The Taoiseach has said that the 400 Irish soldiers being deployed to Chad shortly have the equipment and training necessary to deal with the difficult assignment.
Bertie Ahern was at McKee Barracks in Dublin this afternoon where he inspected some of the troops who are leaving for Chad next month.
The commander of the 18-nation mission, Lt Gen Pat Nash, said that while the situation in Chad is volatile, he does not see any major threat to the peacekeepers.
The objective of the mission is to protect refugees from Darfur, displaced people and aid workers in Chad.
50 Irish rangers are already in Chad, but the deployment of the main group has been delayed for several months due to the shortage of back-up facilities and the security situation.
The main group of 400 Irish troops is expected to be deployed in two groups from the middle to the end of May. Before that, a large group of engineers and logisticians will go to Chad to move equipment and build a camp.
The force Commander Gen Nash told the Taoiseach that the troops already on the ground are being well received but unfortunately would not be able to provide checkpoints at every village. He said the mission now has momentum and has the military means to achieve its task.
The Taoiseach described the Chad mission as difficult but said it was an opportunity for Irish troops to play their part in giving solace to people who have a dreadful existence.
Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea and Lt Gen Pat Nash are on tonight's Late Late Show at 9.30pm. Watch it at RTÉ.ie/live.
