Minister Killeen said “This was a huge logistical task, one of the biggest ever undertaken by the Defence Forces given the location of the mission area in Chad. When the decision was taken to withdraw the Irish Contingent from the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic of Chad (MINURCAT), the top priority for the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces was to achieve an orderly, efficient withdrawal of personnel and equipment from the country.”
The Irish contingent deployed with MINURCAT was withdrawn in May 2010 and the recovery of equipment and assets commenced straight away, culminating with today’s arrival by ship into Dublin and the subsequent transfer of equipment to the Defence Forces Training Centre in the Curragh Camp.
The Minister added that the Defence Forces would take the opportunity to undertake essential and extensive maintenance of the repatriated equipment in order to prepare for and be ready for their next deployment.
“The process of examining further options for Defence Forces overseas operations is already in train”, he concluded.
-ENDS-
Notes to Editor:
- For further information please contact Mark Dunphy of Dunphy Public Relations on 00353868534900 or media ( @ ) dunphypr dot com
- High-resolution images of Minister Killeen are available to download from www.dunphyprimages.com
