The Cabinet has approved the deployment of 400 Irish troops to the Republic of Chad to participate in an operation to protect refugees backed by the UN.
Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea said Ireland's contribution represents "the Defence Forces' most ambitious and challenging overseas deployment to date."
The mission must now be approved by the Dáil, under the so-called triple-lock mechanism that requires approval by the Government, the Dáil and the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) before the Army becomes involved in an international conflict.
The UNSC unanimously adopted a resolution last September establishing a multi-dimensional UN mission in Chad and the Central African Republic to help strengthen security in the region.
"Our role is threefold: To help establish a safe and secure environment for refugees, to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to the refugees and to protect UN and humanitarian personnel," said Mr O'Dea.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern, who spent four days in Sudan and Chad last week, met EU foreign ministers in Brussels yesterday to gather support. He said the conditions where the troops would be stationed was one of the harshest in the world. "The EU force will be based in stark terrain and in temperatures that can reach 45°C ... The mission will be a success but only as long as it gets the full support of member states and that will involve ensuring the troops have the medical supplies, hardware and in particular helicopters to get around."
The threat to peace and security has been heightened in the border areas between Darfur, the Republic of Chad and the Central African Republic amid conflicts in the region.
They will be under the operational command of Co Limerick native Lt General Pat Nash. Deployment of the Force is due to begin next month with the bulk of personnel due to be deployed during January.
A peace deal was signed between the government of Chad and four rebel groups last month. However, there are continuing clashes between rebels and government forces.
On September 25 thlast, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1778 establishing a multi-dimensional UN mission in Chad and the Central African Republic (CAR) to help strengthen security in the region. This presence will comprise a UN mission in Chad and the CAR to be known as MINURCAT and EU troops.
Last month the Iris Government decided to deploy the Deputy Chief of Staff Major General Pat Nash, as Operation Commander of the EU Force, together with up to 11 additional personnel, to the headquarters of the operation.
According to figures from the Department of Defence, there are now more than 180,000 internally displaced Chadians and 236,000 Sudanese refugees living in camps in eastern Chad.
The operation will be the most expensive on which the Defence Forces have ever been deployed, according to the Department.
The main area of operations in eastern Chad is about the same size as France and the road infrastructure is very poor. Chad is also landlocked and is nearly 2,000km from the nearest port.
The Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces has assessed the threat level as 'medium risk', which includes the potential to be drawn into a government-rebel conflict and increasing levels of banditry on vulnerable targets, including the increased risk from breakaway rebel factions seeking arms, ammunition and vehicles.