Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea has announced the possible deployment of up to 350 Irish Defence Force personnel to the Central African Republic and Chad.
The cabinet today approved a reconnaissance mission to the region. On the basis of that mission, the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces will make a recommendation to the minister, who will then go back to government. Any deployment would require Dáil approval.
The mission would be part of the EU mission to the region, which received a UN Security Council mandate yesterday.
The details were given following the swearing-in ceremony at Mc Kee Barracks in Dublin of Ireland's first ever Military Judge, Colonel Tony Mc Court. The appointment is part of changes introduced under the Defence Forces Act.
