The first stage of a possible deployment of Irish peacekeeping troops in Liberia took place today as the Naval Service vessel, LE Niamh, left Cork to set up base for a reconnaissance mission in Liberia.
The LE Niamhleft Haulbowline Naval Base in Cork this morning carrying vehicles and other supplies to the capital Monrovia where it will become a base for an Irish mission, supplying security back-up, communications and logistics.
The reconnaissance mission - which will be flown down to arrive simultaneously with the LE Niamhin Monrovia - is aimed at establishing whether it would be safe or appropriate for Irish troops to be deployed in the civil-war torn country.
The reconnaissance mission will be made up of up to 10 Staff Officers who are experts in various fields including logistics and medicine.
They will sleep aboard the vessel each night and survey the situation in and around the Liberian capital during the day with vehicles supplied by the LE Niamh.
The mission - which will start in eight days time - is expected to last a week and when complete the Staff Officers will report their findings to the General Staff.
The General Staff will then report their findings to the Minister for Defence, Mr Michael Smith. He will then bring the findings to Cabinet. If the Cabinet agrees to deloy a peacekeeping force then the matter will go before the Dáil.
Around 450 troops would be deployed if the Dáil gives the go-ahead for the peacekeeping mission.