Irish troops could be going to Afghanistan but it would be sometime in the future, the Minister for Defence, Mr Smith, said yesterday.
The Minister was commenting at McKee Barracks, Dublin, after he had reviewed troops who will be going to Sarajevo later this month.
Asked if he could see Irish troops taking part in a peace-keeping force in Afghanistan, the Minister replied: "Yes, but it will be sometime down the road."
The Minister said he would be well disposed to it but there had as yet been no request from the UN.
"In the long run I do see an opportunity for us to go there. If there is a request, then we would be looking at a very specialist group perhaps in the Army Ranger wing or bomb disposal," the Minister said.
He added that he thought it unlikely that Irish forces would be in the first wave of peacekeeping forces to go to Afghanistan.
Yesterday, he reviewed the 10th Military Police Company, Irish Contingent, Stabilisation Force (SFOR).
Families watched from the shelter of green marquees as the troops, in the red berets of the military police, marched past.
The contingent will depart for a six-month tour of duty in Sarajevo. The main body of troops under the command of Comdt Jim Long, will leave on January 17th.
It consists of 15 troops from the Military Police Company Headquarters, 26 from a military police platoon, six from a national support element, and three from Staff HQ, SFOR.
Many of the troops have vast UN mission experience, including Lebanon, Cyprus, Kuwait and Sarajevo.
The senior Irish officer will be Lieut Col Pete McMahon. The platoon commander is Capt Anita Hogan.
Irish Defence Forces military police first went to Sarajevo in June 1997. They are responsible for all military policing of the SFOR HQ where a large international force is stationed.
In his speech to the troops, the Minister said SFOR's mandate was to implement the military aspects of the peace agreement for Bosnia and Herzegovina, known as the Dayton Agreement. It was truly an international force with 35 countries contributing troops.
SFOR was involved in maintaining local security, facilitating freedom of movement for the local population and assisting the return of refugees, he said.
The Irish experience in SFOR had been positive, the Minister said. The previous contingents had enhanced the proud reputation of Irish soldiers in the peacekeeping field.
"The service of this contingent in Bosnia and Herzegovina will make a very practical and a positive contribution to the ongoing peace process there," he said.
The SFOR mission was an example of one of the new type of overseas peace support missions. It was NATO-led and authorised by the UN.
"It demonstrates this country's commitment to Europe in a very practical way," he said. "Ireland's involvement with SFOR shows that we will not stand by when our European neighbours are facing difficulties." he said.
Ireland would not stand aside from such conflicts and would play its part to alleviate the suffering of innocent civilians.
The Minister said a contract had been signed for new vehicle workshops in the Curragh, combing the workshops in Clancy Barracks and the Curragh. At almost €9.5 million, it was the single biggest construction contract entered into by the Department of Defence.