Defence Minister to visit troops in Chad

Defence Minister Willie O’Dea is to pay his first official visit to Irish troops serving in Chad next week.

The Limerick East TD is expected to use the three-day trip to meet military and diplomatic leaders and help boost the morale of the 550 soldiers on the year-long Eufor mission.

The soldiers in the troubled African state are protecting about 400,000 refugees who have fled the conflict in the Darfur region of Sudan.

Irish troops will mount patrols and support the work of international aid agencies.

Mr O’Dea has described the operation as one of the most challenging missions ever undertaken by the Defence Forces.

The Irish Army is to mark half a century of UN peacekeeping with ceremonial events later this month.