’Dea replied: “You appear to have forgotten I am not the commander of the force. The force commander [Lieutenant General Pat Nash] and his staff organise all the details.

“They tell me they are satisfied all arrangements that can be made to make the mission as safe as possible have been made.”

Mr Deasy claimed he had information suggesting there remained a lack of medical and logistical resources for the Irish deployment.

Mr O’Dea replied: “I said last week General Nash had reassured me the medical and logistical matters had been sorted out to his satisfaction.”

Mr Deasy claimed Mr O’Dea did not know for certain whether the medical and logistical matters had been addressed, and when he continued to raise questions on the issue, Mr O’Dea said: “The deputy must be deaf as well as everything else. He [General Nash] said: ‘Yes, they are sorted out.’ Can you hear that or do I have to use smaller words for you to understand?”