Minister for Defence, Willie O'Dea, said he is naturally anxious about the safety of Irish troops who are soon to be deployed in Chad.
Mr O'Dea said the soldiers had been trained to cope with the level of risk, and it would be a gross misrepresentation to suggest that the dangers involved had not been properly assessed.
Speaking at the delegate conference of RACO, the officer's association, Chief of Staff, Lt Gen Dermot Earley, said that the training, team work and leadership in the Defence Forces would ensure that the risk for Irish troops is absolutely minimal.
Gen Earley said the Defence Forces were not taking any unnecessary risks regarding the Chad mission. He said asking soldiers to make the ultimate sacrifice was not the intention behind the deployment.
Gen Earley said the risk involved related to the environment arising from the remoteness of the location and the difficulties of moving troops and supplies.
The General Secretary of RACO, Colonel Brian O' Keeffe, said soldiers might be apprehensive because of the dangerous nature of the mission but they are looking forward to the challenge.
