RACO conference: The Irish United Nations mission to Liberia, to be fully operational in mid-December, is potentially the most dangerous operation Irish troops will ever have gone on, the president of the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers (RACO) claimed yesterday.
Lieut Col Paul Allen told the RACO annual conference in Kerry that the 450 Irish troops would be a rapid reaction force on what is known as a Chapter VII or peace enforcement mission, rather than a less dangerous peacekeeping mission.
He expressed his concern as the Minister for Defence, Mr Smith, told the conference the Irish commitment to Liberia would be at least three to four years.
Lieut Col Allen said an Army reconnaissance team had returned from the mission area, and for Irish troops one of the particular difficulties would be encounters with child soldiers.
If it came to a situation where they were being fired upon by armed children, then they were instructed to respond.
The big concerns, he added, were medical back-up and a vacuum of information which needed to be addressed by hard facts.
The Irish contingent would provide its own first level of medical care, which included two GPs and 12 experienced paramedics.
Lieut Gen Colm Mangan, Chief-of-Staff of the Defence Forces, said the Irish were deploying into a harsh and demanding environment.
"We are very conscious of providing the best standard of medical support," he said.
In his address to the conference, Mr Smith moved to allay concerns over the medical situation in Liberia.
The Irish contingent would comprise a motorised infantry battalion of 430 personnel and a small number of additional personnel who will be deployed at force headquarters as military observers, he said.
Personnel from the Army Ranger Wing would be deployed for a three-month period, at the request of the UN. The final composition was currently being determined.
"The risk in this mission should not be underestimated. Against this background, significant force protection assets including Mowag Armoured Personnel Carriers will be deployed," Mr Smith promised.