Minister praises Irish troops

Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea, has paid tribute to the final Irish army unit to serve in Lebanon.

Today members of the 36 Infantry Group will stand down, offically ending Ireland's peace keeping presence in the country.

160 men and women who were deployed there six months ago are now preparing to return home.

Irish troops were first sent to Lebanon in 1978, where they remained until 2001.

Renewed fighting in the south of the country saw troops return last year.

Minister O'Dea said they played a real and substantive role in saving lives and helping rebuild the country over the past year.